Before sending a contract PDF to a colleague, check AirDrop receiving scope and confirm the device name. Apple says transfers are encrypted, but recipients can accept or decline; devices signed in to the same Apple Account may accept automatically.

Send one file

  1. Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices and keep them nearby; Apple specifies within 10 meters.
  2. Open AirDrop in the Finder sidebar and look for the recipient’s Mac. Drag the file onto that device, or choose AirDrop from the Share menu.
  3. Confirm similar device names with the recipient before sending. After acceptance, confirm where the file was saved; on a Mac it may go to Downloads or another chosen location.

If the recipient is missing

Check Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, distance, then the recipient’s receiving setting. With Contacts Only, the sender’s Apple Account email or phone number must be on the recipient’s contact card. If that cannot be fixed, ask the recipient to broaden receiving temporarily for this expected transfer. Reopen AirDrop or restart both devices if the Mac still does not appear.

Restore receiving scope after the transfer

Keep receiving set to Contacts Only or off for routine use; broaden it only for an expected exchange. Return to the prior setting when the transfer is complete. For ongoing transfer of many files, use a sync or bulk-transfer method instead.

Sender outside your contacts: macOS 26.2 or later

On macOS 26.2 or later, an outside sender must use the AirDrop code shown on the recipient’s device. Confirm the person and file through another channel before sharing the code; decline and verify an unexpected transfer. Apple’s current AirDrop guide

Related: Continue work across devices with Universal Clipboard and Handoff

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