Use AirDrop on iPad to send items to nearby Apple devices
With AirDrop, you can wirelessly send photos, videos, documents, and more to a nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can use AirDrop to send files to your own devices or to share files with others.
You can use AirDrop with an iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Transfers are encrypted for security, and the recipient can accept or decline each transfer as it arrives.
Note: If you leave Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range after an AirDrop transfer is initiated, the transfer continues over the internet.
Before you begin
Make sure of the following:
The devices are within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other.
If you’re using a VPN, make sure its configuration doesn’t prevent local networking, as that may interfere with some Continuity features.
If you want to use AirDrop to send items between your Apple devices, sign in to the same Apple Account to automatically accept and save the items.
Turn on AirDrop
On an iPhone or iPad: Open Control Center, touch and hold the top-left group of controls, then tap 👁 the AirDrop icon
. Tap Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes to choose who you want to receive items from.Note: The Contacts Only and Everyone for 10 Minutes options are available only on devices with minimum system requirements.
On a Mac: Click 👁 Control Center status menu
in the menu bar, then click 👁 the AirDrop icon
. When it’s blue, it’s on.To choose who can send items to you, click the right arrow next to AirDrop, then click Contacts Only or Everyone.
Send an item using an AirDrop code
With iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, macOS 26.2, or later, if someone tries to send you an item with AirDrop and they’re not in your contacts, they must use an AirDrop code.
If you choose to receive the item, select Continue. The AirDrop code appears on your device. After you share the code with the sender and they enter it on their device, the item is shared.
You can continue to share and receive items using AirDrop with that person for 30 days without needing to use another AirDrop code. If you no longer want to share items before the 30 days are up, go to the Contacts app 👁 Image
, find the sender in your Other Known list, then select Forget This Person.
Send an item using AirDrop
To send an item to someone with AirDrop, both you and your recipient must have AirDrop turned.
If you’re sending items to someone who only accepts items from a contact, you must be in their contacts list and they need to have your Apple Account email address or phone number included in your contact card.
Then do any of the following:
On an iPhone or iPad: Open the item, then tap 👁 the Share icon
, Share, 👁 the AirDrop icon
, 👁 the More ellipsis button
, or another button (depending on the app). Tap 👁 the AirDrop icon
, then tap the recipient you want to share with. The recipients you see are those who are nearby, have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and are able to accept files from your device.On a Mac: Open the item on a Mac, click 👁 the Share icon
in the toolbar, then click AirDrop. Select the recipient you want to share with. The recipients you see are those who are nearby, have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and are able to accept files from your device.Tip: You can also share items with AirDrop in the Finder. To open a Finder window, click 👁 the Finder icon
in the Dock. Click AirDrop in the sidebar, then drag the item you want to share to the recipient you want to send it to.
If you see a notification to enter a code in order to share the item, enter the AirDrop code generated on the recipient’s device.
To use AirDrop to securely share app and website passwords with someone using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, see Share passwords and passkeys with people you trust on iPad.
Receive items with AirDrop
On your device, tap or click Accept on the AirDrop notification.
If you see a notification that you need an AirDrop code in order to receive the item, tap or click Get AIrDrop Code and share it with the sender. The sender enters the code on their device in order to send the item with AirDrop.
Note: If you’re sending an item between devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account, the item is automatically accepted.
Most items are saved in the app that they’re sent from. For example, if someone uses AirDrop to send a photo from the Photos app, it’s saved in the Photos app on your device.
Depending on the device, you may find your files in other places. On an iPhone or iPad, some items may be saved in the Files app. On a Mac, some items are automatically saved in the Downloads folder, but you may also have the option to choose where to save items—for example whether to save a photo in the Downloads folder or open it in Photos.
Note: If you opened AirDrop in the Finder on a Mac, the notification to accept or decline appears here, rather than in Notification Center.
If you send items from one of your Apple devices to another (for example, from your Mac to your iPad), and you’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices, the item is automatically accepted and saved.
Turn off cellular data for AirDrop
Cellular data charges may apply when you use AirDrop.
If you don’t want to use cellular data when you’re out of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range, go to Settings 👁 Image
> General > AirDrop, then turn off Use Cellular Data.
Typically this is a one-time setting, but you might want to change it if, for example, you’re traveling and want to avoid roaming charges.
If AirDrop isn’t working
Make sure that both the sender and recipient have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on and that you’re both using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Check that the recipient has their AirDrop settings set to receive from Everyone or Contacts Only.
If you’re having difficulty getting AirDrop to work, restart your device and try again.
For additional support, see the Apple Support article How to use AirDrop on your iPhone or iPad.
AirDrop is best for sharing a small selection of files between devices. If you want to share many files between your Mac and other Apple devices, see Transfer files from iPad to a storage device, a server, or the cloud or How iCloud keeps information up to date across all your devices.