How to Turn On AirDrop on Mac & MacBook (2023)

Here's how to turn on AirDrop on your Mac or MacBook, so you can use it to send and receive data between Apple devices.

By Leanne Hays Mon, 02/13/2023

What to Know

  • AirDrop allows users to wirelessly transfer data between Apple devices.
  • You can set your Mac to be discoverable via AirDrop to No One, Contacts Only, or Everyone. 
  • To turn on AirDrop on your MacBook or Mac, open the Finder>AirDrop>No One, Contacts Only, or Everyone.

How to Turn On AirDrop on Mac & MacBook

AirDrop lets users wirelessly share files, photos, videos, contacts, websites, map locations, and more between Apple devices. You'll be able to AirDrop from your Mac to an iPhone, iPad, or another Mac, as well as receive AirDrops from an iPad, Mac, or an iPhone to your Mac. Check out our free Tip of the Day for more great AirDrop tutorials. 

Note: Keep in mind that for AirDrop to work, devices must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and be within 30 feet (9 meters) of each other.

  1. Click the Finder icon, then click AirDrop in the menu.

    click finder then click airdrop on macbook or mac
  2. Next to "Allow me to be discovered by" click No One, Contacts Only, or Everyone. I have my Mac AirDrop set to Contacts Only, so I don't receive AirDrops from strangers.

    click no one contacts only or everyone to airdrop turn on

Now you can wirelessly send data via AirDrop! You can also stop people from wirelessly sending you data, or receive data from only people in your contacts, or everyone, depending on which option you chose. The AirDrop setting you've chosen will remain in place unless you go back through these steps and select a different option. 

Related: How to Change AirDrop Name on iPhone, iPad & Mac 

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Topics

How-To
Mac
AirDrop
Device Management

Author Details

Leanne Hays's picture

Author Details

Leanne Hays

Leanne Hays is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, and has written hundreds of in-depth how-to and troubleshooting articles. She's a former Associate Editor for iPhone Life magazine, and has written for the Iowa Source, as well as web content for education marketing. Leanne has an associate's degree in education, with a focus on curriculum development, as well as a bachelor's degree in science. She has over nine years of experience with SEO, social media management, and web development and writing. Despite years of web work, Leanne is by no means an early adapter; she's only owned a smartphone for five years, which makes her highly sympathetic to the learning curve of new iPhone owners. She enjoys making reader's lives easier and putting her education experience to work by walking them through the most practical ways to use Apple devices, step-by-step.

In off-work hours, Leanne is a mother of two, homesteader, audiobook fanatic, musician, and learning enthusiast.