How do I get AirDrop on my Mac?

Answered by Ricardo McCardle

To get AirDrop on your Mac, you need to ensure that your devices are capable of receiving AirDrop requests. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

1. Open the Finder on your Mac by clicking on the Finder icon in the Dock, or by pressing Command + Space and typing “Finder” in the Spotlight search.

2. In the Finder menu bar, locate and click on “Go.” A drop-down menu will appear.

3. From the Go menu, select “AirDrop.” This will open the AirDrop window.

4. In the AirDrop window, you will see two options under the “Allow me to be discovered by” section: “No One” and “Contacts Only.” Select the option that suits your preference.

– If you choose “No One,” it means that no one nearby can see your Mac in their AirDrop window, and you won’t receive any AirDrop requests.
– If you select “Contacts Only,” only people in your Contacts app will be able to see your Mac and send you AirDrop requests.

5. Once you’ve selected your preferred option, you’re all set to receive AirDrop requests on your Mac. You can now close the AirDrop window.

It’s important to note that AirDrop requires a compatible Mac model and operating system version. Generally, Macs released mid-2012 or later are compatible with AirDrop, and you need to have macOS Lion (10.7) or later installed.

If you’re still having trouble getting AirDrop to work on your Mac, here are a few troubleshooting tips:

– Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on your Mac. AirDrop uses Bluetooth to discover nearby devices.

– Check that Wi-Fi is turned on and connected to a network. AirDrop also uses Wi-Fi for file transfers.

– If you’re trying to send or receive files from an iOS device, make sure that the device has AirDrop enabled. On iOS, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access Control Center, then tap on the AirDrop icon to enable it.

– Keep in mind that AirDrop may not work if you’re on a public or corporate network with certain restrictions. If you’re having trouble on such networks, try using AirDrop on a personal network or contact your network administrator for assistance.

By following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you should be able to get AirDrop up and running on your Mac. Enjoy the convenience of wirelessly sharing files with other Apple devices!