Change AirDrop & Handoff settings on Mac (2024)

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Change AirDrop & Handoff settings on Mac (1)

On your Mac, use AirDrop & Handoff settings to start something on one Apple device and hand it off to another, send files to Apple devices near you with AirDrop, or allow other devices to stream content to your Mac with AirPlay Receiver. Learn how to use AirDrop to send files to devices near you.

To change these settings, choose Apple menuChange AirDrop & Handoff settings on Mac (2) > System Settings, click General Change AirDrop & Handoff settings on Mac (3) in the sidebar, then click AirDrop & Handoff Change AirDrop & Handoff settings on Mac (4) on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)

Option

Description

Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices

(not available on all computers)

If your Mac supports Handoff, turn on Handoff between your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. See Pick up where you left off with Handoff.

Your Apple devices must have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, and Handoff turned on in Settings. You must be signed in with the same Apple ID on all your devices.

When this option is selected, you can copy and paste between your Apple devices. See Copy and paste between devices from your Mac.

AirDrop

Choose who can send files to you from nearby Apple devices.

Note: The Contacts Only option is available on devices with iOS 10, iPadOS, macOS 10.12, or later. If your device has an earlier software version, select the Everyone option to receive items by AirDrop. (You can disable the Everyone option after you receive the items.)

AirPlay Receiver

Allow nearby Apple devices to stream content to this Mac with AirPlay.

See Set up your Mac to be an AirPlay Receiver.

AirPlay Receiver is available on supported Mac computers with macOS 12 or later. See the Apple Support article System requirements for Continuity features on Apple devices.

Note: If your Mac is enrolled in a mobile device management (MDM) system, AirPlay Receiver may be unavailable.

Allow AirPlay for

Choose whose devices can use AirPlay to stream content to this Mac.

  • Current User: Only devices signed in to your Apple ID can see and use AirPlay to stream content to this Mac.

  • Anyone on the Same Network: Any nearby Mac, iPhone, or iPad on the same network can see and use AirPlay to stream content to this Mac.

  • Everyone: Any Mac, iPhone, or iPad can see and use AirPlay to stream content to this Mac.

Require password

Require a password to use AirPlay to stream content to this Mac. Turn on Require password, click Set, enter the password in the text field, then click OK.

See alsoUse your Mac as a displayUse your Mac as a speaker

Helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Change AirDrop & Handoff settings on Mac (2024)

FAQs

How do I change AirDrop preferences on Mac? ›

To change these settings, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then click AirDrop & Handoff on the right. (You may need to scroll down.) If your Mac supports Handoff, turn on Handoff between your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

How do you change your AirDrop settings? ›

How to adjust AirDrop settings. To choose who can see your device and send you content in AirDrop: Go to Settings, then tap General. Tap AirDrop, then choose an option.

How do I manage AirDrop on my Mac? ›

Use Control Center to manage AirDrop

On your Mac, click Control Center in the menu bar, then do any of the following: Turn AirDrop on or off: Click the AirDrop icon . Choose who can send items to you: Click the arrow next to AirDrop, then click Contacts Only or Everyone.

How do I change handoff on Mac? ›

Turn Handoff on or off

Note: If a Handoff option isn't available on your device, it doesn't work with Handoff. On your Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar, click AirDrop & Handoff on the right, then turn “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices” on or off.

What is the default setting for AirDrop? ›

Contacts Only (Default setting): Only your contacts can see your device. Everyone: All nearby Apple devices using AirDrop can see your device.

Why is AirDrop not working on my Mac? ›

Turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off and then on again

Lots of problems with wireless connections, including with AirDrop, can be solved by turning Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off and then on again. On your Mac, click on the Control Center icon, then on the down arrow next to Wi-Fi, and toggle the switch to off. Repeat for Bluetooth.

How do I reset my Apple AirDrop? ›

How do I reset my Apple AirDrop? Unfortunately, you can't reset your AirDrop. But you can reset your iPhone or iPad to fix some AirDrop problems. To reset your device: go to Settings, tap General, tap Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

Where are AirDrop files stored on Mac? ›

Files sent using AirDrop are placed in the Downloads folder.

How do I set up AirDrop between iPhone and Mac? ›

Turn on AirDrop:
  1. On a Mac: Click the desktop to switch to the Finder, then choose Go > AirDrop (from the Go menu at the top of the screen). An AirDrop window opens. ...
  2. On iPhone or iPad: Open Control Centre. Tap AirDrop, then choose whether to receive items from everyone or only from people in your Contacts app.

Where is handoff in settings? ›

First, make sure that Handoff is enabled in the settings of both devices. This can be found through general settings in the Airplay & Handoff section, or through the Settings search bar. Next, make sure both devices are logged into the same iCloud account and are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

What is the handoff feature on a Mac? ›

Mac: Go to the Apple menu, and choose System Preferences. Then, click General and Select Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices. iOS: Go to Settings General > AirPlay & Handoff, then turn on Handoff. Apple Watch: In the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap General and turn on Enable Handoff.

What is AirDrop and handoff? ›

AirDrop usually works well for sending info to your own or even other people's devices, provided that they have the feature enabled. Handoff, on the other hand, works only for devices that are all signed in to the same iCloud account using the same Apple ID.

What is the default AirDrop folder on Mac? ›

How to find the AirDrop files you've received on your iPhone or Mac. Airdrop files automatically go to the iPhone app associated with their file type. On a Mac, files you've received through AirDrop will automatically go to the Downloads folder.

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