Sharing Files with AirDrop
Sharing Files with AirDrop
24 December 2012
Apple’s AirDrop is one of the great new features of OS X Lion (10.7) and Mountain Lion (10.8), and it provides a really easy way to share files between supported Wi-Fi-enabled Macs without having to connect through the local Wi-Fi network! You simply drag and drop your files to other AirDrop users.
To use AirDrop, go to the Finder and either choose Go > AirDrop or press Shift-Command-R. You can also find AirDrop on the left sidebar of any Finder window. After invoking AirDrop, momentarily, it will automatically discover all the other Macs that are also running AirDrop near your Mac. In other words, in order to share via AirDrop, each Mac will have to have AirDrop running.
To share a file, you simply drag it onto the other person’s Mac icon. Your Mac will send a file sharing request to that person and that request will appear as a pop-up on their screen. As soon as they accept your request, your file will automatically transfer to that person’s Downloads folder. Voilá! You’re done!
An advantage to Apple’s AirDrop is that it is network agnostic meaning that you'll see their Mac regardless of whether they are on your own network or not!
So give it a try today!
* The MacBook Pro (17-Inch Late 2008) and the white MacBook (Late 2008) do not support AirDrop.
To use AirDrop, go to the Finder and either choose Go > AirDrop or press Shift-Command-R. You can also find AirDrop on the left sidebar of any Finder window. After invoking AirDrop, momentarily, it will automatically discover all the other Macs that are also running AirDrop near your Mac. In other words, in order to share via AirDrop, each Mac will have to have AirDrop running.
To share a file, you simply drag it onto the other person’s Mac icon. Your Mac will send a file sharing request to that person and that request will appear as a pop-up on their screen. As soon as they accept your request, your file will automatically transfer to that person’s Downloads folder. Voilá! You’re done!
An advantage to Apple’s AirDrop is that it is network agnostic meaning that you'll see their Mac regardless of whether they are on your own network or not!
So give it a try today!
Macs that support AirDrop in OS X Lion and later:
If your Mac is the same as, or newer than, the models listed below, then it supports AirDrop.
- MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or newer)*
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 or newer)*
- iMac (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)
* The MacBook Pro (17-Inch Late 2008) and the white MacBook (Late 2008) do not support AirDrop.