In iOS 7, Apple brought the ability to share photos, video, contacts, web pages – pretty much anything with a share button – easily and quickly between iOS devices. Sure, you can share via email or SMS but that can sometimes feel like a longer way to go about the process, especially if the person you’re sharing with is sat right next to you.
That’s where AirDrop for iOS comes in. It uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, doesn’t require any setting up, and makes sending a file as easy as possible for iPhone and iPad users. This tutorial will use the example of a photo in the Photos app but the steps are the same in any other app or for any other content.
Here’s how to use AirDrop in iOS 7:
1. Find the content you want to share and tap on the share icon to bring up the Share Sheet.
2. Tap to turn on AirDrop. You’ll then see the icon turn blue to indicate that AirDrop is on and a message instructing you to tell your friends to turn on AirDrop from Control Center if they haven’t already. If they have, you’ll see their face…
3. Tap on the friend with whom you wish to share (yes, I do have a friend that looks like that). You’ll see the word “Sent” below their name to let you know it’s worked…
4. You friend will need to tap Accept on their iOS device to allow the file to be transferred. The incoming content will be saved wherever is appropriate (a photo in the Photos app, a pass in Passbook, a contact in Contacts and so on).
That’s it! It is that simple to share content between iOS devices running iOS 7.
Don’t see AirDrop when you press share? Note that AirDrop is only available on the following devices running iOS 7: iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, fourth-generation iPad, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina Display and the fifth-generation iPod touch.
I find that using AirDrop is much quicker than any of the alternatives. It’s limited to iOS-using friends, and doesn’t link up with AirDrop on OS X (yet), but it is certainly the simplest way of quickly sharing some content with a friend that is close-by.
Many apps have incorporated AirDrop too, meaning that a lot of different types of content can be shared easily.If you have any questions about AirDrop. or if there are any other tutorials you’d like to see on TiP.
