Stupid Simple Mac Tips #38: Seamlessly Transfer Files Between iOS Devices
Need to review a file over lunch and dread lugging the Mac to the café?
Want to easily transfer the 20 photos of the house you are interested in buying to your laptop?
Can you send the file(s) to yourself via email? Sure, but…
Could you send that PDF Book to your friend using a file sharing service? Yeah, but…
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
This week’s Stupid Simple Mac Tip shows you how to use AirDrop to do these tasks with a couple quick taps or clicks!

With AirDrop any type of file can be shared: pdfs, photos, videos, phone contacts, and even map locations. This even works if the two devices are owned by two different people.
AirDrop uses either Bluetooth or WiFi – so connecting is not a problem, even when away from your home network.

To share your file, first:
- Ensure Wi-Fi/Bluetooth is enabled on both devices (the sending and receiving device)
- Ensure AirDrop has been enabled via the Control Center of the iOS device.
Find the file you want to share and do this:
To send from your computer:
- Right click on the file
- Share
- Select AirDrop
- Choose who to share with (or what device)
To send from an iPhone/iPad:
- Hold your finger on the file
- Share
- Select AirDrop
- Choose who to share with (or what device)
