AirDrop is the quickest way to send files between a Mac, an iPhone and an iPad, but on a Mac it is easy to lose track of. If AirDrop is missing from the Finder sidebar, you can add it back to the Favorites section in a few clicks. This guide shows how, along with a few other ways to keep AirDrop one click away, such as the Dock and a keyboard shortcut.
Quick answer
Open Finder, choose Finder > Settings (called Preferences on macOS Monterey and earlier), click the Sidebar tab, and tick AirDrop under Favorites. AirDrop appears in the Favorites section of every Finder window.
- Click the Finder icon in the Dock, or click an empty spot on the desktop.
- Click Finder in the menu bar and choose Settings (or Preferences). You can also press Command + , (comma).
- Click the Sidebar tab.
- Under Favorites, tick AirDrop.
- Close the window.
AirDrop now appears in the sidebar of every Finder window. To move it higher in the list, drag it up within the Favorites section.
If you ticked AirDrop but still do not see it, the Favorites section may be collapsed. Hover over the word Favorites in the sidebar and click the small arrow that appears to expand it. If the sidebar itself is hidden, choose View > Show Sidebar or press Control + Command + S.
Other quick ways to open AirDrop on a Mac
Keyboard shortcut
In Finder, press Shift + Command + R to open the AirDrop window. You can also choose Go > AirDrop from the menu bar.
Control Center
Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, then click the arrow next to AirDrop to turn it on or off and choose who can find you: Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes.
Add AirDrop to the Dock
- In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder (Shift + Command + G).
- Enter /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/Applications/ and press Return.
- Drag the AirDrop icon to your Dock.
Clicking it in the Dock opens a Finder window straight to AirDrop. You can also drag files onto the Dock icon to start a transfer.
Share menu
Right-click any file, choose Share, and select AirDrop. This is often the fastest way to send a single file.
How to send a file with AirDrop from Finder
- Click AirDrop in the Finder sidebar.
- Wait for nearby devices to appear. The other device must be awake, unlocked, nearby, and have AirDrop and Bluetooth turned on.
- Drag your file onto the person or device you want to send it to.
Files you receive go to your Downloads folder.
AirDrop not showing up?
- Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices. You do not need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Check discoverability. At the bottom of the AirDrop window, set “Allow me to be discovered by” to Contacts Only or Everyone.
- Turn off Personal Hotspot on the iPhone, which can interfere with AirDrop.
- Check Screen Time restrictions on the iPhone in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps, where AirDrop can be turned off.
AirDrop on iPhone
There is no Favorites list for AirDrop on iPhone, but frequent contacts appear at the top of the Share sheet. To turn AirDrop on or change who can see you, see how to turn on AirDrop on iPhone, and to change how your iPhone appears to others, see how to change your AirDrop name.
Frequently asked questions
Why did AirDrop disappear from my Finder sidebar?
macOS updates sometimes reset sidebar settings, and it is easy to remove an item by accident by dragging it out of the sidebar. Ticking AirDrop again in Finder Settings brings it back.
Can I add other items to Favorites?
Yes. The same Sidebar tab lets you show Applications, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Movies, Music, Pictures and your home folder. You can also drag any folder into the Favorites section to pin it there.
Does AirDrop work between a Mac and a Windows PC?
No. AirDrop only works between Apple devices. To share files with a Windows PC, use a cloud service such as iCloud Drive, OneDrive or Google Drive, or a USB drive.
Where do AirDropped files go on a Mac?
They are saved to your Downloads folder. Photos and videos sent from an iPhone also go there, not to the Photos app.
Summary
- Open Finder > Settings > Sidebar.
- Tick AirDrop under Favorites.
- Expand Favorites in the sidebar if you do not see it.
- Use Shift + Command + R or the Dock for even quicker access.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.