How to Use AirDrop and Nearby Share to Send Files Between Phones in the US

Sending a photo from one phone to another should take seconds. AirDrop on iPhone and Nearby Share on Android both do exactly that: they send photos, videos, and files straight from one phone to another over a direct wireless connection, with no cable and no extra app.

AirDrop on iPhone: the basics

AirDrop is built into every iPhone, and it works between Apple devices: iPhone to iPhone, iPhone to iPad, and iPhone to Mac. Both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth switched on, and they need to be within about 30 feet of each other.

To receive, the other person needs to be in your Contacts or have their AirDrop set to accept from everyone. To check your own setting, open Settings, then General, then AirDrop, and pick Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes.

How to send a file with AirDrop

Open the photo, video, or file you want to send, then tap the Share button. In the share sheet, tap the AirDrop icon. Your iPhone will list nearby Apple devices that can receive. Tap the person you want to send to, and the transfer starts. On the receiving phone, a preview appears with Accept and Decline buttons. Tap Accept, and the file lands in Photos if it is a photo or video.

You can send more than one item at once. In Photos, tap Select, pick as many photos or videos as you want, then tap Share and choose AirDrop. Large videos may take a minute or two, and both phones should stay unlocked and near each other until the transfer finishes.

Nearby Share on Android: the basics

Nearby Share is Android's answer to AirDrop, and it works between Android phones and tablets. It uses Bluetooth to find nearby devices and Wi-Fi to move the file, so it is fast even for large videos.

In most recent versions of Android, Nearby Share is called Quick Share on Samsung phones and on newer Android releases, after Google and Samsung merged the two features. The steps are the same either way. Both devices need Bluetooth and location switched on, and they need to be close together.

How to send a file with Nearby Share

Open the photo, video, or file, tap Share, then tap Nearby Share or Quick Share. Your phone will scan for devices nearby and list them by name. Tap the device you want to send to. The other person sees a notification asking them to accept. Once they tap Accept, the transfer runs, and the file appears in their Downloads folder or in Photos.

To change who can send to you, open Settings, then Connected devices, then Nearby Share, and pick your contacts, everyone, or no one.

Can you send files between an iPhone and an Android phone?

AirDrop only works between Apple devices, and Nearby Share only works between Android devices and supported computers. There is no direct built-in bridge between the two. If you need to move a file from an iPhone to an Android phone, or the other way round, use a shared link or a messaging app.

One easy route is a cloud link. In Google Photos or iCloud Photos, select the photos, create a share link, and send the link by text or message. The other person opens the link and downloads the files. A messaging app such as WhatsApp or Telegram also works, but send photos as documents so they are not compressed.

Fix 1: the other phone does not appear in the list

This is the most common AirDrop and Nearby Share problem, and it usually has a simple cause. First, check that both phones have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi switched on. AirDrop needs both, and Nearby Share needs Bluetooth and location. Second, check that the receiving phone is unlocked and its screen is on.

Third, check the receiving settings. On iPhone, the setting is Settings, then General, then AirDrop. If it is set to Receiving Off, nothing will appear. On Android, check Settings, then Connected devices, then Nearby Share, and make sure device visibility is on. If the phone still does not appear, restart both phones and try again.

Fix 2: the transfer starts but never finishes

A transfer that stalls usually means one of the phones moved too far away or locked itself. Keep both phones awake and close together until the transfer completes. Large files are the other common cause. A long 4K video can take several minutes, and the progress bar may move slowly or seem stuck. Give it time before cancelling. If the transfer fails partway, try sending fewer files at once, or send the largest video on its own.

Fix 3: AirDrop says waiting, or Nearby Share says connection failed

On iPhone, if AirDrop sits on Waiting for a long time, the receiving phone may have declined the request without you noticing, or its AirDrop setting may have changed. Ask the other person to check their screen and their AirDrop setting, then send again.

On Android, a connection failed message often means the two phones found each other over Bluetooth but could not agree on a Wi-Fi connection. Turn Wi-Fi off and on again on both phones, or restart them. Make sure neither phone is connected to a VPN, since some VPN setups block the direct connection that Nearby Share needs.

Privacy tips for receiving files

Both AirDrop and Nearby Share let strangers send you files if your visibility is set to everyone. That is how prank and spam file drops happen in public places. Keep your visibility set to Contacts Only on iPhone, or to your contacts on Android, and only switch to everyone when you are expecting a file from someone who is not in your contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do AirDrop and Nearby Share use mobile data?

No. Both use a direct connection between the two phones, built on Bluetooth for discovery and Wi-Fi for the actual transfer. They do not use your mobile data plan.

Why does AirDrop only show some of my contacts?

AirDrop shows people whose devices are nearby, unlocked, and set to receive. A contact will not appear if their phone is locked, if their AirDrop is set to Receiving Off, or if they are out of range.

What is the file size limit for AirDrop and Nearby Share?

Neither has a fixed file size limit. The real limit is time, storage, and patience. Small photos transfer in a second or two, while a long 4K video can take several minutes.