How to Use Airdrop on Mac Running on OS X Lion and Mavericks?

If you are using OS X Yosemite, Mavericks or OS X Lion, then you must have heard about the peer-to-peer file sharing feature called AirDrop. It is an amazing feature that lets you transfer files between two Mac systems even if the devices are in different networks. The feature also lets you transfer files from Mac to iPhone and from iPhone to Mac. This article explains how to use AirDrop on Mac with Mountain Lion, Mavericks, and Lion OS X.

AirDrop got introduced with Mac Lion OS X (OS X 10.7) and iOS 7. The feature lets you transfer files between Mac computers and iOS devices without using emails or mass storage device. If you are a professional, student or anyone who requires sharing files very often, then it is good for you to learn the use of AirDrop on Mac. It is the quickest and easiest way of sending and receiving files between two or more Apple devices.

Setup AirDrop on Mac

It is very easy to setup AirDrop on Mac. It is a hassle-free process and doesn’t take much time. A user doesn’t require installing any extra software program or doing other settings or configuration. AirDrop comes as an inbuilt tool on Mac systems and iOS devices, provided the Mac runs on X Lion (OS X 10.7) and above version and iOS device runs on iOS 7 and above versions.

You just need to launch the tool on your system, and it gets ready for use. You can launch the tool using the Share Menu, Finder, and ‘Open and Save’ windows. One basic criterion for using this peer-to-peer tool is that the AirDrop window should remain open in both the sender and receiver window. Once you launch the tool, it will automatically search for other nearby Mac systems with AirDrop window open in it. Thus, setting the tool is not at all an issue.

How to Use Airdrop on Mac?

To use the tool on your Mac system, you can use the following methods:

If You are Using Finder

• Open the ‘Finder’ window on your system.
• Select Go>AirDrop.
• Make sure your recipient has also selected AirDrop from the Finder of his/her computer.
• Once, you launch the tool on the sender and receiver computer; you just need to drag the file to your AirDrop window, and then drop it onto the recipient's icon.
• Next, just click ‘Send.’
• Your recipient needs to click ‘Save’ to receive the files.
• That will begin the downloading of files on the receiver’s computer.

If You are Using ‘Share’ Menu

• If you want to transfer files using the Share menu, then you need to perform the following steps:
• Go to the ‘Share’ menu, and then select ‘AirDrop.’
• Your recipient can select ‘AirDrop’ from the Finder window.
• If you can see the recipient icon on your ‘Share’ menu device, then in the ‘Share’ sheet you need to select the recipient.
• Next, click ‘Send.’
• Now, your recipient needs to approve the incoming file on the other computer. Then, only the downloading of the files will begin.

Conclusion

With these easy steps, you have learned how to use AirDrop on Mac. Once, you have learned these steps you will quickly be able to send files from one Mac to another or from one iOS device to another. Using the Finder and Share menu you can use AirDrop on Mac running on Lion OS X, Mountain Lion or Mavericks. Sometimes, you may face some issues in using this tool, in that case, check and confirm that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both sender and recipient devices.

Brooke M. Perry is an ardent technician associated with Qresolve computer security, with wide experience of fixing issues with PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.