2 Simple Ways to Disable and Turn Off AirDrop

PDF download Download Article
Easily stop people from AirDropping you by disabling the feature
PDF download Download Article

Are you worried about other people sending unknown files through AirDrop? If your AirDrop is on, you may have it set to "Everyone" or "Contacts Only". You can easily disable this feature from your Control Center, so you don't have to worry about getting any unwanted photos. This wikiHow will show you how to turn off AirDrop on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Things You Should Know

  • iPhone or iPad: In Control Center, tap and hold the Wi-Fi tile, then tap "AirDrop" → "Receiving Off."
  • Mac: In Control Center, click AirDrop to turn it off.
  • Alternatively on a Mac, open the Finder and click "AirDrop" → "Allow me to be discovered by" → "No One".
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using an iPhone or iPad

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/63\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/63\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Open the Control Center . On iPhone X or later, swipe down on the top-right corner of the screen. On iPhone 8 and earlier (and iPhone SE), swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
    • On an iPad with iOS 12 or later, swipe down from the top-right of the screen.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will be in the top-left corner. You can tap and hold any icon in the network settings tile; this will expand it.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Tap and hold the AirDrop icon. You can find this below the Wi-Fi icon.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    AirDrop will be turned off until you turn it on again. [1]
    • You can also do this in Settings → General → AirDrop → Receiving Off .
    • When you want to transfer files again, you can turn AirDrop on again by tapping the icon in the Control Center.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using a Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":349,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":552,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click the toggle icon in the top-right corner of the menu bar. This will be between the search icon and date.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-AirDrop-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The icon will be blue if it's currently enabled. Clicking the icon again will disable AirDrop and turn the icon grey. [2]
    • You can also disable AirDrop in the Finder . In the Finder sidebar, click AirDrop → Allow me to be discovered by → No One .
    3. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I delete AirDrop?
    Community Answer
    To date, there is no way you can delete AirDrop, but you can turn it off by heading to Settings, then General, then clicking AirDrop. From there, click receiving off.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 13 Helpful 13
  • Question
    How can I tell if I am sending air drop?
    Community Answer
    You can tell if you are sending an airdrop if you click on who you want to send it to. It will will say sending under the name.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 9
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Add an App Back to Home Screen: Tips for Finding Apps
      App Store Missing? 3 Easy Methods to Restore It on iPhone or iPad
      Is Your iPhone Hacked? How to Tell and What to Do
      6 Ways to View Your Apple ID Password—No Resetting Required
      4 Simple Ways to Fix iPhone iOS 16 "Update Requested"
      How to
      AirPlay to a Fire Stick from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac
      How to
      Connect and Access a USB Drive on iPhone or iPad
      How to
      Fix iMessage is Signed Out on iPhone: 8 Quick Fixes
      How to
      Connect Apple AirTags to Multiple iPhones and Other Devices
      No Location Found Error in Find My: Meaning and Solutions
      Your Guide to Apple’s True Tone Display Technology & How to Use It
      How to
      Fix 1st or 2nd Generation Apple Pencil Not Charging
      How to
      Delete Application Data on iOS: 3 Easy Ways
      How to
      Downgrade and Restore Older Versions of iOS on iPhone
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about smartphones, check out our in-depth interview with Naseem Speach .

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204144
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/airdrop-mac-send-files-devices-mh35868/mac

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Swipe up to open Control Center.
      2. Tap AirDrop: .
      3. Tap Receiving Off .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 300,623 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement