How to Airdrop Photos from iPhone to iPhone

Do you have an iPhone and want to transfer photos to your friend or to the brand-new iPhone you have bought? You don’t want to waste time, but you also don’t want the quality of the photos to go down. Luckily, your iPhone has a handy solution for this.

The Airdrop feature allows you to do just that without needing cables, an internet connection, or third-party software. And you can use it with any iOS operated device.

This article will show you what you need to know about the Airdrop feature and how to transfer photos from device to device as efficiently as possible.

How to Airdrop Photos from iPhone to iPhone

Before you begin sharing all the cute photos of your pet, there are some things you need to check before you can start.

• Make sure the iPhones are within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range.
• Make sure that both iPhones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
  
• Turn off any hotspots running from either phone.
  
• Check if the Airdrop settings are on Contacts Only or Everyone.
  

Swipe from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen (for iPhone X or later) to verify these requirements and access the Control Center. Here you can switch Bluetooth on and change the Airdrop settings to Everyone if you do not have the contact number saved in your phone.

The steps to Airdrop from iPhone to iPhone may vary depending on the version of your device.

For iPhone 11 or later:

1. Open the Photos app.
   
2. Select a photo.
   
3. Tap on the Share button.
   
4. Swipe left or right to find and add more photos.
   
5. Tap the AirDrop button.
   
6. A list of available devices will appear.
   
7. If both people have an iPhone 11 or a later model, when you point the sending iPhone towards the receiving one, the receiving iPhone appears at the top of the list of available devices. Being at the top of the list makes it easier for you to choose the device you want.
8. Select the receiving iPhone. If you have the number in your contacts, you will see the person’s image and name; if not, you will see only the person’s name.

For iPhone XS or earlier:

1. Open the Photos app.
   
2. Select a photo.
   
3. Tap on the Share button.
   
4. Add more photos by swiping left or right.
   
5. Tap the AirDrop button.
   
6. Select the receiving iPhone.
   

If you are the recipient, you will receive a pop-up notification with a preview of the file. The alert gives you the option to accept or decline the photo. If you accept the image, it will appear in your Photos app.

How to Airdrop All Photos from iPhone to iPhone

Sending a couple of photos from one iPhone to another is pretty simple. But what if you wanted to transfer your whole camera roll? Luckily, you won’t have to select each photo individually. Follow these steps to select all of your pictures to Airdrop.

1. Go to your Camera Roll and tap on Select on the top right.
   
2. Go to the last row of photos in your roll.
   
3. If the last row is complete, select the last picture and drag your finger across to the bottom left; then, without lifting your finger, drag to the top left corner until all the photos are selected.
   
4. If the last row is not full, select each photo individually and continue as described in Step 3.
5. Tap the AirDrop button.
   
6. Select the receiving iPhone.
   

How to Airdrop a Photo Album from iPhone to iPhone

What if you don’t want to transfer every single photo you have, but you also don’t want to select dozens of photos individually? There is a nifty feature called Moments which groups pictures based on the time and location they were taken. To transfer pictures via Moments, here are the steps:

1. Open the Photos app.
   
2. Go into Moments view.
   
3. Tap on the Select option in the top right corner.
   
4. Select the “Moments” you want to transfer and tap the AirDrop button.
   
5. Select the receiving iPhone.
   

If you already have made an album with specific pictures you would like to transfer, you can do it also this way:

1. Open the Photos app.
   
2. Tap on the Select option in the top right corner.
   
3. Select a whole album you want to transfer and tap the AirDrop button.
   
4. Select the receiving iPhone.
   

Or another way is to manually select the whole album similarly to choosing the entire Camera Roll:

1. Go to the Photos app.
   
2. Open the album you want to transfer and tap on the Select option.
3. Go to the last row of photos in the album.
4. Select all the pictures in the last row individually.
5. Press the last picture you’ve selected and drag your finger across the bottom left and then to the top left without lifting it.
   
6. If the last row is full, press the last photo and continue as described in Step 5.
7. Press the AirDrop button.
   
8. Choose the receiving iPhone.
   

How to Airdrop Photos from an Old iPhone to a New iPhone

The Airdrop feature is handy when switching from an old iPhone to a new one. It’s a fast, convenient way to transfer everything you need without losing the photo quality. However, you have to ensure that your device is running on iOS7 (or later) or transferring from an iPhone 5 or newer model. To do so, the steps are:

1. Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both iPhones.
   
2. Turn on Airdrop on both iPhones.
3. Go to the Photos app on your old phone and select the photos you want to transfer.
   
4. Tap on the Airdrop button.
   
5. Select your new phone.
   
6. Once you get the alert on your new phone, tap Accept.
   

Additional FAQs

Is There a Maximum Number of Pictures I Can Transfer With the Airdrop Feature?

There is no official limit. However, as the number of photos increases, so does the time it takes to transfer them. How long it would take depends on the size of the photos and the processor of both phones. Keep in mind that you cannot use the phones while transferring the images.

Why Is Airdrop Not Working on My Phone?

There are a few things that users could’ve overlooked that may cause an Airdrop error.

First, check if Bluetooth is turned on.

1. To do this, go to Settings and check if there is a green button next to the Bluetooth feature.

2. If it is turned on, check if your devices are discoverable. Tap on Allow New Connections to do so. This will allow the other iPhone to detect your device and connect to it.

Also, check if the Airdrop feature is turned on.

1. Go to Settings > General > Airdrop and turn it on if needed. If it is on, and the setting is on Contacts Only change it to Everyone. You can turn this off later.

Lastly, check if there are any hotspots turned on and turn them off; make sure to check this on both phones.

It’s also a good idea to ensure that the receiving iPhone has enough space to receive all the files if you are sending multiple at a time.

How Fast Is the Airdrop Feature?

How fast your photos or other files will transfer depends on many factors. The biggest factor is the photo or file size. It also depends on the hardware and software of the iPhones, especially the condition of the processor. The average transfer rate is around 6.62 Mbps.

Drop It Off

There are many reasons to use the Airdrop to transfer pictures to a nearby iPhone. It is simple, fast, and allows you to transfer many photos simultaneously. Therefore, knowing how to use this feature efficiently will help you share the moments you’ve captured in these photos more efficiently than ever.

Have you known about this feature, and how often do you use it? Have you experienced any issues with it? Share your experience in the comment section below.