AirDrop is the system that allows us to send and receive files quickly and comfortably on our Apple devices. The system has two main advantages. The first is speed, because we can transfer large amounts of information very quickly thanks to a Wi-Fi connection created openly between the two devices.
The other big advantage of AirDrop is that we can send and receive content with other people without having to exchange contact Nor anything like it. It is enough that we are physically together with another person so that we can initiate the communication. And this is where the AirDrop options and their recent changes come into play.
More privacy without us having to do anything
Until iOS 16.2, we had three options when it came to AirDrop. The first is reception disabled, which leaves the system totally powered off until we manually start it to perform or receive a transfer. The second is Only contacts which, as its name suggests, makes our devices only visible to our contacts.
Finally, there was the option All which made us visible to anyone within our Bluetooth range. Now, with iOS 16.2, currently in Release Candidate, this option becomes Everyone for 10 minutes. With this, although we can activate the reception more to anyone whenever we want, we won’t have to remember to put it back to
After 10 minutes after being activated, the system will automatically return to Only contacts to ensure we only receive transfers from the people we care about. An adjustment, all is said, that although it may not be important in an iPad that we always use at home, it is relevant in a cafeteria, an airport or places where we find ourselves with many other devices.
Years ago, Apple changed the way AirDrop works so that when you deny a transfer more than once, the system denies future transfers from the same sender for a period of time. This this was done precisely to avoid abuse of the system
As announced by Apple, the the stable version of iOS 16.2 and its counterpart for the iPad will arrive before the end of the year. With this, we can forget to set AirDrop again once we have used it with someone who we do not have in our contacts. Yes, it’s just a small gesture in the control center, but now even that won’t be necessary. The system will take care of everything.
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