AirDrop is a brilliant Apple feature that uses a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to instantly beam photos, videos, and documents between iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It is incredibly convenient for sharing a photo with a friend standing next to you.
However, leaving AirDrop permanently turned on and set to “Everyone” is a major security and privacy risk. If you are sitting on a crowded train, walking through a shopping mall, or sitting in a high school cafeteria, complete strangers can see the name of your iPhone and attempt to anonymously beam you unsolicited images or malicious links. To protect yourself, you should turn AirDrop off when you are not actively using it.
How to Turn Off AirDrop
You can disable the feature completely using the main settings app.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on General.
- Tap on AirDrop.
- You will see three distinct options:
- Receiving Off: Completely disables AirDrop. Nobody can see your phone, and nobody can send you files.
- Contacts Only: The safest daily setting. Only people who are physically saved in your address book can see your phone and send you files.
- Everyone for 10 Minutes: Allows total strangers to send you files, but automatically turns itself off after ten minutes to prevent ongoing harassment.
- Tap on Receiving Off to completely secure your device.
The Instant Control Centre Method
If you need to quickly toggle AirDrop on to receive a photo from a friend, and then immediately turn it off again, going through the Settings app is too slow. You can manage it instantly from the Control Centre.
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen to open the Control Centre. (If your iPhone has a physical Home button, swipe up from the very bottom edge of the screen).
- Look at the square block in the top-left corner that contains the Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth icons.
- Press and hold your finger firmly in the centre of that square block.
- The block will expand, revealing two hidden icons: AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.
- Tap the AirDrop icon.
- A small menu will appear. Tap Receiving Off.
The AirDrop icon will turn grey, confirming that your device is now completely invisible to everyone around you. You can still send files to other people while your receiving setting is off, but nobody can initiate a transfer to you.