What you should know
- You can’t view Airdrop history anywhere. This includes iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- There are a few ways that will let you know what the files received using Airdrop.
- However, it’s impossible to find what files are sent from your end.
Airdrop is one of my favorite features of the iPhone and Mac. It lets you seamlessly transfer files between your Apple device, quickly and easily. However, one thing I got stuck on a few days back is when finding where Airdrop history was saved on. I searched for my iPhone but ended up with no clue. I searched my Mac and the result was the same.
Finally, I come to know that Apple doesn’t save Airdrop history anywhere. However, there are a few ways that will let you know what has been received on your end.
Airdrop history on iPhone
As I said earlier, Apple doesn’t keep a log of your Airdrop history on your iPhone (or anywhere else). All the received files will be sent to the file-oriented apps. With the help of those apps, you can find what has been received on your device.
Where to find Airdropped pictures on iPhone?
Pictures received using airdrop will be sent to the photos app. You can access it from there. Similarly, all the videos received using airdrop will also be sent to the photos app because that’s where your videos are saved too.
Where to find Airdropped files on iPhone?
Just like photos and videos, files received using airdrop can be viewed by the respective app. For example, if you received a voice memo using airdrop, it will be saved and viewed by the voice memo app. The same goes for the maps, contacts, and all other files that can be sent using airdrop.
How to recover Airdropped deleted files on iPhone?
Recovering deleted files depends on the type of files you receive. If you receive a photo or video and if that is deleted, it can be found in the recently deleted folder on your photos app. It works the same on the other files too.
Alternatively, you can recover those files using your iCloud account if iCloud photos are active.
Airdrop history on Mac
Similar to the iPhone, Apple doesn’t save the Airdrop history on your Mac (or anywhere else). But unlike iPhone, the received files will be saved and viewed from the downloads folder. This lets you easily find all the files received from the Airdrop in one place.
How to find Airdropped files on Mac?
You can find and view all the received files on Mac using the downloads folder. To access the download folder, there are various ways and they are as follows
- By using the dock: You can find the downloads folder on the bottom dock of your mac. If you don’t know the exact icon of it, just hover your mouse from the right side and you will find it within a sec.
- By using shortcut keys: Press option + ⌘(command) + L to open the downloads folder
- By using finder: On the home screen, go to file -> new finder window in the top menu bar. On the new window’s sidebar, you can find the downloads folder.
How to change the location of the airdrop files on Mac?
As you know, the files received from the Airdrop on Mac are stored in downloads. Is there a way or an option to change from downloads to anywhere else?
Unfortunately, No you can’t change the location of the Airdropped files on Mac. The default will be the downloads folder and will remain the same until Apple decided to change it. As I said above, you can access that folder in various methods.
Airdrop history on iPad
iPad OS is pretty much similar to iOS with some tweaks here and there to make use of the full screen. So iPad’s Airdrop works very similarly to iOS and all the answers you have read above for iPhone will match for iPad as well. Though the iPad runs on iPad OS, it’s actually a modified version of iOS for iPad.
Can anyone Airdrop you without your knowledge?
Airdrop gives you full control over the tool and nobody can send you files on Airdrop without your knowledge. When someone sends you a file, you will get a prompt stating that someone is trying to send you a file.
Moreover, the prompt will include the sender’s name and the type of file they are willing to share. You can either accept the transfer or decline it.
How to prevent anyone from sending airdrop files?
Airdrop is a great way to share files between devices. However, the settings should be correctly saved to prevent unwanted file transfers. For example, anyone can send you any files if you actually allow them (if the settings allow them). it’s vulnerable and allows anyone to connect with your device. So you have to block incoming transfer requests from unknown people.
To do this on your iPhone using the control center,
- Swipe down or up the control center depending on your device.
- Tap and hold the network section.
- Now tap and hold the Airdrop option. You will be granted three options.
Receiving off – to completely go offline to all the nearby devices
Contacts only – to be visible to all the contacts
Everyone – to be visible to all the nearby devices - Choose contacts only to only allow your contacts to send files to your device
To do this on your iPhone using settings,
- Go to Settings and tap General.
- Now tap Airdrop and select contacts only.
- This will allow your device to be only visible to your contacts.
Conclusion
Neither of the Apple devices keeps a log of the Airdrop history, this includes both sent files and received files. However, received files are saved on your own device, which lets you know what the files are but sent files will give you no trace of them. As of iOS 16, these are the scenario and in the future, Apple may or may not include Airdrop history on their devices.
