Before you can beam a file across the room, you need to make sure AirDrop is awake. On your Mac, open a Finder window—yes, the one with that blue smiley face that’s judging your cluttered desktop. Look at the sidebar; you’ll see AirDrop sitting there like a loyal dog waiting for a walk.
If it’s not there, don’t panic. Go to Finder > Settings > Sidebar and check the box next to AirDrop. You can also summon AirDrop from Control Center—click the Wi-Fi icon or the Control Center button in your menu bar, then tap the AirDrop square. Choose your visibility: No One (ghost mode), Contacts Only (for friends you actually talk to), or Everyone (for that chaotic party vibe).
Pro tip: If you’re in a café or a co-working space, stick with Contacts Only. You don’t want random strangers sending you memes—or worse, spreadsheet screenshots. Unless you’re into that.
