Learn about the new AirDrop Contacts system in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, which requires a one-time verification code before sharing files with people who are not in your contacts.
Before this new update, sharing a file with a person not in your contacts involved just three steps:
- The other person sets their AirDrop visibility to Everyone.
- You select their device name on your AirDrop page.
- The other person accepts the incoming request.
Starting with iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS 26.2, when you share a file with someone whose mobile number or Apple Account email address isn’t saved in your Contacts app, there’s an additional step on top of the above three existing steps.
This extra step requires the sender to enter the six-digit code shown on the receiver’s device. It ensures you’re sending the file to the correct person, thus eliminating unwarranted and accidental AirDrop transfers from stalkers and strangers.
Once the AirDrop transfer is complete after six-digit code verification, that person’s name is automatically saved to your Contacts app, and all future AirDrop transfers in the next 30 days require no code-based verification (all the receiver needs to do is tap ‘Accept’).
Here’s more on this topic with step-by-step instructions. Make sure all participating devices are updated to OS 26.2 or later.
How to use AirDrop with code verification
In these steps, I’m assuming you are the one sending the file via AirDrop. Follow them accordingly if you are the one receiving it. Secondly, the steps are using an iPhone running iOS 26.2, but they are identical for iPad and Mac.
1) Ask the receiver to go to their iPhone Control Center or Settings > General > AirDrop and set the visibility to Everyone for 10 Minutes.
2) Tap the share button for a photo, video, or file on your iPhone, select AirDrop, and tap the person’s device name.
3) The receiver will get an “Use AirDrop Code” alert on their device, where they must tap Get AirDrop Code to receive a six-digit code.
4) Enter that six-digit number on your iPhone AirDrop screen to start the transfer.
Your file will start transferring right away.
No code for the next 30 days
After verifying with this one-time code, you won’t need to verify again with a code for the next 30 days when sharing files with this user. All the receiver has to do is tap Accept.
See all your known AirDrop contacts and remove them
1) Open the Contacts or Phone app and tap the arrow button in the top left corner. You can also go to iOS Settings > General > AirDrop and tap Manage Known AirDrop Contacts.
2) Tap the Other Known list to see all users you have exchanged files with via the one-time AirDrop verification method.
3) To remove a person, tap their name and select Forget This Person. If you need to share files with this person again, you’ll have to re-verify.
I had to authenticate separately for all my devices
Going by the feature description (mentioned below), I thought that once I verified a person with AirDrop code on one of my devices, like my iPhone, I wouldn’t have to do it on my iPad or Mac.
“You will automatically appear for 30 days to people you have shared a one-time code with.”
But in my tests, I found that I had to verify the same person and their same device with different six-digit codes when sending files from my iPad and Mac. Of course, my iPad and Mac use the same Apple Account as my iPhone.
You can see that my name is listed three times (one each for my iPhone, iPad, and Mac) in the Other Known section of the receiver’s device.
What do you think of this new feature?
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