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iOS 26.2 added AirDrop codes, a way to verify sharing with someone who is not in your contacts without creating a permanent contact first. The recipient displays a code, the sender enters it, and—after that first verified exchange—the two can continue sharing through AirDrop for 30 days. The feature works alongside AirDrop’s existing visibility settings; it does not replace them or make AirDrop work remotely.
What changed in AirDrop?
Before AirDrop codes, sharing with someone outside your contacts usually meant making your device discoverable through Everyone for 10 Minutes. The other person could then select your device, and you still had to accept the transfer. That setting remains available, but iOS 26.2 adds a code step for verifying a transfer involving someone who is not already in the recipient’s contacts.
The recipient generates the code on their device and gives it to the sender, who enters it to proceed. Apple says that once the code has been used successfully, the two people can continue sharing without another code for 30 days. Apple describes the temporary relationship as an entry in an Other Known list—not a standard permanent contact. In practical terms, it offers a short-term way to recognize someone without adding them to your address book.
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How to use an AirDrop code on iPhone or iPad
Apple’s documented iPhone and iPad workflow uses Everyone for 10 Minutes when sharing with someone who is not in your contacts:
- On the recipient’s device, open Control Center, then touch and hold the group of connectivity controls.
- Tap AirDrop and choose Everyone for 10 Minutes.
- On the sender’s device, open the photo, document or other item, tap Share, tap AirDrop, and select the recipient.
- When the request appears on the recipient’s device, choose Continue, then tap Get AirDrop Code.
- The recipient communicates the displayed code to the sender. The sender enters it on their device.
- Accept the item if prompted, then wait for the transfer to finish.
Apple’s AirDrop instructions note that the temporary Everyone setting reverts after 10 minutes to Contacts Only for users signed in to an Apple Account, or Receiving Off for users who are not signed in. If you do not want your device to remain discoverable, check its AirDrop setting after the exchange.
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What Mac users should know
A Mac running macOS 26.2 or later can participate in the code workflow. The Mac interface differs from iPhone and iPad: Apple’s Mac AirDrop guide covers the controls and code entry. The important roles stay the same: the recipient’s device displays the code, and the sender enters it. Do not assume an older Mac or mobile device gains the feature just because the other person’s device is updated.
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What the 30-day period means—and how to end it early
The 30-day period is a temporary convenience window, not a permanent contact entry or an indefinite pairing. It means you can continue sharing with that person through AirDrop without repeating the code during the period. Apple’s documentation does not say that every future transfer will be accepted automatically; normal AirDrop prompts and device settings still matter.
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If you want to remove the temporary relationship before 30 days have passed, open Contacts, find the person in Other Known, and choose Forget This Person. The exact labels can vary by language, region or interface revision.
Is an AirDrop code a security guarantee?
It adds a more deliberate check than simply making a device broadly discoverable: someone needs the code shown by the recipient before the exchange proceeds. That can make casual or mistaken requests less convenient to complete, while sparing people the need to add one another as permanent contacts for a one-off exchange.
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It is not proof of someone’s real-world identity, and it does not prevent a person from sharing the code with the wrong recipient. Treat it as an additional verification and consent step, not a guarantee against scams, unwanted content or every security risk. Check that you selected the intended device, and share the code only with the person you mean to receive the file.
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- At an event: Send a photo to someone you just met without exchanging contact cards first.
- At work or school: Share a document with a new colleague, client or classmate, then continue exchanging files for a short-term project.
- For a one-time handoff: Send something to a new device owner without keeping a new contact entry indefinitely.
The trade-off is one extra step: the recipient must retrieve and communicate the code. For repeat sharing during the next month, that step can save more friction than it adds. For a single quick transfer, accepting the request may be all you need; for an ongoing relationship, adding the person to Contacts may be more useful.
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If the code or transfer does not work
Apple’s documentation does not specify a retry limit or exact code timeout, so do not rely on an assumed number of attempts or expiration period. If the sender cannot proceed, have the recipient generate and communicate the current code again, and confirm the sender selected the intended nearby device.
For discovery or transfer problems, check the basics:
- Confirm both devices support the feature and run iOS, iPadOS or macOS 26.2 or later for the code workflow.
- Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, and disconnect Personal Hotspot if it is active.
- Keep the devices within about 30 feet (10 meters).
- Check the recipient’s AirDrop visibility setting. If the sender is not in their contacts, Apple’s documented iPhone workflow uses Everyone for 10 Minutes.
- If discovery or transfer remains stuck, restart the devices and try again.
These connection checks follow Apple’s iPhone and iPad guidance and Mac troubleshooting advice. A device on an older operating-system version may not support the code flow, so the participants may need to use another sharing method.
When another sharing method makes more sense
AirDrop is most useful when devices are nearby and you are sharing a small selection of items. For a large collection or ongoing collaboration, iCloud Drive or a shared folder may be more practical, though cloud storage and account setup are involved. Messages or Mail work when the recipient is elsewhere, subject to the service’s file limits and how it handles media. For people using different platforms, a third-party transfer service may be an option, but it introduces another provider and its own account, privacy and link-sharing considerations. These alternatives solve different problems; they are not automatically equivalent in security or convenience.
Apple introduced AirDrop codes with iOS 26.2, released in December 2025; they remain part of the documented experience on version 26.2 and later. The feature’s value is its practical balance: more control when sharing with a non-contact, without requiring a lasting address-book relationship. It adds a step, preserves AirDrop’s nearby-device requirement and depends on compatible software.
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