Change AirDrop on iPhone – 9to5Mac

After first making a change to AirDrop for users in China, Apple has changed the available options for all users with iOS 16.2. With “Everyone” not being a permanent option anymore, you may end up heading to AirDrop settings more frequently. Here are 3 ways to change AirDrop on iPhone.

Up until recently, AirDrop settings were configurable to off, Contacts Only, and Everyone with the chosen setting remaining permanently.

With iOS 16.1.1 for users in China and iOS 16.2 for iPhone users everywhere else, off and Contacts Only remain as permanent options but the Everyone button is now limited to 10 minutes.

That means you’ve got automatic protection against spam from random senders– especially useful in public spaces. But it also means you might be going back to AirDrop settings more often if you regularly transfer content with people who aren’t saved contacts.

After choosing Everyone for 10 Minutes, AirDrop will switch to Contacts Only when the timer is up, even if Receiving Off was previously selected.

3 ways to change AirDrop on iPhone

Fastest option – Control Center

Swipe down from the top left corner of your iPhone to open Control Center
Long-press on the WiFi/Cellular/Bluetooth tile
Now tap AirDrop to change your setting

Option 2 – Settings app

Open the Settings app
Choose General
Now tap AirDrop to change your setting

Option 3 – Change AirDrop with Siri (sort of)

Strangely, if you ask Siri to open AirDrop settings or change AirDrop – or really any mix of requests like that, you’ll hear “Sorry, I can’t help with that.”
However, if you open Settings > General > AirDrop and leave the app you can say “Hey Siri, Settings” and you’ll pop right back to the AirDrop settings page
Not ideal but if you need to refresh the 10 minute Everyone option multiple times, it can save you some taps

Thanks for reading our guide on how to change AirDrop on iPhone! Are you happy about the change? Wish the permanent Everyone option was still included? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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