iOS 17 AirDrop Features: NameDrop, SharePlay, and Proximity Sharing

[MacRumors]

Apple in iOS 17 is improving the AirDrop sharing feature that is designed to allow two Apple devices to share content with one another quickly and easily. Proximity sharing has been improved, it's easier to exchange content, and more.

This guide highlights all of the new AirDrop features you'll find in iOS 17.

NameDrop

NameDrop is an AirDrop feature that lets you exchange contact information with someone by touching two iPhones together. Bringing two devices together will automatically pop up a contact sharing interface.

Tapping on the popup shows a person's contact information and their Contact Poster, with options to "Receive Only" or share your own contact information in response. You can choose the phone number and email address that you want to share with someone on the other end, and if someone is already in your Contacts app, it updates contact information.

Note that NameDrop works between two iPhones running iOS 17 and later this year, it will work between an iOS 17 iPhone and an Apple Watch running watchOS 10.

Proximity Sharing

If you need to share a file or a photo with someone who is right next to you, there's a new proximity sharing feature available for AirDrop.

To initiate a transfer, choose the photo or file that you want to share with someone. From there, bring your unlocked iPhone next to the person's unlocked iPhone, and it will pop up a share interface without you having to tap on the Share Sheet.

You can tap on the Share option that pops up to send the photo or file to the person next to you. It will be received on the other device automatically, with permission granted through proximity.

Note that sharing files this way works even if AirDrop receiving is turned off or limited to contacts, so it is a way to share a file with someone without having to change your overall AirDrop settings. AirDrop normally works with someone in the same room, but the proximity sharing feature requires the two iPhones to be close to touching.

Sharing through proximity can be enabled or disabled by going to Settings > General > AirDrop and toggling "Bringing Devices Together" on or off.

Transfers Over the Internet

Apple plans to allow AirDrop transfers that have been initiated to finish over the internet in iOS 17. That means if you start sharing a bunch of files or photos with someone, you won't need to stay nearby for the transfer to complete.

AirDrop is a fairly fast file sharing method, but if you're sharing large videos, it can be frustrating to have to stay close by to someone for a transfer to finish. File transfers over the internet requires iOS 17 and for both participants to be signed into iCloud, and this is a feature that will be coming in an update to iOS 17.

SharePlay

If you want to listen to music or watch a movie with someone nearby, there's a new SharePlay feature that allows SharePlay to be initiated through proximity much like AirDrop.

Starting SharePlay content and then bringing your iPhone next to another iPhone will initiate a SharePlay session through the Messages app. It's the same SharePlay function that can be accessed through the Share Sheet, but the proximity method is a quicker way to begin a SharePlay session.

Proximity SharePlay is useful for situations like flights where each person may want to use their own device but share the same content.

Developers can build support for SharePlay over AirDrop into their apps, but as with standard SharePlay, both people will need to have the app installed and have access to the content.

Read More

Additional details on the new features in the iOS 17 update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.

Article Link: iOS 17 AirDrop Features: NameDrop, SharePlay, and Proximity Sharing

 

[zapmymac]

I’d like to see a business card option as well as personal/family/friends option.

One card with limited info, the other card with all my info pending use case.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

NameDrop seems cool

 

[Radeon85]

Just re-enable the option to share to anyone forever again.

 

[jz0309]

nice additions, not sure I will ever use those though ...

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Just re-enable the option to share to anyone forever again.

YES PLEASE!

 

[Jay Tee]

AirDrop-over-Internet & Proximity Sharing improve transfer robustness, while maintaining security restrictions.

You're got to hand it to Apple, they're doing great work.

 

[klasma]

NameDrop seems cool

MicDrop would be even cooler.

 

[lordhamster]

Is there a way to pre-select which fields from my contact card are shared via NameDrop? For example, I don’t want my work or iCloud emails shared to randos.

 

[Mac_tech]

Is there a way to pre-select which fields from my contact card are shared via NameDrop? For example, I don’t want my work or iCloud emails shared to randos.

Yes, if you read the text under name drop, it says you can choose the phone number and email address that you would like to share with someone on the other end. If someone is already in your contacts, it will update their contact information.

So it seems like it’s possible to choose what you want to share.

I hope this helps.

 

[rtkane]

I once had someone tell me that name dropping is just a pathetic way to make yourself seem more important.

It was Bill Gates if anyone is curious.

 

[x13gamer]

This is Literally the Bump App from 2009.

From Wikipedia:
"Bump sends contact information, photos and files to another device over the internet.[4] Before activating the transfer, each user confirms what he or she wants to send to the other user.[5] To initiate a transfer, two people physically bump their phones together."

 

[x13gamer]

Is there a way to pre-select which fields from my contact card are shared via NameDrop? For example, I don’t want my work or iCloud emails shared to randos.

When was the last time you tried to share a contact card? There currently is an option to limit what is shared.

 

[WhiteShadow]

This is Literally the Bump App from 2009.

From Wikipedia:
"Bump sends contact information, photos and files to another device over the internet.[4] Before activating the transfer, each user confirms what he or she wants to send to the other user.[5] To initiate a transfer, two people physically bump their phones together."

Thanks! I feel like I've been taking crazy pills so much of what is coming out already existed in another app or form. Are these 'tech' journalists just too young to know?

There was a Verge article a two years ago about the map functionality using your camera to overlay Augmented Reality to show you walking directions talking about it being new. I had an app that did that in like 2008, I remember standing on the corner in New York holding my phone up and there was an arrow telling me which block to turn on.

 

[coolfactor]

I don't get why the NameDrop animation has to be so complex. What does a water effect have to do with sharing contact info? Am I missing a metaphor? Seems like it's trying to be cool for the sake of being cool.

 

[coolfactor]

Just re-enable the option to share to anyone forever again.

Too many nobodys abused that feature.

 

[KingKeenan]

Apple in iOS 17 is improving the AirDrop sharing feature that is designed to allow two Apple devices to share content with one another quickly and easily. Proximity sharing has been improved, it's easier to exchange content, and more.

This guide highlights all of the new AirDrop features you'll find in iOS 17.

NameDrop

NameDrop is an AirDrop feature that lets you exchange contact information with someone by touching two iPhones together. Bringing two devices together will automatically pop up a contact sharing interface.

Tapping on the popup shows a person's contact information and their Contact Poster, with options to "Receive Only" or share your own contact information in response. You can choose the phone number and email address that you want to share with someone on the other end, and if someone is already in your Contacts app, it updates contact information.

Note that NameDrop works between two iPhones running iOS 17 and later this year, it will work between an iOS 17 iPhone and an Apple Watch running watchOS 10.

Proximity Sharing

If you need to share a file or a photo with someone who is right next to you, there's a new proximity sharing feature available for AirDrop.

To initiate a transfer, choose the photo or file that you want to share with someone. From there, bring your unlocked iPhone (or iPad) next to the person's unlocked iPad, and it will pop up a share interface without you having to tap on the Share Sheet.

You can tap on the Share option that pops up to send the photo or file to the person next to you. It will be received on the other device automatically, with permission granted through proximity.

Note that sharing files this way works even if AirDrop receiving is turned off or limited to contacts, so it is a way to share a file with someone without having to change your overall AirDrop settings. AirDrop normally works with someone in the same room, but the proximity sharing feature requires the two iPhones to be close to touching.

Sharing through proximity can be enabled or disabled by going to Settings > General > AirDrop and toggling "Bringing Devices Together" on or off.

Transfers Over the Internet

Apple plans to allow AirDrop transfers that have been initiated to finish over the internet in iOS 17. That means if you start sharing a bunch of files or photos with someone, you won't need to stay nearby for the transfer to complete.

AirDrop is a fairly fast file sharing method, but if you're sharing large videos, it can be frustrating to have to stay close by to someone for a transfer to finish. File transfers over the internet requires iOS 17 and for both participants to be signed into iCloud.

SharePlay

If you want to listen to music or watch a movie with someone nearby, there's a new SharePlay feature that allows SharePlay to be initiated through proximity much like AirDrop.

Starting SharePlay content and then bringing your iPhone or iPad next to another iPad or iPhone will initiate a SharePlay session through the Messages app. It's the same SharePlay function that can be accessed through the Share Sheet, but the proximity method is a quicker way to begin a SharePlay session.

Proximity SharePlay is useful for situations like flights where each person may want to use their own device but share the same content.

Developers can build support for SharePlay over AirDrop into their apps, but as with standard SharePlay, both people will need to have the app installed and have access to the content.

Read More

Additional details on the new features in the iOS 17 update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.

Article Link: iOS 17: What's New With AirDrop

I'm excited for the Namedrop feature and share airdrop

 

[escargot3]

This is Literally the Bump App from 2009.

From Wikipedia:
"Bump sends contact information, photos and files to another device over the internet.[4] Before activating the transfer, each user confirms what he or she wants to send to the other user.[5] To initiate a transfer, two people physically bump their phones together."

Not really. Bump required both users to have downloaded, installed and set up the bump app, which practically no one used. This feature only requires users to have iOS 17. That’s a game changer.

 

[escargot3]

Do all these proximity features require both phones to have the U1 chip? Ie will it work on an iPhone Xs?

 

[Lakersfan74]

Unless it’s already a feature that I have not figured out yet, but I want ability to airdrop from my phone into my Apple TV storage

 

[Reformed]

Sounds "cool"... but in reality, these features are useless for most people. I ain't NameDroppin' nobody lol

 

[topdrawer]

can't wait to meet someone new that wants to exchange information and also happens to have an iphone and the latest ios.

 

[Salomon100]

The continuous transfer over the internet is great. But what happens if one of the 2 has its full 5 Gb free iCloud storage space? Something that happens too often, at least in Europe. When you share photos through "an iCloud link" if your storage is full, you get a message saying that the transfer is impossible because the storage is full. Sharing photos through "iCloud link" should not count towards the contracted storage. Well, it is a link to a photo that will be downloaded and deleted after 30 days, or the link will stop working. What will happen then with airdrop, it will also stop working if the sender has the space of 5 gb or storage that he has contracted full. I'm afraid he won't let you share, and for me it's a mistake, at least if the one who receives has space. If you have to count the space for someone who is for the one who receives it. Many times we run out of photos because the one who sends does not want to pay for more space in iCloud (because they are usually the ones who spend the least on technological subscriptions)

 

[jtmacb]

Why has no one mentioned the security issue inherent in this new AirDrop feature? If some stranger sits down next to you on bus, on a train, or at a conference and now they can download docs and photos without your permission doesn’t anyone else see that that could be a huge security risk not to mention a way for porno to be sent to you? There should always be a requirement that permission be given. Just because someone sits next to you it’s not like you can trust them like your mother or father and let’s face it, some of us have crazy parents too.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

Why has no one mentioned the security issue inherent in this new AirDrop feature? If some stranger sits down next to you on bus, on a train, or at a conference and now they can download docs and photos without your permission doesn’t anyone else see that that could be a huge security risk not to mention a way for porno to be sent to you? There should always be a requirement that permission be given. Just because someone sits next to you it’s not like you can trust them like your mother or father and let’s face it, some of us have crazy parents too.

When I send something via Airdrop, they have to confirm that they want to receive it. My Airdrop settings when I’m not using AirDrop is to only receive only from my contacts. I’ve never had a situation where some random person sent me an AirDrop or we’re able to Airdrop stuff from my phone.