On an iPhone, files received via AirDrop automatically go to the app associated with their file type. For example:
- Photos and videos are saved in the Photos app.
- Contacts are saved in the Contacts app.
- Documents or presentations open in their respective apps like Keynote or Files.
If you receive a file type that does not have a default app, you may be prompted to choose an app to open it or download one from the App Store
. Unlike on a Mac, where AirDrop files go to the Downloads folder, on iPhone there is no single folder for all AirDrop files; instead, they are distributed to the relevant apps based on file type
. To find your AirDrop files on iPhone:
- Check the app that corresponds to the file type (e.g., Photos for pictures).
- If you can't find the file, try opening the Files app and look in the Downloads folder or iCloud Drive Downloads folder, especially for files like PDFs or audio
Before receiving files, ensure AirDrop is enabled on your iPhone by going to Settings > General > AirDrop and selecting "Everyone" or "Contacts Only"
. In summary, AirDrop files on iPhone do not go to a single folder but are saved directly into the appropriate app for easy access. Photos go to Photos, contacts to Contacts, and other files to their respective apps or the Files app if applicable
