Most people who need to share files from their iPhone or iPad to Mac or vice versa have heard of AirDrop, an application for transferring files to nearby devices. It is one of the easiest and quickest ways to transfer files between macOS and iOS devices. As long as both the devices have WiFi and Bluetooth turned on, it can be used to share images, videos, documents, and other files.
If you are a frequent user of AirDrop, you may realize the importance of having a fast access to AirDrop by having it readily available on the Dock of your Mac. By doing a minor change in the Mac OS file systems, it will allow you direct access to AirDrop through Mac Dock.
You can access the AirDrop from the Finder in macOS as well as through the keyboard shortcut of Command + Shift + R or just ask Siri for it. It is oddly not immediately available to be added to the Dock. The AirDrop is well-hidden, but is easy to retrieve with the following steps:
1) Open Finder, select Search bar and type in ‘Finder’ and hit return to search. Make sure to select ‘This Mac’ in the search options. Right-click the Finder icon and select Show Package Contents. Navigate through Contents and Applications to see AirDrop and drag it down to the Dock.
2) From the desktop, select Go in the menu followed by Go to Folder. In the search box, enter ‘/System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/Applications/’ and hit Go. Drag AirDrop to the Dock.
Adding Finder to the Dock makes it slightly quicker to access the function if you wish to send files. Using this method you can also add iCloud Drive to the Dock. The same can be used for other items in the folder.
It is also helpful to remember that where AirDrop files go depends on the target recipients’ OS. On the Mac, it is always the Downloads folder, but on the iOS, it can be various places depending on the type of file being sent. The AirDrop window eventually will be the same AirDrop window you use to access it in Finder by clicking on ‘AirDrop’ in the Go menu > sidebar menu.
Therefore, you now have a superfast way to open AirDrop and transfer files from your Mac. Now, if you want the fastest way to open AirDrop without adding it to your Dock and create more Dock clutter, you can simply use Spotlight, ask Siri or open Finder, and then click on AirDrop in the left panel.
