Q: AirDrop

Hello there, Scott.

It seems you want to know what is required for using the AirDrop feature on your MacBook Pro. The following Knowledge Base article offers up some great insight into what is needed to share content:

Use AirDrop to send content from your Mac

What you need

Make sure that both devices can use AirDrop:

• On Mac computers, choose Go from the menu bar in the Finder. If the Go menu includes AirDrop, that Mac can use AirDrop.
• On iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch) open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. If AirDrop is in Control Center, that iOS device can use AirDrop.

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Tips for sending items

If you don't see the recipient in the AirDrop window or sheet:

• Make sure that both devices have AirDrop turned on and are within 30 feet (9 meters) of each other.
• If you're sending to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
  • Your Mac needs to be a 2012 or newer model with OS X Yosemite or later.
  • The iOS device must have Personal Hotspot turned off in Settings > Cellular.
• If you're sending to a Mac:
  • If the receiving Mac is using OS X Mavericks, Mountain Lion, or Lion, it needs to have an AirDrop window open: choose Go > AirDrop from the menu bar in the Finder.
  • If the receiving Mac is a 2012 or older model, click “Don't see who you're looking for?” in the AirDrop window or sharing sheet of the sending Mac. Then click “Search for an Older Mac.”
  • Find out if the Mac has “Block all incoming connections” turned on in Security & Privacy preferences. A Mac won't receive items using AirDrop if this setting is turned on.
• If AirDrop on the receiving device is set up to receive items from contacts only, make sure that both devices are signed in to iCloud. Also make sure that the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID is in the Contacts app of the receiving device.

AirDrop system requirements

To send items to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you need a 2012 or newer Mac model with OS X Yosemite or later, excluding the Mac Pro (Mid 2012).

To send items to another Mac, you need:

• MacBook Pro (Late 2008) or newer, excluding the MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008)
• MacBook Air (Late 2010) or newer
• MacBook (Late 2008) or newer, excluding the white MacBook (Late 2008)
• iMac (Early 2009) or newer
• Mac Mini (Mid 2010) or newer
• Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)

Learn how to identify your model of MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Pro.

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Kind Regards.