How to AirDrop a large file or folder from a Mac
You can AirDrop a large file the same way as a small one: Share button, then AirDrop, then the recipient. Apple states that AirDrop is best for a small number of files, and for many files between your Mac and other Apple devices it points to iCloud. Its page gives no file size limit, so a big file is allowed but may be slow or fragile.
Make the transfer more likely to finish
- Keep the devices close. Apple says within 30 feet (10 meters). Put them next to each other for a large transfer.
- Check
Wi-Fiand Bluetooth are on at both ends. Apple lists both as requirements. - Send one big item at a time. A single large file is easier to retry than a batch.
- Compress a folder first. In Finder, Control click a folder and look for Compress. A single archive travels as one item, so it is easier to retry. Apple’s storage guide lists compressing files as a way to save space.
If it keeps failing
Stuck transfers are covered in AirDrop stuck on Waiting. If the same file fails every time, switch method rather than retrying again and again:
- iCloud. Apple points to iCloud for syncing many files.
- An external drive. Apple’s storage guide mentions moving files to an external drive. It also works for sending a copy to someone in person.
- A different cable or route such as a shared link from a cloud service you already use.
Check space on the receiver
The other device needs room for the file. If its storage is nearly full, the transfer can fail even when everything else is fine. On a Mac, see how to check disk space.
What this page cannot tell you
There is no published maximum size and no speed figure from Apple, so this page does not give one. Your result depends on the devices and the distance.
Moving big files around your Mac first
When you gather large files from several folders before sending, NotchStar’s File Shelf can hold them in the notch as references, and you then drop them on the AirDrop zone. It uses the same macOS AirDrop picker, so the limits above still apply. For the basic steps, see how to AirDrop from a Mac.
