Apple quietly added a new AirDrop option in iOS 26.2 that makes sharing files with unfamiliar people easier, without fully opening up your device.
The feature, called “AirDrop codes”, is Apple’s answer to a long-standing gap between convenience and privacy.
Instead of changing your AirDrop visibility settings or creating a new contact, you can now approve another person using a one-time code and keep AirDrop access active for a limited time. That code acts as a short-lived permission, rather than a permanent relationship.
In practice, AirDrop codes let two iPhone users connect using a verification code shown on the receiving device.
The sender enters that code to complete the transfer. Once that happens, both devices can see each other in AirDrop for a set period, even if neither person is saved as a contact.
Apple’s goal here is to give you more control. AirDrop has traditionally forced users to choose between safety and speed.
Keeping AirDrop set to Contacts Only is secure, but it can be awkward when sharing with someone new. Switching to Everyone makes transfers instant, but also allows any nearby device to send requests.
AirDrop codes work around that tradeoff. You don’t need to adjust your main AirDrop setting at all. The code functions as a temporary handshake, authorizing sharing without changing your broader privacy preferences.
After a code is used, the two devices remain visible to each other in AirDrop for 30 days. During that window, files can be shared repeatedly without entering another code.
iOS also keeps track of these temporary connections in Settings > General > AirDrop, where you can see who you’ve authorized.
That makes AirDrop more comfortable to use in public or professional settings, where enabling AirDrop for everyone isn’t ideal, but adding someone to your contacts feels unnecessary.
AirDrop codes are available on iPhones running iOS 26.2 or later and require no additional setup beyond installing the update.
