Snapdrop iOS is a handy web-based service that allows you to quickly transfer files between devices on the same network without requiring any account setup. With Snapdrop, you can effortlessly share photos, videos, documents and more between your iPhone, iPad, Mac and other devices.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started with Snapdrop on your iPhone or iPad.
Recent Released:Geometry Dash on iOS 17: Is It Compatible?
An Introduction to Snapdrop
Snapdrop iOS is an open-source, peer-to-peer file sharing service that utilizes WebRTC technology to enable swift file transfers between devices on the same network. Developed by Robin Linus in 2019, Snapdrop has swiftly risen in popularity due to its speed, simplicity and ease of use.
Some key things to know about Snapdrop:
- It’s completely free to use with no limits on transfers
- No account creation is required
- It’s cross-platform – works on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Linux
- Transfers files directly between devices without intermediate servers
- Encrypts file transfers for security
Overall, Snapdrop provides one of the quickest and most hassle-free ways to share files locally between your devices.
Getting Started with Snapdrop on iOS
Getting started with Snapdrop on your iPhone or iPad takes just a couple of minutes. Here are the steps:
1. Open the Snapdrop Website
The first step is to open the Snapdrop website. Simply go to on your iOS device’s web browser – Safari is recommended but other browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Edge also work.
The Snapdrop website is very minimal with just a logo and space to display connected devices. Note that Snapdrop is a progressive web app so you can also add it to your iOS home screen for quick access later.
2. Connect Devices to the Same Network
For Snapdrop iOS to work, the sending and receiving devices need to be on the same local network, usually a Wi-Fi network. So connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi router or other local network.
Once connected to the same network, both devices should show up on each other’s Snapdrop interface. The device names will depend on what naming is set on each device.
If devices don’t show up, check that both are on the same network and try refreshing the Snapdrop page. The devices need to be on the same subnet to discover each other.
3. Select a Device and Share Files
On the sending device, simply tap on the name of the receiving device you want to share files with. A “Click to Share” button will appear.
Tap this and you’ll get options to select files to share from your iOS device’s local storage. Choose photos, videos, PDFs, documents or other files to share.
Once file selection is done, Snapdrop will begin transferring the files directly to the receiving device over the local network. Large files may take some time depending on your network speed.
4. Receive and Save Files
On the receiving device, Snapdrop iOS will display a notification that files are available to download from the sending device along with the file names.
Tap on the notification or file name to download an incoming file. You can choose to save or discard a file before completing the download. Received files get saved to the device’s local Downloads folder by default.
And that’s all there is to it! The intuitive Snapdrop interface makes sharing files between devices a breeze. Now let’s go over some tips and tricks to use Snapdrop effectively on your iPhone and iPad.
Tips and Tricks for Using Snapdrop on iOS
Here are some handy tips to ensure you have the best experience using Snapdrop on your iOS devices:
- Quick Share Menu: Add Snapdrop to the iOS Share menu for quick sending. Open Snapdrop, tap Share > Add to Home Screen. Now you can share files directly from the Share menu of apps.
- Customize Device Name: You can change your device name in Snapdrop by tapping on it and editing the name. Useful for identifying devices.
- QR Codes: Tap the QR code icon next to a device name to easily connect devices instead of browsing for them. Scan the QR code displayed on one device using the other.
- Self Share: You can even send files to yourself between your own devices this way. Snapdrop allows sharing files with your own device.
- Large Files: Use AirDrop for large files over 150 MB, as the browser interface of Snapdrop may struggle with very large file transfers.
- Unsaved Changes: Snapdrop will warn you about unsaved changes before leaving the page so you don’t lose any file transfer progress.
- Password: Set a password by tapping on your device name if you wish to make the device discoverable only via password. This adds an extra privacy layer.
- Dark Mode: Snapdrop has a neatly designed dark mode that gets activated automatically based on your device settings.
Using these tips will allow you to quickly master Snapdrop for seamless wireless file sharing between your iPhone, iPad and other devices.
Advanced Snapdrop Uses on iOS
Beyond basic file transfers, there are some cool advanced uses of Snapdrop that further extend its utility on iPhone and iPad.
Share iOS Screenshots
You can easily share iOS screenshots taken using the Volume + Side Button method directly through Snapdrop. After taking a screenshot, tap on the preview thumbnail in the bottom left corner, then tap again to bring up sharing options and choose Snapdrop.
Share Photos and Videos
Use Snapdrop for quickly sharing photos and videos from your iOS device’s gallery. Just open the Photos app, select the media and tap the Share button to send it across devices.
Share App Content
Many apps like Safari, Notes, Files, etc. allow you to tap Share and then upload files, pages, notes and more through Snapdrop to transfer to another device.
Share Contact Cards
Select a contact, tap Share and upload their contact card information to another device via Snapdrop. Useful for quickly exchanging contacts between iOS devices.
Transfer Documents
You can use Snapdrop as a wireless hard drive to quickly transfer documents between your iPhone, iPad and computer. Documents stay available on Snapdrop while transferring.
Share Your Location
Tap the Location icon on Snapdrop to share a direct link to your current location that can be opened in mapping apps like Apple Maps.
temporary Web Hosting
You can host small web pages, HTML, CSS, JS files on devices via Snapdrop for testing purposes and access them on other connected devices.
Network Diagnostics
Check network connection issues between devices using the Network Info option. It shares your public IP and network details to debug connectivity problems.
As you can see, Snapdrop is much more versatile than just basic file transfers. With a bit of creativity, you can utilize it for a variety of purposes on your iPhone and iPad.
Troubleshooting Snapdrop Issues on iOS
Snapdrop generally works flawlessly for wireless file transfers between iOS devices. However, you may occasionally face some issues getting it to work properly. Here are solutions for some common Snapdrop problems on iPhone and iPad:
Devices Not Visible – Ensure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network or other local network. Try manually refreshing the Snapdrop page. Also check if firewalls are blocking connectivity.
Transfers Not Starting – Verify sufficient storage space on both devices. Turn off Low Data mode on iOS if enabled. Check if a VPN is enabled and disable it.
Slow Transfer Speeds – Make sure devices are within range and have good signal strength. Use 5GHz Wi-Fi instead of 2.4GHz for better speed. Transfer smaller files if network is slow.
Transfer Interrupted – Network fluctuations can interrupt transfers. Keep devices stationary and close for uninterrupted transfer. Verify network reliability.
Can’t Select Files – Check if file permissions are set properly on iOS. Try restarting the device if unable to access files for sharing.
Web Interface Not Loading – Try using a different web browser if Snapdrop gets stuck loading. Disable browser extensions that may interfere with page loading.
If issues persist after trying the above solutions, you can contact the developer via email, GitHub or Reddit for further support on getting Snapdrop working properly on your iPhone or iPad.
Snapdrop Alternatives for iOS
While Snapdrop is undoubtedly the top choice for fast web-based file sharing between iOS devices, here are some alternative apps and services you can also check out:
- AirDrop – Apple’s proprietary software for lightning-fast device-to-device transfers between Apple devices.
- Send Anywhere – Cross-platform file sharing app that utilizes QR codes for easy transfers.
- Portal by Pushbullet – File sending app using device pairing for effortless file sharing on local networks.
- SHAREit – Popular app for cross-platform wireless file sharing between iOS and Android.
- Feem – Web app for open-source P2P file transfers between devices on LAN.
Each Snapdrop alternative has its own pros and cons in terms of speed, usage limits, extra features and device support. Evaluate them to see if they better fit your specific iOS file sharing needs.
Conclusion
Snapdrop delivers an exceptionally fast and simple way to wirelessly transfer files between your iPhone, iPad and laptops on the same local network.
With its user-friendly interface, focus on privacy and support for all major platforms, Snapdrop has become many users’ go-to solution for effortless file sharing.
On iOS, just follow the steps above to start sending photos, videos, documents and more between devices in seconds. Make use of the tips and advanced features to boost productivity.
Now you can stop emailing yourself files or relying on cloud services. With Snapdrop, you can transfer files at blazing fast speeds without any accounts, logins or limits – the way wireless sharing should be.
