Back in July , I explain how Lion ’s Modern AirDrop feature countenance you exchange files simply between two computers with up - to - date Wi - Fi ironware . As I wrote then , AirDrop is a breeze to useifyou have the correct Mac . You ’re out of luck if your computer does n’t have the right ironware — specifically , if it does n’t have Wi - Fi chips capable of personal orbit web ( PAN ) for peer - to - peer connections . Many Macs , even many of comparatively recent vintage and many that can execute Lion , do n’t have those chips and so ca n’t habituate AirDrop . ( Apple provides a list of AirDrop - up to Macshere . )
But , it move around out , there ’s a workaround . Ananonymous Mac OS X Hints readerfound that , if you have one of those senior Macs , you may bring a circumstance to AirDrop ’s defaults that permit AirDrop to work over regular networks , not just PANs .
The change is a one - line drive : Open Terminal and , at the command blood , type :
make Return , then go back to your Desktop and entertain down the alternative keystone as you Control - chatter ( or right - click ) on the Finder image in the Dock . Select Relaunch from the contextual menu ; relaunching the Finder activate the code you enter above . When the Finder finishes its restart , you should see an AirDrop first appearance in the Finder sidebar that was n’t there before . ( you could repeal the process by using the same dictation with0instead of1 , and relaunching the Finder again . )
How it works
There ’s an interesting reason this switching works . AirDrop practice Bonjour , the engineering science that allow Macs and other gadget on a meshwork announce their presence and the services they provide , so other computers and gadget on that web can notice them without a lot of tedious shape on your part . AirDrop is just another table service that announces itself over Bonjour , but with a difference : Lion only looks for incoming AirDrop messages on the Wi - Fi PAN user interface ; it does n’t look on the Wi - Fi wireless local area web ( WLAN ) interface as a whole , and Ethernet and other local networking type do n’t register either . What the pinch above does is tell Lion to remove that limitation and look for AirDrop announcements on any connection interface .
Doing so actually remove one of AirDrop ’s central advantages : In its nonpayment mode , it can connect Macs that do n’t already have a web connection . The span may be connected to separate networks , or not tie in to any meshwork at all . If their Wi - Fi chips are active , though , AirDrop can still connect them . The place setting above connects Macs only if they ’re on the same local internet , disregardless of how they ’re connect ( Wi - Fi , Ethernet , or both ) .
How to use it
In testing , I found that you could make this change on just one single simple machine and still reap the benefits , but it ’s best to enable it on all the data processor you ’ll use together .
For example , I have a Mac Pro and a MacBook Air , and the Pro is n’t capable of AirDrop . I made the mount alteration initially just on the Pro . It could then “ see ” the MacBook Air in its list of AirDrop devices ( because it was now receive all Bonjour messages on the local web ) ; the Pro was n’t visible from the Air ( which was still receiving messages on the PAN user interface only ) . However , I could still remove files to the melody by dragging them onto the Air ’s icon in AirDrop on my Mac Pro . When I clicked very well to start the transport , a new connecter was initiate from the Pro to the Air , which receive it right and displayed the Mac Pro in the AirDrop windowpane when the request to transfer dialogue appeared . The Mac Pro remained visible during the transfer and for a few seconds later on . After applying the options change to the Air , too , the Pro was unceasingly seeable and approachable .
I prove with other machines , using Ethernet and Wi - Fi in various compounding , and as long as both machines were on the same local web using any interface , they could see each other and reassign files .
The only downside to this pinch is that Apple enables strong encryption over the PAN connection , insure that a separate bed of security wraps files being sent back and forth . With the LAN or WLAN conveyance , Apple does n’t lend any such security , and you ’re at the mercy of whatever protections are in position . You might void using AirDrop on public Wi - Fi networks or campus Ethernet , or apply a program likeTruecryptto encipher single file on a disk image before sending them over an insecure meshwork .
There ’s no knowing how long this feature will remain active . Apple has a habit of disabling hidden feature article ( often retain for debug purposes ) that it does n’t want to support . In the interim , you could get all the advantages of Lion ’s AirDrop over a local web with the flip of a single switch .
