Apple has configured the “Everyone”AirDrop option in iOS 16.2 to automatically turn off after 10 minutes for all users worldwide after debuting in China with iOS 16.1.1.
- What is happening? iOS 16.2 limits the AirDrop Everyone setting to ten minutes for all users worldwide. Apple introduced this change in China with iOS 16.1.1.
- Why care? Because you’ll need to remember to manually reset AirDrop discovery back to “Everyone”every ten minutes.
- What to do? Don’t update your devices to iOS 16.2 if you don’t like this change. You can also send negative feedback to Apple at apple.com/feedback.
iOS 16.2 limits the “All”AirDrop option to 15 minutes.
When you update your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1, AirDrop detection becomes another concern.
The updates make changes to how AirDrop discoverability works: the “Everyone”option will automatically turn off after ten minutes. It automatically reverts to the “Contacts Only”option, making your device discoverable via AirDrop only to people saved in the Contacts app.
In order to still be visible on AirDrop to everyone nearby, you have to put in the mental effort (or create a reminder/shortcut) to manually re-enable the Everyone option.
9to5Mac has confirmed that the iOS 16.2 release candidate includes the latest AirDrop Everyone option limitation, which is now in effect globally.
How to Quickly Set AirDrop Visibility
You can set the visibility of AirDrop in Settings → General → AirDrop, or by long-pressing the network settings map in the top left corner of the Control Center and pressing the AirDrop button. From there, select one of three options: Mute Reception, Contacts Only, and Everyone.
Receive off prevents other people from sending you files wirelessly and from seeing you on AirDrop. Contacts Only restricts AirDrop to devices set up by people whose contact information is in the Contacts app on your iPhone.
The Everyone option, as we said, makes you visible in AirDrop to all devices within Bluetooth range, whether or not their owners are saved in your contacts.
Why AirDrop is critical for protesters in China
Apple introduced this setting for iPhones sold in mainland China with iOS 16.1.1, but iOS 16.2 is expanding it globally. Apple has been chastised by privacy advocates for bowing down to the Chinese government again. The simple file sharing feature was an important tool in the demonstrators’ attempts to circumvent censorship in the country.
AirDrop uses Bluetooth to discover nearby devices and Wi-Fi to transfer data.
In other words, it’s a device-to-device feature that doesn’t use the Internet to transfer photos, videos, web links, files, and other items between two nearby devices. Therefore, AirDrop is not available to Internet content moderators in China. Hence the need to force Apple to make this concession to the Chinese government.