How to Use NameDrop to Share Your Contact Info

Hold two iPhones close together to instantly share contact details — no typing or texting required. Works on iPhone XS and later.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Make sure both iPhones have iOS 17 or later
2.Enable AirDrop on both phones
3.Hold the top edges of both phones close together
4.Choose what to share
5.Confirm the contact was added

Make sure both iPhones have iOS 17 or later

~15s

Go to SettingsGeneralSoftware Update on each phone. NameDrop requires iOS 17 and iPhone XS or newer.

Enable AirDrop on both phones

~15s

Open Control Center (swipe down from top-right corner), press and hold the connectivity box in the top-left, then tap AirDrop. Choose "Everyone for 10 Minutes."

Hold the top edges of both phones close together

~17s

Bring the top of your iPhone within an inch or two of the other phone's top edge. Wait for the glowing animation to appear on both screens.

Quick Tip

Face both phones upward and bring the tops together — like two phones doing a handshake at the top.

Choose what to share

~15s

Each person sees a prompt: "Share" (sends your contact card), "Receive Only" (gets theirs, keeps yours private), or "Don't Share" (cancels).

Confirm the contact was added

~15s

Open your Contacts app and look for the new entry. It will include whatever the other person had in their Contact Poster: name, phone, email, and photo.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Use NameDrop to Share Your Contact Info

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NameDrop is a feature introduced in iOS 17 that lets you share your contact information with another person by simply holding the top edges of two iPhones close together. A glowing animation appears, and both people can choose to share their contact card.

This works on iPhone XS or newer, and both phones need to be running iOS 17 or later. It uses a combination of Bluetooth and NFC technology to detect when two phones are nearby.

When you bring the phones together, you each see a prompt on your screen. You can choose "Share" to send your contact card, or "Receive Only" to get theirs without sharing yours, or "Don't Share" to cancel. Each person is in control — no one's contact is shared without permission.

NameDrop is also useful for sharing AirDrop content like photos or links when you just tap the phones together and then select what to share from the prompt.

If NameDrop does not appear to work, check that both phones have AirDrop turned on and set to "Everyone for 10 Minutes" or "Contacts Only." NameDrop uses AirDrop under the hood. You may also need to have your Contact Poster set up in the Contacts app.

NameDrop is a great way to exchange numbers at events, with neighbors, or with new friends without the awkward back-and-forth of spelling out phone numbers.

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