Apple NameDrop brings New Ways of Sharing Contacts: Know how to use

Now you can share contacts just by touching your iPhones! Check out what is Apple NameDrop and how NameDrop works.

Apple’s new contact sharing feature, Apple NameDrop allows you to share contacts without having to do it manually. In iOS 17 Apple has made name-dropping much easier, all you have to do is bring your iPhones or iWatches together. 

This latest technology is similar to Apple’s AirDrop, where you can easily share contacts with each other. Let us explore how NameDrop works. But before that let us understand what exactly is Apple NameDrop

What is Apple NameDrop?

On July 6th, 2023 Apple announced NameDrop in their annual World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) with other features of iPhone iOS 17 such as gestures for content sharing, personalized contact posters, and many more.

Apple’s NameDrop is programmed by considering the privacy of the user. This means that your contact information is only shared with the person you’re standing next to, and it’s not stored on Apple’s servers.

However, only iPhone and Apple Watch users can enjoy the benefits of this feature. You can choose which information you want to share including your phone number, emails as well as social media. 

In case you’re not willing to share your contact you can simply just decline the prompt. This feature is actually very secure, as the contact information is only shared with the person you’re with. 

Now let’s get to know how NameDrop work.

How does NameDrop work?

Apple’s new contact sharing feature, NameDrop has brought a prompt way of iPhone Contact sharing. It uses a combination of NFC and UWB to facilitate contact sharing among Apple devices. 

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a wireless technology that covers short range. This allows two different devices to communicate when they are in close proximity.       

UWB ( Ultra Wideband) on the other hand, is a newer wireless technology that lets devices communicate with each other with high accuracy. UWB is used in Apple NameDrop to calculate the exact distance between two devices. 

Now you must be wondering how to share contacts with NameDrop. Let’s go through the main steps. 

How to use Apple NameDrop to share contacts?

If you want to share contacts using Apple’s NameDrop you must first ensure that you are both using iOS 17 or later. And you have activated this feature on your devices.

1. Bring your iPhones or Apple watches close together.
2. A prompt will appear on both devices confirming whether you want to share your contact information.
3. The other person must accept the prompt request
4. After that their contact information will be added to your device. 

It would be great to first make sure that you both have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled and the devices are close enough. The devices need to be within about 10 centimeters of each other for NameDrop to work. 

In case you’re still having trouble, try restarting both devices.

How do I turn on the name drop on my iPhone?

To turn on NameDrop on your iPhone, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings > General > AirDrop.
• Under Receive, select Everyone or Contacts Only.
• Under AirDrop Suggestions, turn on NameDrop.

In Short

Apple NameDrop is a new feature in iOS 17 that allows you to quickly and easily exchange contact information with other iPhone users. It is a more convenient and secure way to do it than traditional methods. 

NameDrop uses a combination of NFC and UWB to share contact information between two devices. It is a privacy-focused feature, as your contact information is only shared with the person you are standing next to, and it is not stored on Apple’s servers.

If you are an iPhone user, I recommend turning on NameDrop and giving it a try. It is a great way to quickly and easily share your contact information with others.

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