iOS 26.2 beta 3 introduces a helpful upgrade to AirDrop. You can now share files with someone who is not in your contacts by using a temporary code. This option gives you a clean way to share files with people you do not want to add as contacts, yet still avoid turning AirDrop on for everyone nearby.
The update also builds on what earlier reports revealed. For example, 9to5Mac found code hints in beta 1 showing Apple’s work on a PIN-based AirDrop system. Today’s beta makes that feature visible in Settings, showing how Apple plans to offer 30-day access through a one-time code.
As you move through the Settings app, you will now see a new section titled “Manage Known AirDrop Contacts,” which confirms how long someone can reach your device after using your shared code.
How the New AirDrop Code Works
You generate a code and share it with someone outside your contacts list. They enter that code on their device. Both devices then recognize each other for 30 days. You can also remove access at any time by opening Settings, selecting General, choosing AirDrop, and tapping “Manage Known AirDrop Contacts.”
Apple still lets you turn AirDrop off, limit it to contacts, or set it to Everyone for 10 minutes. This new code-based option sits between those choices and gives you more control without risking unwanted requests.
Key Points
- You share a one-time AirDrop code with someone not in your contacts.
- Both devices stay discoverable to each other for 30 days.
- You manage or remove access inside the Settings app.
- The feature appears in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 26.2 beta 3.
This change brings a safer and cleaner way to share files when you only need short-term access, and it shows Apple’s plan to expand AirDrop controls in the final iOS 26.2 release.
