AirDrop, now with more friction ➹

I just don’t get why Apple keeps breaking things. AirDrop used to be one of Apple’s best “it just works” features: get two devices close, pick the target, accept, done.

Adding a six-digit code step might make for a marginally stronger confirmation flow, but it also adds unnecessary friction in exactly the moments when AirDrop is most useful—quick, in-person handoffs.

It’s also the kind of interaction that breaks down fastest when there’s a language barrier, poor audio conditions, or an accessibility/disability barrier: the more you turn a fast tap into an out-loud “read me the code” dance, the less universal the feature becomes.

Somehow, someone at Apple must have thought this was a good idea. I’d love to hear the rationale, because right now it just feels like they’re hell-bent on making all of their best ecosystem features more complicated for no good reason.