A couple of months ago, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, introducing a wave of exciting features to the ever-expanding Apple Watch family. These latest additions showcase a common theme in this year’s updates, with Apple placing a strong emphasis on connectivity. The focus extends beyond personal health and device integration to include improved connections with the people around you. One notable feature addressing this is NameDrop, a novel way for Apple Watch users to effortlessly share contact information, enhancing the ease of communication.
NameDrop simplifies contact sharing on the Apple Watch, offering a swift and discreet method akin to the familiar AirDrop functionality used for sharing files or photos. No more tedious manual input of phone numbers or the need to hand over your phone for someone else to add their contact information. During its launch event, Apple demonstrated the seamless exchange of contact info between two individuals by placing their Apple Watches in close proximity, a feature made possible by the brand-new S9 chip.
For Apple Watch users eager to experience NameDrop, the key is upgrading to Watch OS 10.1, which was released earlier this fall. Simply download Watch OS 10.1 onto your Apple Watch, and you’ll be ready to harness the power of NameDrop. It’s essential to note that successful contact sharing requires both parties to have upgraded their watches or iPhones.
Now, what if you don’t have an Apple Watch? Fear not, as Apple has extended the NameDrop capability to iPhone users with the arrival of iOS 17. Users running iOS 17 can leverage NameDrop to swiftly exchange contact information with fellow iPhone users running the same iOS version, as well as Apple Watch users with Watch OS 10.1.
But how does NameDrop work? Apple touts it as a “new AirDrop experience,” enabling users to hold their iPhone near another to share contact information selectively. Users can choose which details
to share, ensuring a personalized and controlled experience. To activate NameDrop, navigate to the Contacts app, select the desired contact, and click Share. Following this, your Apple Watch will guide you to position it near another Apple Watch or iPhone for the seamless exchange of contact information.
For added convenience, Apple Watch users can initiate NameDrop by tapping the My Card watch face complication and positioning their device face-to-face with another Apple Watch or iPhone. It’s crucial to remember that NameDrop functionality is exclusive to devices running either Watch OS 10.1 or iOS 17, creating a streamlined and secure contact-sharing experience between Apple users. Stay connected effortlessly with NameDrop, Apple’s innovative solution to simplify and enhance the way you exchange contact information.
