Support
How can we help?
SeamDrop doesn't notice my iPhone
- Open both apps. SeamDrop should be running on your Mac (its icon is in the menu bar) and open on your iPhone, on screen and unlocked. iOS pauses apps in the background, so the gesture only works while the iPhone app is open.
- Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both devices. Bluetooth tells SeamDrop that your iPhone is touching the screen; Wi-Fi carries the files. You don't need to join a network, but Wi-Fi itself must be on.
- Allow Local Network access. On iPhone, go to Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network and turn on SeamDrop. On your Mac, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network.
- Allow Bluetooth access. Check Privacy & Security › Bluetooth on both devices.
- Hold the iPhone flat against the edge of the screen and give it a second. The glow appears once SeamDrop is sure the devices are touching.
Transfers are slow or stop
- A VPN or a network that isolates devices (common on office and hotel Wi-Fi) can block direct connections. Try turning the VPN off or switching networks.
- Keep both devices awake and the iPhone app open until a large file finishes.
- Check that both devices have enough free storage for the file.
Pair again
If your devices used to work together but don't any more, start pairing over:
- On your Mac, open the SeamDrop menu bar icon, click ⋯ › Settings…, and under Paired iPhones click Remove next to your iPhone.
- In the iPhone app, tap the gear button, then under Paired Macs swipe left on your Mac and tap Delete.
- Quit and reopen both apps, then scan the QR code on your Mac with your iPhone.
License questions
Entering a key, moving to a new Mac or recovering a lost key: see License help.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need?
A Mac with Bluetooth running macOS 26 or later, and an iPhone running iOS 26 or later. Keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on on both. Full details are on the download page.
How do I pair my iPhone and Mac?
Once, in person: open SeamDrop on both devices, hold your iPhone next to your Mac and press and hold Connect. Or scan the QR code your Mac shows with your iPhone. From then on they find each other over your Wi-Fi, with no account to sign in to.
Do my files go through the cloud?
No. Files and clipboard contents travel directly between your own devices over Wi-Fi or peer-to-peer Wi-Fi, encrypted with TLS. They never touch our servers, and there is no account to create. Read the privacy policy for details.
Does the iPhone app need to be open?
For the drag gesture, yes: keep SeamDrop open on your iPhone while you hold it to your Mac, because iOS doesn't let apps follow drags in the background. To send something from another app, use Share › SeamDrop instead.
What can I send, and where does it go?
Photos, videos, documents and any other file, at original quality, plus text and images on the clipboard. On your Mac, received files land on the Desktop. On your iPhone they appear in the app, one tap away from Photos or Files.
What does it cost?
The Mac app is a one-time purchase of $5 after a free 14-day trial, with no subscription. The iPhone app is free. See pricing.
Can I use one license on more than one Mac?
Yes, on up to 3 Macs at a time. Moving to a new Mac? Deactivate the old one first. License help explains how.
What if it isn’t for me?
Try it free for 14 days before you buy. If you change your mind after buying, ask within 14 days for a refund. See the refund policy.
Contact us
Email support@seamdrop.com. It helps to include your Mac model and macOS version, your iPhone model and iOS version, the SeamDrop version (⋯ › About SeamDrop on the Mac), and what you were trying to do. A real person reads every message.