If you’ve ever stood awkwardly at a conference or a coffee shop, trying to AirDrop a file to someone you just met without adding them to your permanent contacts, Apple’s latest beta update is about to make your life significantly easier.

Yesterday, Apple dropped iOS 26.2 beta 3, and while beta cycles are usually about squashing bugs, this one quietly introduced a feature that solves one of the iPhone’s most persistent social frictions: the “AirDrop Dance.”

For years, AirDrop has forced users into a binary choice: keep your device locked down to “Contacts Only” (safe, but annoying for new acquaintances) or open it to “Everyone for 10 Minutes” (convenient, but risky in crowded spaces).

iOS 26.2 beta 3 includes new iPhone AirDrop functionality that finally bridges this gap. It provides a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add each other as contacts or open their devices to the entire room.

The new feature revolves around shareable access codes. Instead of toggling your visibility settings, you can now generate a unique, secure code. When you share this code with someone not in your contacts list, they input it to establish a direct, temporary link.

How it works

The mechanism is surprisingly robust. When you generate a code, the person you’re planning to use AirDrop with inputs it, allowing your devices to communicate instantly.

Crucially, this isn’t just for a single transfer. The code provides AirDrop access for a 30-day period. This is a game-changer for short-term projects, freelance gigs, or month-long travel groups where you need consistent sharing but don’t necessarily want that person in your iCloud contacts forever.

As the beta description notes: “Share a secure code with people not in your contacts to use AirDrop. You will be able to find each other for the next 30 days.”

There are already options to turn AirDrop off entirely, limit it to contacts, or temporarily open it to everyone. However, the “Everyone” setting has always been a blunt instrument. It broadcasts your identity to every device within range, which is why Apple limited it to a 10-minute window back in iOS 16.2 to prevent unsolicited “cyber-flashing” or spam.

The code-based option provides a sophisticated middle ground. It creates a connection with someone you don’t want to create a contact card for, while avoiding having to turn AirDrop on for all people nearby. It’s essentially a “digital handshake”—a temporary trust verification that feels much more in line with how we actually interact with people in 2025.

Managing your connections

Privacy remains a priority here. Apple clearly anticipates that users will want to audit who has this temporary access.

You can manage access in Settings at any time. If the 30-day window hasn’t expired but you’re done working with that person, you don’t have to wait it out. People you have shared a one-time code with can be managed by:

1. Opening up the Settings app.
2. Selecting the General section.
3. Choosing AirDrop.
4. Tapping on “Manage Known AirDrop Contacts.”

Currently, this feature is available to developers running the iOS 26.2 beta 3. If history is any indication, we can expect a public beta within the next week, with a full release likely landing in December—just in time for holiday photo sharing with distant relatives you might not want in your phone forever.