Glossary/Processes you will see

sharingd

Also: AirDrop

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Quick answer

sharingd is the macOS process behind AirDrop and the Mac's other sharing features. It finds nearby devices, sends and receives AirDrop transfers, and handles parts of Continuity between your Mac, iPhone and iPad.

It runs under your own account and is idle most of the time. It wakes up when AirDrop is open in Finder, when a nearby device is looking for AirDrop targets, or when your devices hand work to each other.

Many people meet it in a firewall prompt asking whether sharingd may accept incoming connections: from macOS's own firewall when built-in software is not allowed automatically, or from a firewall app such as Little Snitch or LuLu. That is AirDrop asking to receive files.

Why sharingd is using CPU or asking for connections

An AirDrop window left open keeps it scanning for devices. In a crowded place, such as an office or a train, many nearby devices can keep it busier than usual.

It is signed by Apple and safe to allow. Denying it only stops AirDrop from receiving.

How to quiet it

Close AirDrop windows in Finder, and set AirDrop to Contacts Only or Receiving Off in Control Center when you do not need it. sharingd goes quiet when there is nothing to discover.

If you denied it and want AirDrop back, allow it again in System Settings → Network → Firewall → Options, or in your firewall app.

How to check what sharingd is doing

A few checks show whether it is scanning, transferring, or stuck.

  1. Open Activity Monitor, click the CPU tab and type sharingd in the search field. It runs under your own name.
  2. Watch % CPU for a minute. Near zero means idle. Steady use while no AirDrop window is open is worth a closer look.
  3. Click the Network tab. Large Rcvd Bytes or Sent Bytes means a transfer is going on, not only a scan.
  4. Check your AirDrop setting in System Settings → General → AirDrop & Continuity, called AirDrop & Handoff on older versions of macOS. Everyone means more devices can reach it than Contacts Only.
  5. For its own messages, open Terminal and run log stream --predicate 'process == "sharingd"'. Press Control-C to stop.

Normal sharingd use vs a problem

Normal: idle most of the day, busy while an AirDrop window is open or a transfer is running, and quiet again after.

Worth looking into: steady CPU for hours with no AirDrop in use, or repeated firewall prompts. The usual causes:

  • An AirDrop window left open in a Finder window or tab you forgot about.
  • AirDrop set to Everyone in a busy place, so many nearby devices keep it scanning.
  • A firewall choice that was not saved, so the prompt returns each time sharingd listens.

When AirDrop does not find the other device

sharingd can only offer the devices it can see. Apple's requirements explain most cases where a device does not appear:

  • Both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
  • They need to be within about 9 meters (30 feet) of each other.
  • The receiver's AirDrop must be set to Contacts Only or Everyone, not Receiving Off.
  • With Contacts Only, the sender must be in the receiver's contacts, with the email address or phone number of their Apple Account on the card.
  • If everything above is right and it still fails, restart both devices and try again.

Questions people ask

What is sharingd on Mac?

The macOS process behind AirDrop and other sharing features. It finds nearby devices and sends and receives AirDrop transfers.

Should I allow sharingd to accept incoming connections?

Yes, if you use AirDrop. It needs to listen for devices sending you files. It is part of macOS and signed by Apple.

Why is sharingd using CPU?

Usually an open AirDrop window or many nearby devices keep it scanning. Close AirDrop in Finder, or set it to Contacts Only or Receiving Off, and it settles.

Why does sharingd keep asking to accept incoming connections?

The choice is not being saved. In macOS's firewall, turn on Automatically allow built-in software to receive incoming connections in System Settings → Network → Firewall → Options. In a firewall app, save a permanent rule instead of allowing it once.

Does turning off AirDrop stop sharingd?

No. sharingd keeps running for macOS's other sharing features, but with AirDrop off and no window open it has nothing to scan for and stays close to idle.

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