AirDrop is dead. This app has replaced it.

AirDrop, introduced by Apple in 2011 with the release of iOS 7 and OS X Lion, was meant to revolutionize file sharing between Apple devices. After years of users requesting a way to transfer files via Bluetooth on iPhones, Apple’s solution promised a faster and better alternative by using Bluetooth to discover nearby devices and then transferring files over Wi-Fi.

While innovative at first, AirDrop’s functionality remained frustratingly limited over the years. You could share photos, contacts, and eventually files between your Mac and iPhone thanks to the Files app. However, AirDrop’s key downside was its reliance on proximity — you could only share with devices physically nearby.

Apple attempted to address this by allowing file transfers to continue over the internet if the local connection dropped. But even this fell short, as you still couldn’t initiate transfers remotely. AirDrop had so much untapped potential.

Enter Gladys, an app that reimagines what AirDrop could and should have been. By syncing with iCloud, Gladys provides encrypted access to your files from any of your Apple devices, regardless of physical location. You can share files to your private Gladys network, and they’re uploaded to iCloud for seamless retrieval on other Macs, iPhones, or iPads.