Linux Patches Bring AirDrop to Apple T2 Macs
The kernel work is under review and currently works only on firmware that announces AWDL support.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Data Centers
Linux kernel patches posted for review on November 5, 2026, would enable AirDrop file transfers between Linux on Apple T2 Macs and Macs, iPhones, and iPads. The work is at the patch-review stage, so it is research-stage code rather than a shipped feature.
Why it matters
AirDrop runs over Apple Wireless Direct Link, a proprietary peer-to-peer radio protocol, so supporting it on Linux requires reverse-engineering the handshake between the host driver and Apple's firmware. Bringing it to the Linux kernel would let owners of older Apple hardware interoperate with Apple's device ecosystem without running macOS.
The patch series adds AWDL support to the brcmfmac driver and is gated on firmware that announces awdl and supports interface_create version 3. The BCM4350 image 7.35.180.133 meets the announcement check but rejects the interface_create call, so it does not gain the feature.
The players
Phoronix
A technology news site that covers Linux kernel development and driver work closely.
The details
AirDrop relies on Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL), a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi mode that lets devices talk directly without a shared access point. On these Apple T2 Macs, Apple's firmware runs AWDL itself: the host driver creates an AWDL interface and sets its parameters, and the firmware then keeps the AWDL schedule, forwards frames, and carries data to and from peers. Election, peer discovery, and the AirDrop exchange run in user space on the host.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: Linux kernel patch series posted for review, as reported by Phoronix.
The Tech Race
Linux driver work on Apple hardware has relied on reverse engineering because Apple does not publish the AWDL specification. This patch set moves that effort into the mainline driver path, where it can be reviewed and maintained alongside other Broadcom firmware support.
Once merged, the support would apply to Apple T2 Macs running a Linux kernel with the patches, provided the firmware meets the announcement and interface_create requirements. Owners of unsupported firmware versions, including the tested BCM4350 image, would not gain AirDrop functionality.
The takeaway
Watch whether the patch series is accepted into the mainline kernel and whether testers confirm support on chips beyond the BCM4350. Merge status and cross-chip test reports will show whether AirDrop on Linux moves from experiment to supported feature.
Further reading
For the broader infrastructure context behind wireless and networking hardware, explore our Data Centers coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Phoronix.
