# ESP32Drop: rebuilding AirDrop and AWDL on ESP32-S3

> ESP32Drop reimplements Apple Wireless Direct Link and AirDrop on an ESP32-S3 from observed traffic. Its Arduino library and example sketches receive files from, or send a file to, nearby Macs and iPhones over a direct wireless link. The implementation includes AWDL framing and AirDrop transfer components with host tests based partly on captured traffic.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Protocol
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/s-iwaki-d/ESP32Drop>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/s-iwaki-d/ESP32Drop/blob/92bdc1221924ca522f3ccbebbd9353612ce5b2d7/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/esp32drop-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/esp32drop-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/esp32drop-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** An ESP32-S3 with PSRAM and an Arduino-compatible toolchain are required.
- **Testing evidence:** The author reports development and testing on an M5Stack StopWatch with m5stack:esp32 core 3.3.8; other boards and core versions have not been tried.
- **Limits:** Receive and send require separate builds, and Contacts Only transfers are unsupported.
- **License:** 0BSD license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/s-iwaki-d/ESP32Drop/blob/92bdc1221924ca522f3ccbebbd9353612ce5b2d7/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/s-iwaki-d/ESP32Drop/blob/92bdc1221924ca522f3ccbebbd9353612ce5b2d7/LICENSE>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.