Linux AirDrop support is the goal of kernel patches that were reported as posted for review, not a completed feature. Phoronix reported on November 5, 2026, that developer Andre Eikmeyer had proposed changes for compatible Apple T2 Macs running Linux. The intended setup pairs AWDL support in Broadcom’s brcmfmac driver with t2-drop, a Rust program that integrates with NetworkManager.
For this proposal, anawdlfirmware capability is not enough on its own: the firmware must also supportinterface_createversion 3.
What the Linux AirDrop proposal would do
Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) is the wireless link used by AirDrop. Eikmeyer’s proposed changes would let the brcmfmac driver create an AWDL interface; the firmware would manage the wireless schedule and carry frames, while user space would handle peer discovery and AirDrop. The intended result is two-way file transfers between Linux on eligible T2 Macs and Macs, iPhones, or iPads. The seven-patch series cover letter describes that design.
The proposal depends on two firmware conditions: it must advertise awdl in its capabilities and support interface_create version 3. The accompanying t2-drop program is intended to handle the user-space side and integrates with NetworkManager, according to Phoronix’s November 5 report.
Firmware requirements and reported hardware results
The reported BCM4350 firmware version 7.35.180.133 on the pre-T2 MacBookPro14,1 advertises awdl but rejects interface creation with BCME_UNSUPPORTED. That configuration therefore does not meet the proposal’s requirements. BCM4355 is described as untested.
The cover letter reports tested configurations using BCM4364 and BCM4377. It also notes slower transfers on MacBookPro16,1 and MacBookPro16,4, without identifying a cause. These are observations reported in the patch-series account, not standardized benchmark results.
LocalSend is a separate file-sharing option
LocalSend addresses a similar need without implementing Apple’s AirDrop protocol. In a 2024 tutorial, Techno Tim presents transfers between Linux and macOS, and between Android and Linux. The tutorial describes file sharing without an internet connection or a third-party cloud service; the creator also says he used LocalSend around 20 times while making the video and that those transfers went smoothly. That is his account of his experience, separate from the Linux kernel proposal.
