You are standing beside the person who needs your file, but they do not appear in AirDrop. Start with the receiving device and the connection settings. Being nearby is necessary, but it is not the whole setup.
Check the basics together
For the iPhone and iPad workflow described by Apple, both people need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. Disconnect Personal Hotspot if either device is using it. Ask the recipient to check AirDrop's receiving setting rather than repeatedly reopening the share sheet on your own phone.
If the person is not available through Contacts Only, Apple describes choosing Everyone for 10 Minutes in Control Centre: hold the connectivity controls, tap AirDrop and choose that temporary option. Do this when both of you are ready. Compare the intended recipient with the person or device shown before selecting it; similar names can be confusing.
A code may be part of the transfer
For a transfer to someone outside your contacts, Apple's current instructions say that when both devices use iOS 26.2 or later, the recipient is prompted to get an AirDrop code. They tell you that code, and you enter it on your device. This is a version-dependent step, not evidence that AirDrop has failed. Share the code only with the person making the expected transfer.
Apple also notes that this exchange adds the person to the Other Known list in Contacts for 30 days; they can be marked unknown sooner. Temporary receiving visibility and this contact recognition period are different things.
If names are unclear, send a harmless sample first. Accept only the expected transfer, open the received item to check it and review the receiving setting afterward. A completion message alone does not confirm that you chose the right file.