AirDrop is a convenient feature on Apple devices since it lets users find nearby Macs and iOS gadgets and securely share files between them over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The only issue is that it doesn’t always work. If that sounds like your current experience with AirDrop, this article offers you some troubleshooting steps that may help to resolve it.
AirDrop is designed to allow you to send and receive photos, videos, documents, contacts, passwords, and anything else that can be moved from the in-app Action menu on your Apple gadget. Since AirDrop can be used between Macs, iPhones, and iPads, the first thing to study if you’re having a problem with AirDrop is to make sure your gadgets support it.
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Check Your Device Supports AirDrop
iPhone and iPad: To use AirDrop on iOS, you’ll require an iPhone 5 or after, an iPad 4 or later, an iPad mini, or a fifth-generation iPod touch.
Mac: All Mac models out in 2012 and after and running OS X Yosemite or later support AirDrop. You can ensure that your Mac is agreeing with AirDrop by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock and selecting Go in the menu bar. If AirDrop is not listed as a choice, then your Mac is not agreeing with the feature.
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Check AirDrop Settings
There is one fixed setting and two active settings for AirDrop: Receiving Off stops anyone from sharing anything with you over AirDrop, while Everyone accepts shares from any sender, and Contacts Just limits shares to people whose email address or mobile number seems in your contacts. (These settings are also helpful for ensuring you don’t become the target of an unsolicited AirDrop share.)
If you’re having a problem getting AirDrop to work, try changing to Everyone if it’s not already selected.
Adjust AirDrop Settings on iPhone and iPad
- Open the Settings application on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and click General
- Click on AirDrop.
- Click on Everyone.
Adjust AirDrop Settings on Mac
- Open a Finder window on your Mac.
- Select the AirDrop from the Finder sidebar (if AirDrop isn’t listed, use the keyboard combination Command-Shift-R to open it).
- Click on the setting prefaced with Let me be found by: and select Everyone from the drop-down menu.
- On Mac, AirDrop settings can even be found in the Control Center, accessed in the far right of the menu bar.
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Toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
AirDrop relies on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to share files over the air. If you’re always having problems getting AirDrop to work perfectly, try switching off both radios fully then turn them back on again.
Toggle Wi-Fi on iPhone and iPad
- Launch Settings on your iOS device.
- Click on Wi-Fi.
- Click on the switch next to Wi-Fi to toggle it off, then tap it again to turn it back on.
Toggle Bluetooth on iPhone and iPad
- Launch Settings on your iOS device.
- Click on Bluetooth.
- Click on the switch next to Bluetooth to toggle it off, then tap it again to turn it back on.
Toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on Mac
- To toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in macOS, just click the Control Center icon in the far right of the menu bar, and then tap through to the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi panes to on/off the switches next to them.
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Disable Personal Hotspot
If you’re hosting a Personal Hotspot on your iPhone to deliver internet access to another gadget, AirDrop won’t work. The only solution is to first turn off the Personal Hotspot. This will make the internet connection inaccessible to the device that was using the hotspot, but you can always turn it back on again once you’ve shared files over AirDrop.
In iOS 13.1 and later, Apple doesn’t include an on/off switch in Settings -> Personal Hotspot. The thought behind this change is that your hotspot is always prepared to provide internet access to your other devices whenever they require it. On that basis, verified devices may naturally connect to your nearby instant hotspot if there’s no Wi-Fi internet connection open.
To control devices from connecting to your iPhone or iPad hotspot, launch the Control Center: Long press the Bluetooth button, and if the Personal Hotspot button is green on the next screen, click it to make your hotspot Not findable.
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Make Sure Your iPhone or iPad is Opened
If your device is closed or powered off, it won’t appear to someone else as an available device for sending an AirDropped file. If you want to accept anything over AirDrop, make sure your iPhone or iPad is powered on and is opened with the display on.
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Get the Devices Nearer to Each Other
When a shared Wi-Fi network isn’t available, AirDrop depends only on Bluetooth to find devices and transfer files.
Bluetooth has a range of about 33 feet (10 meters) on modern iPhones, so make sure the two gadgets you want to use AirDrop are within this range, otherwise, it may not work
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Limit the Firewall on Your Mac
If you’re attempting to AirDrop files to a Mac but it doesn’t display as an option on the sending device, try specifying the strictness of your Mac’s firewall.
- On your Mac, click on the Apple symbol in the menu bar and select System Preferences
- Select the Security & Privacy preference.
- Click on the padlock and enter your admin password or use Touch ID to make changes.
- Click on Firewall Options.
- Uncheck the box next to Block all incoming connections.
- Check the box next to naturally allow built-in software to accept incoming connections.
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Hard Reset Your Device
If none of the overhead has solved AirDrop problems(AirDrop not working) on an iOS device, try doing a hard reset. The procedure is different according to your device model. so check before applying the changes on your device whether it is for your device or not.
Contact Apple Support
If none of the above steps have solved your AirDrop not working, it could be down to a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi hardware problem. If in mistrust, the best course of action is to contact Apple Support or you can also check in to a Genius Bar at your closest Apple store and they can run a deep check on your device.
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