Quick Tutorials

10 ways to fix AirDrop issues on iPhone, iPad and Mac.

There’s no doubt AirDrop is one of the most popular features on any Apple device. The ability to wirelessly share files, websites, contact info, notes and pretty much anything with a few taps is awesome, but just like any feature relying on wireless communication, sooner or later you’re bound to run into technical difficulties.

AirDrop often stops working, but it’s usually easy to fix. Here’s 10 ways to fix AirDrop issues on iOS and macOS.

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Check to make sure AirDrop receiving is enabled

First, check that receiving through AirDrop is enabled. On iOS, swipe down from the top right corner to open the control center, then press and hold around the WiFi icon and check your AirDrop setting. Changing it to “Everyone” can often help, or you can try to toggle it off and then back on.

On a Mac, click the AirDrop icon on the Finder sidebar and check the setting on the bottom of your window.

If it’s still not working, here are some quick troubleshooting tips.

Make sure your devices are close to each other

AirDrop uses both Bluetooth and WiFi connection to transfer files, and the effective transfer range is listed at 30 feet or 9 meters. So make sure your devices are close to each other.

Turn Bluetooth and WiFi on and off

The classic “did you try to turn it off and back on?”, just with your Bluetooth and WiFi. Try it on the sending and receiving device.

Eliminate unnecessary devices and accounts

I often have issues with AirDrop when I have multiple devices nearby using the same Apple ID, especially when I have a computer that’s logged into multiple user accounts using the same Apple ID. I’ll be waiting for the AirDrop to appear on my main unser account, but the pop-up actually went to my work account that was simultaneously logged in on my computer.

When you run into issues, remove extra devices you’re not using. Either go somewhere where you’re not in the range of them anymore or simply turn off wifi and Bluetooth on the devices that you’re not using.

Unlock your devices

Might sound obvious, but in order to receive airdrops your device must be unlocked. So whether you’re receiving on an iPhone, iPad or a Mac, make sure to unlock the device.

Sometimes it also helps if you navigate to the AirDrop receiving screen on the device you’re trying to AirDrop files to.

Simplify connections

If you’re using VPN, personal hotspot or do not disturb mode, turn those off. VPN for example will route all incoming traffic through the VPN server, so that can cause issues with AirDrop. Personal Hotspot is also something that will disable AirDrop functionality while it’s running, so if you need to receive airdrops, turn off your hotspot.

Make sure your device supports AirDrop

Also make sure your device supports AirDrop. If you’re able to see the receiving settings I showed you in the beginning, that means your device is supported.

Restart your device

If AirDrop still doesn’t work, a full restart might fix your issue. Power off your device and then turn it back on.

Consider using a 3rd device

If things get tough, sometimes adding a third device to the mix can help. Sometimes I’m trying to AirDrop something from my phone to my computer and nothing works. I’ve noticed I can often work around this by AirDropping from my phone to my iPad first, and then from my iPad to my computer. It’s annoying, but it’s one solution when nothing else works.

Not telling you to quit, but maybe try again tomorrow.

And the last thing – sometimes it just doesn’t work, no matter what you do. Then you come back the next day and magically AirDrop works again. It’s just one of those things.

Usually AirDrop issues are temporary so if nothing on this list worked, I would consider transferring files using another method and chances are, next time you try AirDrop it will work just fine. As annoying as it is, emailing the file, using a wired transfer, sending it via Slack or Dropbox or something similar is a solid alternative when you’re in a pinch. Don’t forget that you can Slack and email to yourself too, that’s always a fun monologue to have.