Trouble With AirDrop? Here Are 16 Fast Fixes to Get It Running Smoothly Again

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AirDrop makes it easy to transfer data from one Apple device to another. But it’s far from perfect, so you may occasionally face issues initiating or finishing an AirDrop transfer. Below, we list some troubleshooting steps to help you fix these problems.

1. Change Your AirDrop Visibility Settings

AirDrop gives you three visibility options:Everyone ,Contacts Only , orReceiving Off . If your device isn’t showing up on AirDrop, it might be onReceiving Off . Therefore, switch toEveryone orContacts Only , depending on the recipient.

OpenControl Center on your iPhone or iPad , then tap and hold in the top-left section to reveal anAirDrop button. Choose your preferred option.

On a Mac, openControl Center and clickAirDrop from the top-left section. In the window that pops up, chooseEveryone orContacts Only .

2. Prepare Both Devices to Receive an AirDrop Request

Your device can’t be discovered if it’s locked and in sleep mode. You must prepare your device for incoming AirDrop transfers, making it more likely to show up on someone else’s device without delay.

Unlock your iPhone or iPad and leave it on the Home Screen to prepare it. On a Mac, open a newFinder window and selectGo > AirDrop from the menu bar to prepare for an AirDrop request.

3. Turn Off AirDrop Restrictions

If AirDrop isn’t showing up at all, you may have blocked it in yourContent & Privacy Restrictions for Screen Time. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps .

On a Mac, go to System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > App Restrictions .

Make sureAirDrop is turned on for each device. You may need to enter your Screen Time passcode to make these changes.

4. Enable AirDrop Over Cellular

AirDrop’s (Bluetooth) range is around 30 feet, so if you move beyond that distance, AirDrop won’t work anymore. But if you’ve updated your device to iOS/iPadOS 17.1 (or later), you can enable a setting to allow AirDrop file transfers to continue even after you leave the range.

On your iPhone or iPad, go toSettings > General > AirDrop and toggle onUse Cellular Data to ensure transfers occur over LTE or 5G.

This particular fix is specific to NameDrop, a feature Apple introduced alongside iOS 17. You can use NameDrop to share contact information by placing the top edge of two iPhones close to each other.

If NameDrop isn’t working, check if your device has the right settings. On your iPhone, go toSettings > General > AirDrop and toggle onBringing Devices Together if you haven’t.

Note that NameDrop only lets you share new contact information. You can’t update an existing contact with NameDrop.

6. Turn Off Do Not Disturb Mode

Your device may not receive transfer requests from AirDrop if Do Not Disturb or another Focus mode is enabled. OpenControl Center and hit theFocus icon (the default is amoon icon) to turn it off on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

7. Restart Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on Both Devices

A particularly useful solution if AirDrop isn’t working is to disable and re-enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. OpenControl Center on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and hit theWi-Fi andBluetooth icons to turn them off, then select them again to turn them back on.

8. Use AirDrop From a Third Apple Device

This isn’t an option for everyone, but if you have a spare Apple device, you should try using that to connect over AirDrop. Usually, if your iPhone, iPad, or Mac shows up on this new device, it will suddenly appear on the original device as well.

9. Send a Single File Instead of Multiple Files

AirDrop lets you share many kinds of files at the same time. But if AirDrop isn’t working, you should consider simplifying matters by sending a single file at a time instead.

AirDrop files automatically open in a relevant app. For instance, images open in the Photos app, but multiple file types don’t always open in the same app. This could explain why your AirDrop transfer failed.

10. Check the Downloads Folder for Missing Files

If AirDrop sent a file to your device but you can’t find it, take a look in the Downloads folder. On an iPhone, open theFiles app and select theBrowse tab from the bottom. Then, head intoiCloud Drive orOn My iPhone and tap into theDownloads folder.

On a Mac, you can usually find theDownloads folder by opening a new Finder window and pressingOption + Command + L . You may also find it next toTrash on yourDock .

11. Turn Off Your VPN for AirDrop to Work

Some users found that AirDrop didn’t work until they turned off the VPN on their iPhone or Mac. You might need to do this in the VPN app or your device settings.

On an iPhone or iPad, go toSettings > VPN to do this. On a Mac, go toSystem Settings > Network > VPN .

12. Open Your Mac’s Firewall to More Connections

The firewall on your Mac might be set to block all incoming connections, which often includes new AirDrop transfers. You’ll need to loosen these restrictions from System Settings if AirDrop still isn’t working.

Go toSystem Settings > Network > Firewall . Toggle offFirewall and enter your Mac’s admin password if prompted.

Go toSettings orSystem Settings on your iPhone or Mac respectively, then select[Your Name] at the top of the menu and chooseSign Out at the bottom of the following page. Choose the data to keep on your device, then confirm you want to sign out.

It doesn’t matter too much if you keep data on your device since you’re planning to sign in to the same account again. After signing out, return toSettings orSystem Settings to sign in to your Apple ID again.

14. Update the Operating System

Apple frequently releases iOS, iPadOS, and macOS updates to not only add new features but also fix software bugs and address security issues. If AirDrop still isn’t working, install the latest updates for your devices to hopefully fix it.

On an iPhone or iPad, go toSettings > General > Software Update . On a Mac, go toSystem Settings > General > Software Update to check for a newer version.

15. Restart Both Devices

This is a classic troubleshooting tip because it’s so effective.Restarting your iPhone , iPad, or Mac might be all you need to get AirDrop working again. And it only takes a moment to try it.

16. Reset the Network Settings on Your Device

You can reset the network settings on an iPhone or iPad to fix all kinds of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth problems, including issues with getting AirDrop to work. When you reset these settings, your device forgets any Wi-Fi passwords you’ve saved, so you’ll have to manually reconnect to trusted networks again.

If you still want to go ahead with it, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [Device] > Reset and tapReset Network Settings . Enter your passcode, then confirm you want toReset Network Settings .

Unfortunately, macOS doesn’t have a similar reset network option, so you’ll have to follow a different set of instructions to reset the network settings on your Mac .

We hope the above troubleshooting steps allowed you to use AirDrop and NameDrop again. If the problem persists, it’s best to contact Apple Support for further assistance.

In general, to get the feature to work, you only need to make sure you’ve enabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your devices and have the right settings so that both devices can detect each other.

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Trouble With AirDrop? Here Are 16 Fast Fixes to Get It Running Smoothly Again