AirDrop not working – troubleshooting

AirDrop not sending data? These tips will help!

AirDrop is one of the most convenient features on Apple devices – files, photos or links can be transferred in a flash between iPhones, iPads and Macs. But what if AirDrop suddenly stops working or won’t send your data? With the following tips you can usually get the problem under control quickly.

1. Check whether AirDrop is enabled

Sometimes it’s just a small setting:

• iPhone / iPad:
  Open Control Center → press and hold the tile with Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth → tap AirDrop → choose "Everyone" or "Contacts Only".

• Mac:
  Open Finder → "AirDrop" in the sidebar → at the bottom, choose who can see you ("Contacts Only" or "Everyone").
  
  Tip: Temporarily select "Everyone" to rule out connection issues (you can change this back later).

2. Enable Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth

AirDrop only works if both Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth are enabled.
Turning them off and on again can help fix minor connection issues:

• iPhone/iPad: Control Center → turn Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth off and on again.

• Mac: Menu bar → Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth icons → briefly disable and re‑enable both.

3. Keep devices close together

AirDrop only works if the devices are in close proximity (ideally under 10 meters) and not in Personal Hotspot mode.

4. Check AirDrop settings for contacts

If AirDrop is set to “Contacts Only”, the following conditions must be met:

• Both devices are signed in with Apple IDs.

• The Apple ID email address or phone number is saved in the contact.

• iCloud is enabled.

If all of that is too complicated: Just set it to “Everyone” as a quick test.

5. Do Not Disturb / Screen off

AirDrop does not work if:

• the display of an iPhone is switched off.

• The “Do Not Disturb” mode or Focus mode is enabled.

So: wake the device and turn off "Do Not Disturb" in Control Center.

6. Restart devices

The classic: a simple restart can work wonders – turn both iPhone and Mac off and on again.

7. Run a software update

Make sure the latest iOS or macOS version is installed on both devices. Apple regularly fixes AirDrop issues with updates.

• iOS/iPadOS: Settings → General → Software Update

• macOS: System Settings → General → Software Update

8. Reset as a last resort

If nothing else works:

• Reset network settings (iPhone):
  Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings

• Note: Wi‑Fi passwords will be lost in the process!

Conclusion

AirDrop issues can usually be fixed with a few simple steps. Often it’s enough to check the correct settings or restart the devices. If it still doesn’t work at all, resetting the network settings or installing a software update can sometimes help.