Is Apple's AirDrop Not Working for You? Here's How to Fix It

CNET

6 days ago

AirDrop has always been a quick and convenient way to transfer files between Apple's devices. You can use it to easily share photos, documents, videos, audio recordings, contact cards, web links, notes and other data between iPads, iPhones and Macs. You can also use AirDrop to transfer those files to nearby contacts (as long as they have iOS or MacOS) and it works with any iOS device with iOS 7 or newer and Macs running OS X Yosemite or newer.
For a detailed explanation of how to use AirDrop, check out our guide here. But even if you follow these steps, sometimes AirDrop can fail. Here are a few possible reasons why it's not working.
Watch this: All Things Mobile: Our iPhone 16 Pro 7-Month Check-In
06:14
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi isn't on
AirDrop uses both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to discover devices and share files. So both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi need to be turned on in order for it to work. If even one of the connections is disabled, AirDrop will not work. If you're having trouble with either of these connections, you can try toggling these features off and on again. To do so, simply head to Settings or Control Center and enable both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Personal Hotspot is enabled
If your phone or tablet's Personal Hotspot feature is turned on, that might prevent AirDrop from working. Make sure that's disabled and make sure that the other device also has it turned off. A VPN connection might also create issues with AirDrop. If you're using a VPN, make sure that local networking is allowed. Otherwise, try disabling it in case you're having issues with AirDrop.
You can double-check your AirDrop settings from the Control Center using these menus.
Nicole Lee/CNET
AirDrop is set to Receiving Off
Another reason AirDrop might not be working is that your AirDrop settings are incorrect. If you have it as "Receiving Off," no one can AirDrop files to you. To correct this, you need to do the following:
Open the Control Center panel
panel Tap the wireless connection icon
Tap the AirDrop icon
Choose Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes
The "Contacts Only" option only works with people saved in your contacts while the "Everyone" option opens your phone to the public for 10 minutes. We wouldn't advise choosing the latter unless you really trust the people around you. If the person you want to AirDrop with isn't in your contacts yet, it might be best to save them as a contact first before doing the AirDrop. Otherwise, the Everyone option is all right if you're in a relatively private location. Just make sure that it switches back to a more private option after the transfer ends.
Your contact doesn't include their Apple ID
If you had set the AirDrop preference set to "Contacts Only," then both parties need to have each other's Apple ID email address or mobile number set up in the Contacts app in order to work. If that's not working, then you can just use the Everyone option to AirDrop the file.
Make sure the receiving iPhone is unlocked and powered on for AirDrop.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
One of the devices is locked
If one of the devices is locked or powered off, then AirDrop will not work. AirDrop won't see a locked device as an available device for sending something. Make sure the receiving iPhone, iPad or Mac is unlocked and powered on so that AirDrop can recognize it.
The devices are too far apart
Since AirDrop uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to transfer files, the two devices need to be within Bluetooth range of each other, which is often 30 feet. Try placing the two devices as close to each other as possible to minimize any errors. In iOS 18, the transfers can continue over the internet even if the initial connection is lost, so you could move apart after the process has already started.
James Martin/CNET
Incompatible hardware
AirDrop only works with iOS and MacOS products, not with Android or PC products. Android does have Quick Share, which functions similarly to AirDrop.
It's also possible that you are trying to AirDrop files that are particularly large, like 4K video files. If that's the case, check out this guide for transferring large videos from your iPhone to a Mac using the Image Capture tool on MacOSO.