Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025

How to fix AirDrop connection issues on iPhone, iPad, or Mac

How to fix AirDrop connection issues on iPhone, iPad, or Mac

If your AirDrop is not working on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, first make sure that Bluetooth is turned on on both devices.

One of the most convenient features for Apple users is AirDrop, which lets you send media, links, and documents via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to devices within a certain range.

Most newer Apple devices already have this feature, however, it can be finicky for no particular reason. When AirDrop is not working properly, try these troubleshooting techniques.

Quick tip: AirDrop is compatible with any iPhone that has iOS 7 or later, iPad with iPadOS 13 or later, and Mac with OS X 10.10. Both devices must be compatible for AirDrop to work.

How AirDrop works

to discover devices within a certain range, and then Wi-Fi to send over the content.

Bluetooth connections can reach up to half a mile, but your devices likely need to be within 30 feet of each other to work properly. When Wi-Fi is unavailable, AirDrop will use your cellular service.

How to fix AirDrop not working on iPhone or iPad


First, make sure your iPhone or iPad has Bluetooth turned on. To do that, open the Settings app on your device. Tap Bluetooth toward the top of the list and make sure the button is green — if not, swipe the button to the right. If you see a prompt to Allow New Connections, tap on it to allow your device to connect to new devices.

Swipe the Bluetooth button to the right to turn it green, and tap "Allow New Connections" to connect to new devices.


Next, make sure AirDrop is turned on. In the Settings app, select General and then tap AirDrop. You can then select if you want AirDrop to be available to everyone within range or just those in your contact list. For the sake of haste, choose Everyone to see if that quickly solves the problem. It also doesn't hurt to try turning AirDrop off and on again for it to reconnect — to turn it off, select Receiving Off.

On the AirDrop page, select "Everyone."


Finally, make sure the device you want to AirDrop to is also enabled for Everyone. If your two devices are far apart, bring them closer in case they're slightly out of range.

How to fix AirDrop not working on a Mac computer


You may need to change your AirDrop settings to allow your device to be discoverable. Open the Finder app from your Mac's menu bar or search for it using Spotlight. In Finder, select AirDrop at the top of the sidebar menu on the left. At the bottom of the AirDrop page, select the drop-down menu next to Allow me to be discovered by and change it to Everyone.

In the drop-down, select "Everyone."


If that doesn't work, use the menu bar at the top of your screen and select the Wi-Fi icon. Make sure it's switched on and that you're connected to a network. Next, do the same for Bluetooth. You can also try turning both off and on again in an attempt to reconnect.

You should also check that your firewall settings allow for new connections. Open the System Preferences app on your Mac, and select Security & Privacy. On the Security & Privacy page, click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen, and enter your password or use your Touch ID.

On the Firewall tab, you can either click Turn Off Firewall or click Firewall Options and, in the pop-up, uncheck the box next to Block all incoming connections, then click OK.

After clicking "Firewall Options," make sure to uncheck the box next to "Block all incoming connections," and click "OK."


What to do if AirDrop still isn't working


If AirDrop is still not working after you've tried the above steps, consider restarting your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

You may also want to update your iPhone, iPad, or Mac software to the latest available version if you haven't already.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
Hungary Partners with China to Boost Electric Vehicle Production
‘Vibe Coding’ Emerges as the New DIY Trend
AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Warns Models Can Deceive Users
Big Four Firms Rush to Create AI Auditing Systems
Musk’s xAI Pursues $113 Billion Valuation in New Share Sale
Walmart Increases Revenue Despite Shrinking Workforce
Hims & Hers Plans UK and EU Launch of Replica Obesity Drugs
Toyota to Acquire Supplier in $33 Billion Buyout
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
×