AirDrop is a useful function for transferring files between your Mac and iPhone or iPad. AirDrop stops working unexpectedly or you don’t know how to turn it on? We have listed a number of solutions for you to enable your AirDrop.
AirDrop Not Working: Try These Solutions
A big advantage of the Apple ecosystem is that you can have all your devices synchronized with each other. With AirDrop you can exchange files quickly and easily without the need for a cable or a USB stick. It is useful, for example, to exchange documents in an office environment, or to quickly send a photo or video to a friend.
As a result, it can be quite frustrating when AirDrop doesn’t work as it should. Below we have listed a number of possible solutions for you, after which you will hopefully be able to turn your AirDrop back on.
1. Make sure wifi and bluetooth are on, personal hotspot off
AirDrop works via Bluetooth and WiFi. It is therefore important that you and the device you want to send a file to are close to the same WiFi and that Bluetooth is switched on. It is also important that the Personal Hotspot is turned off. This can interrupt the WiFi network.
Then try to switch the WiFi and Bluetooth off and on again. Do this via the settings and not via the control panel. Switching the airplane mode on and off is also an option.
2. Restart your hardware
Do you have WiFi and Bluetooth on and off your personal hotspot? If AirDrop still doesn’t work, the first thing to do is to restart your hardware. It differs per device exactly how this works. In our tip you can read everything about how to restart your iPhone.
3. Open AirDrop in Finder on your Mac
If you’re trying to send files to your Mac and it doesn’t work, you can try turning it on manually. To do this, open Finder and click on ‘AirDrop’. Your Mac will then be actively discoverable by other devices.
You can also adjust the AirDrop setting of your Mac in the AirDrop screen in Finder. Read more about what that means below.
4. Check your AirDrop settings
To protect your privacy, AirDrop only works with devices and people in your address book by default. If you are unable to send files, something may be going wrong with your address book. To be able to send a file, it can help to (temporarily) set AirDrop to ‘Everyone’. To do this, follow the steps below.
- Open Settings app on your iPhone and tap ‘General’;
- Tap AirDrop and choose ‘Everyone’;
- Then try to send your file again.
Note: this setting allows everyone around you to send files to you via AirDrop. If you don’t want this, reset the setting once you’re done to protect your privacy.
Share via AirDrop
Your AirDrop should now be on. To share something via AirDrop, tap the ‘share’ icon of a document, photo or video. With the sharing options you often see the AirDrop icon on the left. If you tap this you will see which devices are nearby that have AirDrop enabled as well.
More AirDrop Tips
Do you want to know more about AirDrop? Then take a look at our AirDrop starter guide. Then read our tip on 5 file types you can share at lightning speed with AirDrop or how to share files even faster with AirDrop in your Mac dock. Do you ever just receive an AirDrop request from an unknown person? Read how you can prevent unwanted AirDrops.