Airdrop Not Working? Try This

Airdrop is a brilliant way to transport photos, files, or just about anything else from one Apple device to another. However, a multitude of things can make Airdrop suddenly stop working, from errant system settings to hotspot or VPN interference. 

Fortunately, for as many things can go wrong with Airdrop, there are an equal number of ways to fix it. These 5 troubleshooting solutions should be your first lines of defense, as they can get your Airdrop back up and running in no time. Read on to learn how to fix Airdrop if it's not working for you.

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Make sure WiFi and Bluetooth is on

Airdrop relies on WiFi and Bluetooth to detect other devices and send files between them. If one or both is off, Airdrop won’t work. Make sure WiFi and Bluetooth are enabled on both your sending and receiving devices. That may be exactly what you need to get Airdrop working again. 

Make sure your personal hotspot or VPN is disabled

Do you have your phone’s personal hotspot enabled? This can disrupt your Airdrop connection in unforeseen ways. As a best practice, make sure your personal hotspot is switched off when attempting to send something via Airdrop. 

Similarly, VPNs have been known to cause all sorts of issues with wireless connections, including—you guessed it—Airdrop. If you’re having trouble sending or receiving an Airdrop file, try disabling your VPN. This may solve your issues. 

Disable Firewall

Another digital feature that can interfere with Airdrop is your computer’s Firewall settings. As with the other fixes we’ve mentioned, this one is easy to diagnose and resolve quickly. 

On your computer, go to System Settings>Security & Privacy>Firewall, then check out what the first button says. If it reads, “Block all incoming connections,” you’ll want it off. To make changes, first click the lock icon in the lower left hand corner of the screen. 

Change Airdrop to “Everyone”

Recently, after years of years of sending Airdrop files between my desktop and phone without ever touching the settings on either device, it inexplicably stopped working. After pulling my hair out trying to figure out why this was happening, I went into the Airdrop menu of my phone (Settings>General>Airdrop), and realized I had it set to "Receiving Off.” One flick of the button—turning on “Everyone for 10 Minutes—and suddenly I was back up and running. If you’re like me, this may be the solution you are looking for. 

Sidenote—ensure that your Airdrop settings are set to “Everyone” not just on the sending device but the receiving one. If your receiving device is a Mac, go to Settings>General>Airdrop & Handoff, and you’ll find the menu to select this. 

Do you need to be signed in to Apple ID?

You might assume that the Apple devices you’re trying to connect to Airdrop need to be signed in to Apple ID. While that’s the case if you’ve got one or both machines set to “Contacts Only” in the Airdrop settings, if you’ve got both on “Everyone” you can bypass this requirement. This did the trick when I was trying to transfer files between my iPhone and my MacBook, the latter of which wasn’t signed in to my Apple ID. 

Ensure devices are within 30 feet of each other

Since Airdrop relies on Bluetooth to work, the sending and receiving devices need to be in reasonable proximity to one another. Apparently that’s about 30 feet. Keep this in mind if you’re having any Airdrop issues, and move your devices closer together if needed. 

Restart your devices

If all else fails, try turning your sending and receiving devices on and off again. This may work to reset any errant settings and get your Airdrop back up and running again. 

The Bottom Line

Airdrop is a long-running Apple feature that makes transferring photos, files, and other stuff between devices easily. If it fails on you, any of the above troubleshooting methods will surely get it working again.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t my device detect the other when using AirDrop?


Because AirDrop requires both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, proper discoverability settings (e.g. “Everyone” or “Contacts Only”), supported devices, and close proximity—many users overlook one of these essentials. 

What should I do when AirDrop stalls or fails to transfer?


A simple restart of both devices, toggling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off and back on, turning off any Personal Hotspot, and switching AirDrop visibility off then back to “Everyone” often resolves glitches. 

Why does AirDrop sometimes stop working right after being set to “Everyone”?


Some iOS versions automatically revert AirDrop’s discoverability from "Everyone" to more restrictive modes (like “Contacts Only” or even “Receiving Off”) after about ten minutes, requiring frequent manual re-enabling.