This site is not affiliated with Apple AirDrop; this is an independent explanation.
Apple AirDrop not working shows up as the other device never appearing in the share sheet, a transfer that waits and then fails, or a message such as "Waiting" or "Declined". AirDrop sends files directly between nearby Apple devices using Bluetooth to find each other and Wi-Fi to carry the file, so both radios must be switched on.
Most failures come from settings: the receiver is set to receive from no one, the device is locked, or a hotspot or restriction is on. Work through the list in order on both devices, because the problem can be on either side. If Bluetooth itself is acting up on a computer, read Bluetooth not working, and if the connection is slow, see WiFi not working. More phone faults are listed on phone not working.
Common causes
1Receiving set to No One or Contacts Only
How to tellThe other device is not shown in the list, or shows only for contacts
What fixes itSet receiving to Everyone for 10 Minutes on the receiving device
2Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is off
How to tellNothing appears at all, on iPhone or Mac
What fixes itTurn both on from Control Centre or the menu bar
3Personal Hotspot or restrictions on
How to tellAirDrop option is grey, or transfers hang
What fixes itSwitch off Personal Hotspot and check content restrictions
4Receiver screen is locked or asleep
How to tellDevice shows up only after unlocking it
What fixes itWake and unlock the receiving device and keep it on screen
5Devices too far apart
How to tellAppears and disappears, transfer stalls halfway
What fixes itBring them within a metre or two
6Software out of date or a temporary glitch
How to tellWorked earlier, fails on one device only
What fixes itRestart both devices and update the software
7Different Apple Account or sharing settings
How to tellWorks with some people, not with others
What fixes itAsk the person to accept the prompt and use Everyone mode
How to fix it, step by step
Unlock both devices and bring them close
Keep both screens awake and unlocked and hold them side by side. AirDrop does not work well across a room or through a locked screen.
Turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on
On the iPhone or iPad, open Control Centre and check both are on. On a Mac, check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in the menu bar. Airplane mode must be off. You do not need to join a network, but the Wi-Fi radio must be on.
Set receiving to Everyone for 10 Minutes
On an iPhone, open the AirDrop entry under General in Settings and choose Everyone for 10 Minutes. On a Mac, open Finder, click AirDrop and set Allow me to be discovered by Everyone. Contacts Only needs both people to be saved correctly, which often fails.
Switch off Personal Hotspot
While Personal Hotspot is sharing, AirDrop can fail on many devices. Turn the hotspot off for the moment of the transfer, then switch it back on afterward.
Check Do Not Disturb and restrictions
A Focus mode can hide the request prompt. On an iPhone, Screen Time content restrictions can block AirDrop under allowed apps and features. Check them if the option is missing or grey.
Turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off and on again
Toggle each radio on both devices, and wait a few seconds. This refreshes discovery without a full restart.
Restart both devices
Restart the iPhone, iPad and Mac, not only one. Many stuck transfers clear after both ends restart.
Update, then reset network settings only if needed
Install the newest system updates. If nothing else works, use the Reset menu inside the iPhone's General settings and pick Reset Network Settings. Saved Wi-Fi passwords disappear, so keep them handy.
How AirDrop finds the other device
When you open the share sheet, your device uses Bluetooth to shout who is nearby. The receiving device answers if its setting allows. Then the two make a private Wi-Fi link between themselves and send the file. That is why airdrop not working can come from a Bluetooth problem, a Wi-Fi problem, or the receiver being closed to strangers.
You share a photo and the share sheet shows the AirDrop icon, but your friend's name never appears. Ask them to open the AirDrop setting and choose Everyone for 10 Minutes, then try again.
AirDrop not working from iPhone to Mac
| Check | On the iPhone | On the Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Radios | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on |
| Visibility | Settings, General, AirDrop | Finder, AirDrop, discoverable setting |
| Screen | Unlocked | Awake, not in sleep |
| Firewall | Not needed | Do not block all incoming connections |
On a Mac, the firewall option that blocks all incoming connections stops AirDrop, so check it in System Settings. Older Macs may not support newer sharing features, and the age of the model decides this.
AirDrop not working on iPad or between family devices
The same steps work on an iPad. With family or friends, the quickest test is to use Everyone for 10 Minutes, because Contacts Only depends on the email or number saved in the contact card. If a transfer sits at Waiting, check that the other person actually sees the prompt and taps Accept. If it keeps failing with one person only, update that device.
When AirDrop keeps failing
If AirDrop fails with every device after the reset steps, a hardware fault in the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth chip is possible, mostly after a drop or water exposure. Take the device to the brand's authorised service. In the meantime, you can send files through a message, email or a shared cloud folder.
Only accept AirDrop from people you know. Set receiving back to Contacts Only or Receiving Off when you are finished, so strangers cannot send you unwanted pictures.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my AirDrop not working on my iPhone?
Wi-Fi or Bluetooth may be off, the receiver may be set to No One, or a hotspot may be active. Check these on both devices.
Why is AirDrop not working from iPhone to Mac?
Make sure the Mac is awake, its AirDrop setting allows discovery, and its firewall is not blocking all incoming connections. Turn off Personal Hotspot on the iPhone.
Why does AirDrop only work with Everyone mode?
Contacts Only needs the other person's saved details to match. Everyone for 10 Minutes avoids that match, so it works more often.
Why is my AirDrop waiting forever?
The receiver may not have accepted the request, or the devices lost the link. Keep both screens on, move closer and try again.
Does AirDrop work with Android phones?
No. AirDrop only works between supported Apple devices. Use a messaging app, email or a shared link for other phones.