Note: If you are having trouble with AirDrop on your iPad, you can follow the steps mentioned for your iPhone and apply them on your iPad as well.

1. Unlock Your Devices

In many instances, when you are AirDropping to an iPhone, it isn’t visible on the list. Check whether the iPhone is unlocked or not. Apple doesn’t allow you to AirDrop on a locked iPhone, hence it might not show up on the list. Just like the iPhone, you also need to keep your Mac unlocked in order to use the AirDrop. Unlocking your Mac is an effortless process, enter the password or touch the Touch ID in order to unlock your Mac. Once your Mac is unlocked, try using AirDrop, it should work just fine.

2. Keep Devices Closer

Apple asks users to keep the devices in closer proximity in order to send and receive files successfully using AirDrop. The maximum distance should be 30 feet (9 meters) between the devices (iPhone,iPad, and Mac) you use for AirDrop. So if you are exceeding this limit, there’s a chance that either you won’t be able to successfully AirDrop to another device or if there’s an ongoing transfer, it will get canceled.

3. Restart Your iPhone and Mac

Sometimes a quick reboot or restart can fix common issues like AirDrop getting stuck on waiting on your iPhone and Mac.

iPhone

Here are the steps to power off your iPhone and turn it back on.

  1. Hold the side button and one of the volume buttons for a few seconds.
  2. Now slide to power off your iPhone.
  3. Keep your iPhone off for a few minutes then turn it on by holding the side button.

Mac

Let’s take a look at how to restart your Mac.

  1. Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar.
  2. Now click on Restart.
  3. A pop-up window will appear on the screen, click on Restart to restart your Mac. Tip: How to Add, Remove, and Update Credit Cards in Safari on iPhone.

4. Update iOS and macOS

If you are running an older version of iOS or macOS, that may be why AirDrop is not working properly. In that case, updating your iPhone and Mac would be extremely helpful. And Apple usually fixes many bugs with an update, hence it’s crucial to keep your devices up to date.

iPhone

Let’s take a look at the steps to update your iPhone.

  1. Open Settings and tap on General.
  2. Now tap on Software Update.
  3. If there’s an update available tap on Download and Install.
  4. Enter the passcode of your iPhone.
  5. Tap on Agree.
  6. A pop-up will appear on the screen again tap on Agree and the update will start downloading on your iPhone.

Mac

Here are the steps to update your Mac with the latest macOS.

  1. Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar.
  2. A drop-down menu will open, click on System Preferences.
  3. Once the System Preferences is open, click on Software Update.
  4. If there is a software update available, then update your Mac.

5. Turn Bluetooth Off and On

AirDrop needs Bluetooth to transfer files. Hence if the AirDrop is malfunctioning on your iPhone and Mac, turning Bluetooth off and then turning it on after a couple of seconds might prove helpful.

iPhone

Let’s take a look at how to turn Bluetooth off and on, on an iPhone.

  1. Open Settings and tap on Bluetooth.
  2. Tap on the Bluetooth toggle to turn it off.
  3. Wait for a few seconds when it is off and then again tap on the Bluetooth toggle to turn it on.

Mac

Here are the steps to disable and then enable Bluetooth on a Mac.

  1. Click on the Control Center in the menu bar.
  2. Click on Bluetooth.
  3. Now click on the Bluetooth toggle to turn it off.
  4. Wait for a few seconds then click on the same toggle to turn the Bluetooth on. And now the AirDrop should work fine on your Mac. Also Read: 7 Nearby Share Tips and Tricks that Beats Airdrop

6. Keep Your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth On

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are actively used on both iPhone and Mac while AirDropping someone. So if either of them is off, chances are you won’t be able to use AirDrop. Let’s learn how to enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your iPhone and Mac.

iPhone

Here are the steps for enabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your iPhone.

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone and tap on Wi-Fi.
  2. On the Wi-Fi page, make sure that the toggle is turned on to ensure AirDrop can use it.
  3. Now again open the Settings app and tap on Bluetooth.
  4. On the Bluetooth page, check and make sure that the Bluetooth is turned on so that it can’t interrupt you while using AirDrop.

Mac

Let’s take a look at the steps of how to enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on a Mac.

  1. Click on the Control Center to open it on your Mac.
  2. Once the Control Center is open, check if the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on or not. If not, turn it on by clicking on it.

7. Turn Airdrop off and On (Mac)

On your Mac, you can also try turning the AirDrop off for a while and turning it back on. This trick is simple yet effective, and here are the steps to turn the AirDrop off and on.

  1. Click on the Control Center in the menu bar of your Mac.
  2. Now click on AirDrop.
  3. Click on the AirDrop toggle to turn it off.
  4. Once the AirDrop is off wait for a couple of seconds and then click on the same toggle to turn it back on. Also Read: How to Enable Reader View (Mode) in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

8. Check AirDrop Visibility Settings

AirDrop visibility is by default set to “Contacts Only” on iPhones and Macs. So if you are using AirDrop with a person you have not added as a contact on your iPhone, chances are they won’t see your iPhone or Mac in the receivers list. Here are the steps to change the AirDrop visibility to “Everyone” from “Contacts Only” in order to successfully use AirDrop.

iPhone

Let’s take a look at the steps to change the AirDrop visibility on an iPhone.

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone and tap on General. Quick Tip: You can also change the visibility of AirDrop from the Control Center also. Go to Control Center > long-press Network Card > long-press AirDrop > change visibility.
  2. Tap on AirDrop.
  3. Now on the AirDrop settings page, tap on Everyone for 10 Minutes to change your iPhone’s visibility to everyone. Note: After 10 minutes, your iPhone’s AirDrop visibility will automatically switch back to “Contacts Only”.

Mac

And here are the steps to change the AirDrop visibility on a Mac.

  1. Navigate to the AirDrop settings in the Control Center on your Mac by following the steps mentioned above.
  2. Click on Everyone, to change the visibility of your Mac’s AirDrop. Once done using the AirDrop you can switch back to Contacts Only by clicking on it again.

9. Turn Off Hotspot on iPhone

AirDrop doesn’t work on iPhones when the hotspot is enabled. Because iPhones can use either hotspot or Wi-Fi at one time and we noted earlier how Wi-Fi is necessary for AirDrop to function. Let’s take a look at how to disable the hotspot on your iPhone.

  1. Open Settings and tap on Personal Hotspot.
  2. Tap on the toggle Allow Others to Join to turn the Personal Hotspot off. Note: After turning off the Hotspot on your iPhone, please make sure that both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth both are on, in order for AirDrop to work properly.

10. Turn Off VPN

If your iPhone or Mac is connected to a VPN, then the AirDrop may not work correctly. In that case, we would suggest you turn off the VPN and try using AirDrop again. Let’s take a look at how to turn off the VPN on your iPhone and Mac.

iPhone

Here are the steps to turn off the VPN on an iPhone.

  1. Open Settings and tap on General. Note: You can also turn off the VPN from the Settings homepage itself by tapping on the toggle next to VPN. But if that’s not working, continue reading.
  2. Scroll down and tap on VPN & Device Management.
  3. Tap on the VPN.
  4. Now tap on the toggle named Status to disconnect the VPN.

Mac

Let’s take a look at the steps to turn off the VPN on a Mac.

  1. Click on the VPN logo in the menu bar.
  2. Click on the disconnect button. Once the VPN is disconnected, you can resume AirDrop, it should work flawlessly. Tip: 5 Ways to Force Quit Apps on Mac.

11. Delete Emails From Contacts and Add Them Back (iPhone)

If you are AirDropping something to a particular contact on your iPhone and are failing repeatedly, you should try this. Some people on Reddit were having the same issue and deleting email addresses from the contact and adding them back worked for them. Here are the steps to do so.

  1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on the contact whose email you want to delete from their contact.
  3. Now tap on Edit.
  4. Tap on the – minus button next to the email.
  5. Tap on Delete.
  6. And now tap on Done to save the updated contact.
  7. Once the contact is saved wait for a few seconds, and then tap on Edit.
  8. Now tap on add email.
  9. Tap on Email
  10. Type the email and then tap on Done to save the contact. Now you can try using the AirDrop with this contact, it should work fine.

12. Reset Network Settings (iPhone)

The last solution to fix the AirDrop on your iPhone is resetting the network settings on your iPhone. If there’s an issue with your network settings and you are not able to find it on time, resetting it will set all the network-related values to the default. Let’s take a look at the steps to reset the network settings on your iPhone. Note: Resetting network settings will delete all saved Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth devices, etc.

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone and tap on General.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  3. Now tap on Reset.
  4. Tap on Reset Network Settings.
  5. Enter the passcode of your iPhone and the network settings will be reset. Also Read: How to Take and Highlight a Screenshot on Mac.

13. Block All Incoming Connections (Mac)

There is an option buried deep in the settings of your Mac. If this option is turned on or checked on your Mac, chances are you will be facing troubles while using AirDrop. In such situations, turning it off will resume the AirDrop like before. This has helped many people on Reddit. And here are the steps to disable “block all incoming connections” on your Mac.

  1. Click on the Apple logo.
  2. Now click on System Preferences.
  3. Click on Security & Privacy.
  4. Click on the lock icon to proceed further.
  5. Enter your Mac’s password and click on Unlock.
  6. Now click on Firewall Options.
  7. A pop-up window will appear on the screen, make sure that “Block all incoming connections” is unchecked. Then click on OK. Now go ahead and try using the AirDrop on your Mac, it should work fluently.

AirDrop Anyone Worry-Free

AirDrop is very handy in day-to-day usage, so not being able to use it can be really troublesome. But after trying out these fixes, you won’t have to deal with AirDrop not working or stuck on waiting ever again. These are the most effective solutions for fixing AirDrop not working on your iPhone or Mac. I hope this article helped you in restoring AirDrop on your iPhone and Mac. Now go ahead, and AirDrop as many files and photos as you want between your iPhone and Mac. Are you having trouble opening iCloud in a browser on your Mac? Here’s how you can fix iCloud not opening in your browser on Mac quickly.