Troubleshooting AirDrop Not Working on Mac: A Comprehensive Guide

AirDrop is among the most useful features that Apple offers and allows users to send photos, videos, documents, and other files wirelessly between Apple devices easily. However, like all tech, it can have issues from time to time. If you already have the problem of AirDrop not working on Mac, you don’t need the explanation. In this how we show you some steps that you need to take to get it working again.

1. Check Compatibility

To actively Airdrop Not Working, first, ensure that both your Mac and the intended device support AirDrop. AirDrop works on:

Macs from 2012 and later (2012 Mac Pro excepted)

iPod Touch: 5th Gen and up; iPad: 4th Gen and up; iPhone: 5 and up

Both devices need to be running macOS Yosemite or later on Macs and/or iPhones running iOS 7 or later.

2. Ensure AirDrop Is Enabled

You need to turn on AirDrop for it to function properly. On your Mac:

Open Finder.

In the sidebar, choose AirDrop.

If AirDrop is disabled, it will prompt you to turn it on. Tap it, and confirm it’s set to “Contacts Only” or “Everyone.”

Additionally, check the receiving device’s settings. Ensure that AirDrop is enabled in the Control Center on iOS devices. You can also do an inspection on macOS.

3. Check Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

AirDrop requires Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to work. Either of these being switched off will break AirDrop. Make sure that both the devices have Bluetooth & Wi-Fi turned ON.

To check on your Mac:

Click the Wi-Fi icon up in the menu bar and confirm that it’s connected to a network.

Tip the Bluetooth icon to confirm that it’s on.

Swipe up (or down, depending on your model) on the iPhone and iPad to bring up the Control Center and confirm that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled.

4. Disable Do Not Disturb Mode

Over time AirDrop can also be blocked from sending or receiving files when Do Not Disturb is triggered. This feature mutes notices and ties. But if you accidentally turned it on, AirDrop may not work as it should.

On a Mac, ensure that Do Not Disturb is off by:

Opening System Preferences.

Clicking Notifications.

Ensuring the Do Not Disturb

On your iPhone or iPad, swipe into the Control Center and check that the Do Not Disturb icon (a crescent moon) isn’t on.

Restart Your Devices

Many AirDrop issues are also fixed via the devices’ restart. If you’re facing connectivity problems or software glitches with your Mac or iOS device, try restarting both to see if the issue resolves.

For your Mac — Apple logo top left > Restart.

Press and hold the power button on your iPhone or iPad, then swipe to shut down. After a few seconds, turn it back on.

6. Check Firewall Settings

That might block pending connection attempts from AirDrop if there’s an enabled firewall on Mac. To check and adjust your firewall settings:

Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy.

Click on the Firewall tab.

Set the firewall to disabled or ensure you’ve permitted AirDrop to be received via the Firewall Options button.

7. Reset Network Settings

Sometimes the AirDrop broke in network issues. Reset Network Settings One thing that has settled and fixed the network issue is resetting network settings. Doing so will remove your Wi-FI networks, Bluetooth devices, and VPN settings, so be prepared to reconnect to your networks after doing the reset.

Related Story How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone or iPad:

To reset network settings, select Settings > General > Reset.

When asked if you want to reset your settings, confirm.

Delete files in System Preferences > Network to disable and then re-enable the network settings on your Mac.

8. Ensure Both Devices Are Close Enough

AirDrop requires the two devices to be close together, usually no more than 30 feet (9 meters) apart. Stay within reach of both your Mac and of the receiving Mac. If you have trouble, bring the devices nearby and retry again.

9. Software Update

Sometimes, an update on the software is required to solve AirDrop problems. Make sure both devices are updated:

On Mac: System Preferences > Software Update and install updates if available.

For iPhone or iPad: Settings > General > Software Update

The software, back then, was often buggy, and updates were generically named new rounds of tweaks.

Conclusion

AirDrop Not Working on Mac is a very convenient and powerful file-sharing medium between Apple devices, but can occasionally run into problems. I hope you will be able to fix the issue using the above steps on your Mac. Check if they’re compatible, turn on the necessary settings, verify your network and Bluetooth connections, or restart your devices if needed. If that doesn’t solve the problem, we suggest that you also contact Apple Support for further assistance.