AirDrop is an excellent feature that helps to transfer pictures, videos, files, and more between your iPhone, iPad Touch/M, and Mac wirelessly. AirDrop has also made it possible to share links to various apps. 

Using AirDrop you can even establish a peer-to-peer WiFi connection between your nearby devices. Moreover, your encrypted data won’t be exposed to outsiders. 

These days, most AirDrop users are experiencing AirDrop not working while trying to share files or links. Thus, this article has tried to resolve the issue in some simple ways. 

Methods to Fix AirDrop Not Working:

Start with the first one and move to the rest to find a suitable way of. 

Method 1: Make Sure Your Device is Discoverable

You need to open the Control Center on your iOS device and check whether AirDrop is enabled or not. Then, go to Mac’s finder and ensure that the system can recognize AirDrop. 

After identifying AirDrop, try to transfer files or share links to ensure that you have solved the issue. If the process fails, then proceed to the next method. 

Method 2: Configure AirDrop Settings

You can correctly configure the AirDrop settings by the following ways:

On iOS Devices

1. Turn on your iOS device and swipe up the screen. 
2. Tap on the Airdrop button and you will see a popup list to configure the settings. 
3. Select the ‘Receiving Off’ option to receive Airdrop requests. 
4. Whereas, select ‘Contacts Only’ to make your device discoverable by your contacts only.
5. If you select ‘Everyone,’ then all the nearby iOS devices will find your iOS device. 

On Mac OS

1. Go to finder on your Mac and then click on the ‘Menu Bar.’
2. Click the ‘Go’ button and select AirDRop. 
3. Then, select the ‘Allow me to be discoverable by’ option and choose ‘Everyone.’
4. Now, open AirDrop and see whether it’s working or not. 

Method 3: Ensure All Devices are Within the Range of WiFi and Bluetooth

AirDrop won’t work if the devices aren’t within the range of WiFi or Bluetooth. Hence see that the devices you want to access are not beyond the range of your Airdrop. 

Approximately 20 feet that is, 6 meters is the recommended distance between your iOS/Mac and other devices. 

Method 4: Turn off the Airplane Mode

Airplane often seems to cut the connection between your other wireless devices. Thus, turn off the Airplane mode by the following steps:

1. Swipe up the screen of your device and tap the ‘Airplane’ button to enable the Airplane mode. 
2. The toggle will be grey if you the Airplane mode is disabled. 
3. Otherwise, turn off the toggle and see whether AirDrop works or not. 

Method 5: Make Sure Your Device Is Not in Sleep Mode

AirDrop will fail to send or receive items if the screen of your device is off. Thus, ensure that the screen is on and your device is not in Sleep Mode. 

Method 6: Transfer One Type of Files Only

Airdrop doesn’t allow users to transfer different types of files. Hence, you need to transfer one type of file at a particular time. 

If the problem persists even after transferring one types of file, then move to the next method. 

Method 7: Sign Out and Sign In Again to Your iCloud Account

iCloud has been seen to be associated with AirdDrop not working issue for several users. 

Therefore, sign out of your iCloud account and then sign in back to see whether it solves the problem or not. We have simplified the process in the following steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your device and select iCloud. 
2. Tap on the ‘Sign Out’ button and enter your Apple ID as well as, password when asked. 
3. After signing out from your account, go back to Settings and select iCloud option. 
4. Then, tap the ‘Sign IN’ button and provide your Apple ID and password. 
5. Now, launch AirDrop and see whether it works properly or not. 

Method 8: Check the Bluetooth and WiFi Connection

AirDrop works only when you enable Bluetooth and WiFi on both the sending and receiving devices. 

Bluetooth and Wifi automatically turn on when you enable AirDrop. If this is not the case, then follow these steps on your device:

1. Launch the Settings app and select WLAN.
2. Tap the WLAN button to disable it and then tap it again to turn it on. 
3. Return to the Settings window, and tap the Bluetooth button to disable it and then tap again to re-enable it. 
4. Now turn on AirDrop and find out whether it can share the required files or not. 

Method 9: Check Personal Hotspot on Your Device

Personal Hotspot is a feature that allows you to share a cellular data connection of your iOS device when you can’t access the WiFi. 

However, a personal Hotspot might interrupt the working of AirDrop since it relies on WiFi too. So, turn off this feature temporarily by the following steps:

1. Go to Settings and select personal Hotspot.
2. Tap the toggle beside Personal Hotspot to disable this feature. 
3. Now open AirDrop to see whether it has solved the issue or not. If not, then re-enable your personal Hotspot. 

Method 10: Turn Off Do Not Disturb Mode

You can silence your incoming calls, messages, and alerts by turning on Do Not Disturb Mode. According to many users, AirDrop fails to work in this mode. 

Hence we are temporarily disabling the Do Not Disturb Mode by the given steps:

1. Power on your device and swipe up the screen.
2. Tap the icon for Do Not Disturb Mode and it will be greyed out if it’s off. 
3. If the Do Not Disturb Mode is enabled, you need to disable it manually. 
4. Hope, AirDrop will now work without an issue. 

Method 11: Check the Wireless Connection

Make sure that your device is connected to a stable network. You have to connect your device to another network if too many devices are trying to access the existing network. 

Now see whether AirDrop is working with the new WiFi or not. 

Method 12: Connect Both the Devices on the Same Network

If you are trying to transfer files from your iOS device to Mac, then connect both the devices to the same network. Otherwise, AirdDrop won’t be able to perform its function. 

Method 13: Reset Network Settings

Resetting the network settings is a simple way to solve the nonfunctional AirDrop. Thus, reset your network by the steps given below:

1. Open the Settings app and click ‘Reset’ under the ‘General’ tab. 
2. Now, choose the ‘Network Settings’ and enter the passcode set for this particular network. 
3. Then, select your wireless connection, re-enter the password and tap the ‘Finish’ button. 
4. Launch AirdDrop and check whether it can work or not. 

Method 14: Turn Off Firewall Temporarily on Mac

Mac users can apply this method to fix the AirDrop issue. 

1. Turn on your Mac, go to the Start menu and choose System Preferences. 
2. Click Security and Privacy and select Firewall. 
3. Click Firewall Options from the drop-down menu and uncheck all boxes for incoming connections. 
4. Click the ‘OK” button and try to use AirdDrop.

Hope, you have understood how to resolve AirDrop not working without any hassles. You can try out the same solutions to resolve the AirDrop iPhone to Mac not working issue.

If the problem continues, then you are recommended to consult with a technical expert near you.