Quick answer
When AirDrop is not working, set the receiving device to Everyone for 10 Minutes in Settings › General › AirDrop, keep both devices awake and unlocked within about 30 feet, and make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on and Personal Hotspot is off. If it still fails, restart both devices, then reset network settings.
Check these basics first
Most AirDrop failures come down to one of these. Check both devices, not just yours.
| Check | What it needs to be |
|---|---|
| Distance | Within about 30 feet (9 metres), ideally closer |
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Both on. They do not need to be connected to a network |
| Screen | Both devices awake and unlocked |
| Receiving setting | Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes, not Receiving Off |
| Personal Hotspot | Off |
| Surroundings | Away from thick walls and sources of interference such as microwaves |
How to turn AirDrop on correctly
AirDrop has to be set to receive on the device you are sending to. The sender's setting does not matter for discovery.
On iPhone or iPad
- Open
Settings › General › AirDrop. - Choose Everyone for 10 Minutes.
You can also open Control Center, press and hold the group with the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth buttons, tap AirDrop and pick the same option. Everyone for 10 Minutes switches back to Contacts Only on its own, so you do not leave your phone open to strangers.
On Mac
- Open Finder.
- Click AirDrop in the sidebar.
- Click Allow me to be discovered by at the bottom of the window.
- Choose Everyone.
On a Mac, Everyone stays on until you change it back. Switch it to Contacts Only when you have finished troubleshooting.
Restart both devices
A restart clears a stuck wireless state more often than you might expect, and it takes a minute.
- iPhone or iPad with Face ID: press and hold the side or top button and either volume button, then drag the slider. Wait 30 seconds and hold the side button to turn it back on.
- iPhone or iPad with a Home button: press and hold the side or top button, then drag the slider.
- Mac: choose
Apple menu › Restart.
If a device is frozen and will not show the slider, follow our steps to force restart an iPhone.
Turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off and on
AirDrop uses Bluetooth to find nearby devices and Wi-Fi to carry the file. If either radio is stuck, toggling it often fixes discovery.
- iPhone or iPad: use
Settings › Wi-FiandSettings › Bluetooth, not Control Center. The Control Center buttons only disconnect from networks and accessories; Settings turns the radios fully off. Wait five seconds, then turn them back on. - Mac: turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off from Control Center in the menu bar, wait, and turn them on again.
If Bluetooth itself misbehaves with other accessories too, our Bluetooth fix guide goes further.
Turn off Personal Hotspot
AirDrop and Personal Hotspot both need the iPhone's Wi-Fi, so AirDrop does not work while your phone is sharing its connection. Go to Settings › Personal Hotspot and turn off Allow Others to Join, then try again.
Fix Contacts Only problems
Contacts Only works only when both devices can verify each other through iCloud.
- You must have the other person's email address or phone number in your Contacts.
- They must have the email address or phone number linked to your Apple Account in theirs.
- Both devices must be signed in with an Apple Account.
If you only need to send one file, the receiver switching to Everyone for 10 Minutes is the quickest fix.
Check Focus, VPN and Low Power Mode
- Focus and Do Not Disturb can hide incoming AirDrop requests. Turn Focus off in Control Center on the receiving device while you test.
- VPN apps can block the local traffic AirDrop needs. Switch the VPN off in its app or in
Settings › VPNand try again. - Low Power Mode restricts background activity and can interrupt transfers. Turn it off in
Settings › Battery.
Check the firewall on a Mac
A strict firewall setting can stop a Mac from receiving AirDrop.
- Open
System Settings › Network › Firewall. - Click Options.
- Make sure Block all incoming connections is turned off.
To rule the firewall out completely, turn it off briefly, test AirDrop, and turn it back on.
Reset network settings on iPhone or iPad
If discovery still fails, reset the network configuration. This does not delete your data, but it does remove saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings and VPN settings.
- Open
Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone(or iPad). - Tap Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings and enter your passcode.
The device restarts when it finishes. Our guide on how to reset network settings covers the Mac equivalent and what to set up again afterwards.
Sign out of iCloud and back in
An iCloud sign-in problem can break Contacts Only discovery. Use this as a later step, and only when you know your Apple Account password and can receive two-factor codes.
- Go to
Settings › [your name]. - Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
- Restart the device.
- Sign back in with your Apple Account.
Update your software
Apple fixes AirDrop bugs in software updates, so update both devices: Settings › General › Software Update on iPhone and iPad, and System Settings › General › Software Update on Mac. As of 19 October 2026, the current public release is iOS 27.0.1 and macOS 27.0.1.
If you are testing the iOS 27.2 beta and AirDrop broke after a beta update, check our iOS 27 known issues page to see whether others are reporting it, and file a report in the Feedback Assistant app with both devices' models and versions.
When one device does not see the other
iPhone not showing on Mac
Wake the iPhone and keep it unlocked. On the Mac, open Finder › AirDrop and leave that window open while you look; it keeps the Mac actively scanning.
Mac not showing on iPhone
Wake the Mac and open Finder › AirDrop so it is discoverable. On the iPhone, open the Share sheet, tap AirDrop and give it a few seconds.
A device keeps appearing and disappearing
Keep both devices unlocked, stay in the Share sheet instead of switching apps, toggle Bluetooth off and on, and move closer.
When the transfer fails partway
- Move closer and stay put until it finishes. Walking away mid-transfer is a common cause.
- Cancel and send again. A second attempt often works.
- Turn off Low Power Mode on both devices.
- Restart both devices if it keeps failing.
If nothing works
- Work devices and parental controls. A device managed by an employer or school, or one with Screen Time restrictions, can have AirDrop blocked. Check
Settings › Screen Time › Content & Privacy Restrictions › Allowed Apps, or ask IT. - Test another Mac user account. If AirDrop works in a new user account, the problem is a setting in your own account.
- Intel Mac resets. As a last step on an Intel Mac, resetting the SMC and NVRAM can clear odd hardware behaviour. Our SMC and NVRAM reset guide explains which Macs need it.
- Hardware. If Wi-Fi or Bluetooth also fail in other uses, the wireless hardware may be faulty. Contact Apple Support. Our Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide helps you rule out software first.
Other ways to send a file
- iCloud Drive for documents between your own devices.
- Shared Albums in Photos for groups of photos.
- Mail or Messages for small files.
- A USB cable between iPhone and Mac for large videos.
Common AirDrop myths
- "It needs internet." It does not. AirDrop works device to device.
- "Both devices need the same Apple Account." They do not. You can send to anyone nearby.
- "Airplane Mode kills it." Only until you switch Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on, which you can do while Airplane Mode stays enabled.
What to do next
Most AirDrop problems end at the receiving setting, Personal Hotspot or a restart. If yours survived a network reset, the cause is likely in the wireless stack itself, so work through the Bluetooth troubleshooting steps next.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my iPhone not showing up in AirDrop?
Usually the receiving setting is wrong or the phone is asleep. On the iPhone that should appear, open Settings › General › AirDrop and choose Everyone for 10 Minutes. Keep the screen on and unlocked, make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, turn off Personal Hotspot, and bring the devices within about 30 feet (9 metres). Then try again from the Share sheet.
Does AirDrop need Wi-Fi or an internet connection?
AirDrop needs Wi-Fi and Bluetooth switched on, but it does not need an internet connection or a shared network. Bluetooth finds nearby devices and a direct Wi-Fi link carries the file. You can even use it in Airplane Mode if you switch Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on from Control Center after enabling Airplane Mode.
Why does AirDrop work with Everyone but not Contacts Only?
Contacts Only needs each device to recognise the other through iCloud. You must have the other person's email address or phone number saved in Contacts, they must have yours, and both devices must be signed in with an Apple Account. If any of that is missing, you will not see each other. Switch to Everyone for 10 Minutes as a quick workaround.
Why does my AirDrop transfer fail halfway?
The connection between the devices dropped. Stay close together until the transfer finishes, keep both screens awake, and turn off Low Power Mode, which can restrict background activity. Cancel and send again; a second attempt often succeeds. For very large videos, try sending fewer files at once, or use iCloud Drive or a cable instead.
Does resetting network settings delete my data?
No. Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset Network Settings keeps your photos, apps and files. It removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, VPN settings and cellular settings, then restarts the iPhone. Make sure you know your Wi-Fi passwords before you run it.
Is AirDrop broken on the iOS 27 beta?
Beta builds can introduce bugs in wireless features, including AirDrop. Try the standard fixes first, because most AirDrop problems are settings issues. If AirDrop failed only after you installed a beta, check our iOS 27 known issues page, then report it in the Feedback Assistant app with the devices and versions involved. A later beta build may fix it.