When Apple releases a new iOS version, users worldwide often report bugs, with "AirDrop not working" being the most common issue. Other frequent problems include iPhones getting stuck on verifying updates, freezing, and Safari not functioning. To resolve these issues, including the "AirDrop not working on iOS 11/12/13" problem, some helpful tips are necessary.
| Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| Part 1. Why Is My AirDrop not Working | Compatibility; Requirements...Full steps |
| Part 2. Fixes for AirDrop Not Working | Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth...Full steps |
| Part 3. Transfer Data With an AirDrop Alternative | Transfer data between two iOS devices without AirDrop....Full steps |
To troubleshoot why your AirDrop is not working on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, it's helpful to identify the specific problem you're experiencing. Common issues include the AirDrop icon not appearing, not being able to see nearby devices, or not being able to send or receive files. By understanding the root cause of the issue, you can take targeted steps to resolve the problem and ensure a smoother AirDrop experience in the future.
1. Your devices are not compatible with AirDrop
AirDrop is not working on any iDevices with iOS systems. To fix this, check if your devices are compatible, as AirDrop only supports iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th gen and later, iPad mini and later, and iPod touch 5th gen, with iOS 7 or later and Mac OS X lion (10.7) or later. Also, ensure the app you're using supports AirDrop by checking the "Share" button.
2. The airDrop device is undiscoverable.
Make sure AirDrop is turned on in both the sending and receiving devices. If it's disabled, enable it.
3. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are disabled.
AirDrop requires both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to be enabled in order to work, as it uses Bluetooth to detect nearby devices and Wi-Fi to transfer files. If either of these features is disabled, AirDrop will not function.
4. The distance of two devices is over 30 feet of each other.
Ensure the two devices are within 30 feet (9 meters) of each other, ideally placed close together for optimal Bluetooth signal strength.
5. The receiving device's screen is off.
To use AirDrop, the receiving iOS device's screen must be on. If the device goes to sleep, either automatically or manually, the AirDrop transfer will stop working.
6. Airplane Mode has been activated.
Activating Airplane mode on your device will turn off Wi-Fi, disable mobile networks and Bluetooth, making it impossible for AirDrop to detect your device and transfer files.
7. Personal Hotspot is enabled.
If you see a warning message "AirDrop is not available when using Personal Hotspot", you should disable the Personal Hotspot on your device.
8. Both devices haven't signed in to iCloud.
To airdrop contacts, sign in to iCloud on both devices.
To AirDrop photos from your iPhone to your iPad, follow these steps: On your iPad, go to Settings > General > AirDrop and select "Contacts Only" or "Everyone" depending on your preference. On your iPhone, open the Photos app, select the photos you want to share, tap the Share icon, and select "AirDrop" from the list of options.
1. Turn On Wi-Fi and Bluetooth To use AirDrop, you need to ensure that both the sender and receiver have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turned on. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle the switch to the right to turn it on. Similarly, go to Settings > Bluetooth and toggle the switch to the right. On Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the top right corner and select the Wi-Fi network to connect.
To access AirDrop on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the AirDrop icon and Bluetooth icon together.
To enable AirDrop on a Mac, open the AirDrop window by pressing Command (⌘) – Option (⌥) – R, and ensure that both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on.
2. Make sure the receiving device's screen is awake To use AirDrop, the receiving device's screen must remain on.
3. Log out and then log in iCloud To reset your iCloud settings, go to Settings > iCloud, log out of your iCloud account, and then log back in. This will refresh your iCloud settings and may resolve any issues you're experiencing.
4. Reset Networks To reset your network settings, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
5. Reboot your device - This might solve most small issues on iOS devices.
6. Check for the new update If the issue is caused by the iOS update, the solution may have been included in the next version.
If AirDrop isn't working on your iPhone in iOS 11, you can try alternatives like sharing photos, music, and contacts between iOS devices and Mac.
Qiling MobiMover Free is a free alternative to iTunes that can also serve as a great alternative to AirDrop. As a free iPhone transfer software, it allows you to sync data between multiple iOS devices, PC, and Mac, making it easy to transfer photos, music, videos, apps, contacts, voice memos, and more from one device to another, such as from iPhone to PC, iPhone to iPhone, iPhone to iPad, and vice versa.
Transferring photos from iPhone to iPhone is a great example of how Qiling MobiMover Free works in iPhone transfer. With this free tool, you can easily move photos, videos, music, and other data from one iPhone to another, making it a perfect solution for upgrading to a new iPhone or sharing files between devices.
Step 1. Connect both your old iPhone and new iPhone to your computer, then run Qiling MobiMover and choose "Phone to Phone" from the main interface. Set your old iPhone as the source device and the new iPhone as the target device, and click "Next" to continue.
Step 2. When transferring data from your old iPhone to the new one, check the files you'd like to copy. This includes photos, music, ringtones, videos, contacts, and more, allowing you to easily transfer your digital content to the new device.
Step 3. To transfer photos from your old iPhone to your new one, click the "Transfer" button and wait for the process to complete, which may take some time depending on the size of the files. Once done, head to the "Photos" app on your new iPhone to verify that the photos have been successfully copied.
With MobiMover, you can easily transfer data between iDevices and PC, including music, video, contacts, and iBooks, making it convenient to do tasks like transferring music from iPhone to iPhone.
After reading our post, we hope you have fixed the "AirDrop not working" issue on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If unfortunately, you failed to fix this issue by using the above-mentioned methods, then you can use the AirDrop alternative - Qiling MobiMover to get the job done.