Applies To: iMac, iMac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
AirDrop is a built-in function on Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch that helps to share files between two AirDrop-supported devices. With AirDrop, you can send photos, videos, contacts, websites, and more from one AirDrop-supported device to another nearby. For example, you can AirDrop contacts from iPhone to iPhone, AirDrop photos from iPhone to Mac or from Mac to iPhone or share locations from iPhone to iPad using AirDrop. Briefly speaking, AirDrop is a helpful feature when it comes to data sharing between iOS device and Mac. However, convenient as it is, many users have reported issues like AirDrop not working in iOS 11 and AirDrop not working on Mac. Since the fixes to the former issue have been detailed already, this article only covers the solutions to the problem AirDrop not working on Mac, no matter it's macOS Sierra or OS X El Capitan. Read on to get the details.
When it comes to sharing files between iPhone (or iPad) and Mac, using AirDrop is not the only free method. If sending photos, videos, contacts and more from your iPhone to Mac or from Mac to iPhone is your main purpose, you can get things done with Qiling MobiMover Free, which can be used to transfer files between iPhone/iPad and computer (Mac or PC) or from one iOS device to another.
Photos: Camera Roll, Photo Library, Photo Stream, Photo Videos
Videos: Movies, TV shows, Music Videos
Audios: Music, Ringtones, Voice Memos, Audiobooks, Playlists
Others: Contacts, Notes, Messages, Voice Mails, Books, and Safari Bookmarks
Compared with AirDrop, MobiMover enables you to transfer more types of files between iPhone and Mac. In addition, MobiMover also supports the data transfer between iPhone and Windows PC, which is not allowed by AirDrop. Thus, when you find AirDrop not working on your Mac or AirDrop from iPhone to Mac not working, try to transfer files with Qiling MobiMover Free. Now, follow the steps below to learn how to send photos from iPhone to Mac without using AirDrop.
Notes: MobiMover is compatible with PC running Windows 7 and later or Mac running macOS 10.12 (Sierra), 10.13 (High Sierra), Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion), 10.8 (Mountain Lion), 10.9 (Mavericks) and 10.11 (El Capitan).
Step 1: Click the button below to safely download and install Qiling MobiMover Free on your Mac.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to Mac with a USB cable. Run Qiling MobiMover, choose "Phone to Mac" and click the "Next" button to continue.
Step 2. Check the category/categories you want to copy from your iPhone to Mac. As you can see, you can copy other supported files together with photos from your iPhone to Mac all at once. After that, don't forget to customize the storage path for the exported photos unless you want to save them on your desktop.
Step 3. Now, click the "Transfer" button to start transferring photos or other files from your iPhone to Mac without iTunes. Exporting files from iPhone to Mac with MobiMover is the right way for backup to avoid unexpected data loss.
To use AirDrop, you need to go to Finder > Go > AirDrop and switch on BOTH Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to turn on AirDrop. As you may know, both Bluetooth connection and Wi-Fi connection are necessary to use AirDrop. Thus, when your find AirDrop not working on your Mac, you should also check Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your device.
After turning on AirDrop, you need to set the option Allow me to be discovered by as Contacts Only or Everyone. If you want to share files between your Mac and a new device, you should choose Everyone to make your device discoverable.
If you have turned on Block all incoming communications in Firewall on your Mac, you will fail to use AirDrop on your Mac to share files, which may be the very reason why AirDrop is not working on your Mac Sierra or Mac El Capitan. Follow the steps below to check whether you have turned on the option and turn it off if it's on.
Step 1: Click Apple Menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
Step 2: Go to Firewall and tap Firewall Options.
Step 3: Make sure the checkbox next to Block all incoming communications is not selected.