jmarispq
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Air drop visible, open, but can't see nearby computers

I've tried to follow the other threads, but haven't seen an answer for this one:

1. Airdrop icon visible in both sidebars (i.e. both computers support Airdrop).

2. Both Airdrop windows open.

3. Computers next to each other.

4. Wi-fi max-bars on both computers.

5. Firewalls off.

6. Neither computer shows up in the other's Airdrop window.

Any ideas please?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7), 2.93 GHz Core 2 Duo 8GB Early 09

Posted on Aug 13, 2011 9:00 AM

by jmarispq,Solvedanswer
jmarispq jmarispq
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

Fixed! (although I'm not sure why this worked):

 

1. Performed Safe Boot on both machines (boot with shift key held down until progress bar shows up).

2. Interestingly, AirDrop showed up in MacBook Pro finder, but not on iMac's, even though the iMac is newer.

3. Rebuilt disk permissions on both computers.

4. Rebooted both computers. AirDrop reappeared on iMac.

5. AirDrop works as advertised now, with these two computers at least.

 

Thanks for everyone who tried to help me.

Posted on Aug 13, 2011 5:10 PM

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jmarispq

Q: Air drop visible, open, but can't see nearby computers

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  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Aug 13, 2011 9:01 AM in response to jmarispq
    Level 7 (31,935 points)
    iPad
    Aug 13, 2011 9:01 AM in response to jmarispq

    Did you check this: you must "activate" Airdrop by highlighting its entry in the sidebar on both computers.

  • by jmarispq,

    jmarispq jmarispq Aug 13, 2011 9:06 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2011 9:06 AM in response to babowa

    Thanks, I did do this.  Each airdrop window correctly shows its own computer's icon, but not the other one nearby.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Aug 13, 2011 9:11 AM in response to jmarispq
    Level 7 (31,935 points)
    iPad
    Aug 13, 2011 9:11 AM in response to jmarispq

    Well, if Wifi is turned on on both, then I am out of ideas other than contacting Apple. Since this is a brand new feature, there aren't any troubleshooting steps available yet as far as I know.

  • by jmarispq,

    jmarispq jmarispq Aug 13, 2011 9:16 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2011 9:16 AM in response to babowa

    Thanks for trying.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Aug 13, 2011 10:39 AM in response to jmarispq
    Level 7 (31,935 points)
    iPad
    Aug 13, 2011 10:39 AM in response to jmarispq

    You're welcome - if you do get a definitive answer from Apple, please post it here; it'd no doubt be helpful to others.

  • by Meherally,

    Meherally Meherally Aug 13, 2011 11:46 AM in response to jmarispq
    Level 4 (1,115 points)
    Aug 13, 2011 11:46 AM in response to jmarispq

    Just a note that Airdrop does not need a wifi network. I say this since you mention 'max bars', the strength of the wireless network has no bearing on AD, it communicates directly computer to computer.

     

    However, the airport cards or computers own wifi must be 'on' on both computers which you state is on. You can turn off wireless network and the bars will turn grey but AD is still active to transfer files between computers.

     

    Try turning off the wifi and then on again from the menu bar.

     

    Also, you might want to check this out http://www.runaroundtech.com/2011/07/25/lions-air-drop-not-showing-up-on-your-ma c-heres-why/

  • by jmarispq,

    jmarispq jmarispq Aug 13, 2011 12:19 PM in response to Meherally
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2011 12:19 PM in response to Meherally

    Thanks Meherally; I didn't realize that AirDrop wasn't using Wi-Fi.  Unfortunately, cycling both Wi-Fi's didn't help in this case.  I also followed your link, but my two computers are supposed to be supported, and I do see the AirDrop icon in both sidebars.  I think this has to do with some form of security or firewall that I'm not disabling properly.

  • by Meherally,

    Meherally Meherally Aug 13, 2011 12:39 PM in response to jmarispq
    Level 4 (1,115 points)
    Aug 13, 2011 12:39 PM in response to jmarispq

    Or maybe the wireless network is taking up all of the bandwidth of your computer airport bandwidth. To test this, turn of the wireless network router altogether, then recycle the computers wifi and see. If that shows up computers in the airdrop, you might need to examine the wireless network settings.

  • by jmarispq,

    jmarispq jmarispq Aug 13, 2011 2:52 PM in response to Meherally
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2011 2:52 PM in response to Meherally

    Still no luck. Does the 'Sharing' setup in SysPrefs have anything to do with this? I have screen and file sharing enabled, but not much else.  My understanding is that AirDrop shouldn't need any of this set up, though.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Aug 13, 2011 2:55 PM in response to jmarispq
    Level 7 (31,935 points)
    iPad
    Aug 13, 2011 2:55 PM in response to jmarispq

    Airdrop automatically creates its own ad hoc network - there are no settings required (except to have Wifi turned on). And I have a wireless router and firewall - neither has anything to do with it; the icon should just show up in the window (if both are on, Wifi enabled, and Airdrop highlighted/selected in the Sidebar).

  • by jmarispq,Solvedanswer

    jmarispq jmarispq Aug 13, 2011 5:10 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2011 5:10 PM in response to babowa

    Fixed! (although I'm not sure why this worked):

     

    1. Performed Safe Boot on both machines (boot with shift key held down until progress bar shows up).

    2. Interestingly, AirDrop showed up in MacBook Pro finder, but not on iMac's, even though the iMac is newer.

    3. Rebuilt disk permissions on both computers.

    4. Rebooted both computers. AirDrop reappeared on iMac.

    5. AirDrop works as advertised now, with these two computers at least.

     

    Thanks for everyone who tried to help me.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Aug 13, 2011 5:37 PM in response to jmarispq
    Level 7 (31,935 points)
    iPad
    Aug 13, 2011 5:37 PM in response to jmarispq

    Great to hear and thanks for the feedback!

  • by samm1551995,

    samm1551995 samm1551995 Nov 22, 2011 11:50 AM in response to jmarispq
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 22, 2011 11:50 AM in response to jmarispq

    would you please post a more detaild procedure?

    like how to do a disk permissions build.. or something.

     

    i realy need your help, i acctualy need airdrop every day at work, but it stopped working after.. or: ICloud or 10.7.2 or a random reason.

     

    thank you.

     

    Sam

  • by jmarispq,

    jmarispq jmarispq Nov 22, 2011 1:14 PM in response to samm1551995
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 22, 2011 1:14 PM in response to samm1551995

    Sam:

    For a Safe Boot, hold down the shift key after the boot tone, until you see the progress bar, then let go and let the compuer finish booting.  You should see "Safe Boot" in red on your login screen

     

    To rebuild permissions:

    1. Go to the Utilities folder in the Apps folder
    2. Run Disk Utility
    3. Select the "First Aid" tab at the top of the right window
    4. Select the icon for your boot volume (the one that has the name which usually appears at the top right of your desktop)
    5. Click "Repair Disk Permissions" at the bottom left of the right hand window
    6. After a few minutes, you will get a message "Permission repair complete."  There will usually be a number of warnings listed.
    7. Restart the computer, without the shift key this time
    8. Repeat with the other AirDrop computer

     

    Let me know if this fixes your AirDrop problem

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