BigBobMcGillicuddy

Q: airdrop between iOS 8 & Yosemite

Has anyone seen documentation detailing which Mac models running Yosemite will be able to airdrop to iOS 8?  For example, will some of the older Macbook models which can run Yosemite be unable to do this function?

Posted on Oct 17, 2014 6:07 AM

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Q: airdrop between iOS 8 & Yosemite

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  • by eayost,

    eayost eayost Oct 17, 2014 6:31 AM in response to BigBobMcGillicuddy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 17, 2014 6:31 AM in response to BigBobMcGillicuddy

    Also very interested in this.  I have an older MacBook Air and cannot get this feature to work.  My guess is that the Air is too old.  Probably requires newer bluetooth hardware is my guess.  A shame as I was really looking forward to this feature.

  • by datz,

    datz datz Oct 17, 2014 6:48 AM in response to eayost
    Level 1 (39 points)
    iLife
    Oct 17, 2014 6:48 AM in response to eayost

    See this article http://www.everymac.com/mac-answers/os-x-lion-faq/what-is-airdrop-which-macs-are -compatible.html

    and nd from the Apple page on Airdrop

    "AirDrop requires that both Mac computers include Wi-Fi hardware that supports AirDrop mode. Both Mac computers need to have OS X Lion or later installed.

    To see if your Mac works with AirDrop, make sure you’re in the Finder by clicking the desktop (the background area of your screen), or by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock. Then, check to see if AirDrop is listed as an option in the Go menu. If you don't see AirDrop listed, your Mac doesn't support this feature.

    You won't be able to receive AirDrop files if you have enabled "Block all incoming connections" in the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences.

    Macs that include AirDrop support are the same as, or newer than, the models listed below.

    • MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or newer)*
    • MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
    • MacBook (Late 2008 or newer)*
    • iMac (Early 2009 or newer)
    • Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
    • Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)

    *The MacBook Pro (17-Inch Late 2008) and the white MacBook (Late 2008) do not support AirDrop."

  • by eayost,

    eayost eayost Oct 17, 2014 7:11 AM in response to datz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 17, 2014 7:11 AM in response to datz

    I've gotten it to work with my Late 2010 or newer Air with my Late 2009 iMac when Lion came out, but have been unsuccessful doing it between iOS and Mac.  I'm wondering if specifically doing iOS8 to Mac OSX Yosemite requires different requirements than stated in the article above (which is talking about Mac to Mac most likely as its from a FAQ about Lion).

  • by datz,

    datz datz Oct 17, 2014 7:16 AM in response to eayost
    Level 1 (39 points)
    iLife
    Oct 17, 2014 7:16 AM in response to eayost

    I wonder if its something else that is only available with the 8.1 iOS update?

  • by BigBobMcGillicuddy,

    BigBobMcGillicuddy BigBobMcGillicuddy Oct 17, 2014 8:04 AM in response to BigBobMcGillicuddy
    Level 1 (21 points)
    Oct 17, 2014 8:04 AM in response to BigBobMcGillicuddy

    Remember when Apple's theme is to be "it just works"? It's a shame they've slipped so far. What a disappointment that such a heavily touted feature doesn't work at rollout, and we're left to guess what's wrong on message boards. What's happening over at Apple?

  • by eayost,

    eayost eayost Oct 17, 2014 8:44 AM in response to datz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 17, 2014 8:44 AM in response to datz

    I've read other forums saying iOS 8.1 isn't required (like it is for Yosemite to do SMS messaging), but that is a possibility.  If it just won't work because of a requirement for newer hardware between iOS and Mac, that's fine as long as they're upfront about it.  Waiting until iOS 8.1 to test again seems reasonable, unless there are people that already using AirDrop to Yosemite without it.

  • by Coffeeplatoon,Helpful

    Coffeeplatoon Coffeeplatoon Oct 17, 2014 2:03 PM in response to eayost
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 17, 2014 2:03 PM in response to eayost

    I have tried Airdrop with my mid-2011 iMac and mid 2011 Macbook Pro - both running Yosemite and my iPhone 5s (iOS 8.0.2).  I can see Airdrop between the Macs but my iPhone does not show up on either (nor does the iPhone see the Macs). 

  • by FreekieGeekie,

    FreekieGeekie FreekieGeekie Oct 18, 2014 2:22 PM in response to eayost
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 18, 2014 2:22 PM in response to eayost

    You're iPhone probably just needs a restart. On your iPhone, hold down the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button until the boot image (Apple logo) appears. Let the startup commence and then try again.

  • by Mathis Munich,

    Mathis Munich Mathis Munich Oct 18, 2014 2:37 PM in response to FreekieGeekie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 18, 2014 2:37 PM in response to FreekieGeekie

    I failed to airdrop between a Macbook Air mid-2011 (Yosemite) and an iPhone 5 (iOS 8.0.2), too. FreeieGeekie, I tried your reboot recommendation for both devices but it didn't help. If i try to pair both devices via bluetooth manually they disconnect immediately after connecting, which is not quite what I expected.

  • by gabrieljoj,

    gabrieljoj gabrieljoj Oct 18, 2014 7:41 PM in response to BigBobMcGillicuddy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 18, 2014 7:41 PM in response to BigBobMcGillicuddy

    I also have the same problem, but it seems that the airdrop between iOS and OS X doesn't work in old macs. Handoff is another feature that doesn't work with old macs http://www.gottabemobile.com/2014/10/17/best-os-x-yosemite-features-skip-many-ol d-macs/

  • by Hatrabbit,Helpful

    Hatrabbit Hatrabbit Oct 19, 2014 4:14 AM in response to BigBobMcGillicuddy
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 19, 2014 4:14 AM in response to BigBobMcGillicuddy

    I just found this in an Apple support article... I guess this article was recently released, I couldn't find it earlier.

     

    Screen Shot 2014-10-19 at 3.49.21 AM.png

  • by eayost,

    eayost eayost Oct 19, 2014 5:02 AM in response to Hatrabbit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 19, 2014 5:02 AM in response to Hatrabbit

    I think we have our answer.  Thanks for finding it!

  • by Alexander Robinson1,

    Alexander Robinson1 Alexander Robinson1 Oct 19, 2014 5:37 AM in response to eayost
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Oct 19, 2014 5:37 AM in response to eayost

    Here are some newer articles

     

    For the iOS side http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5887

    For the Mac side http://support.apple.com/kb/ht6510

     

    Here is a general troubleshooting Continuity article which may help http://support.apple.com/kb/ts5458

     

    Finder has to be open and viewing the Airdrop to be seen and the allow by at the bottom has to be set correctly.

     

    My machines are too old to test as they don't have Bluetooth LE but It should go.

  • by ceenvee703,

    ceenvee703 ceenvee703 Oct 19, 2014 6:16 AM in response to Alexander Robinson1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 19, 2014 6:16 AM in response to Alexander Robinson1

    I just installed Yosemite yesterday on my Retina MacBook Pro (Mid 2012). With the AirDrop window open in the Finder, and with my iPhone 6's AirDrop turned on, I can see my iPhone from my MacBook Pro (and send files appropriately), but not vice versa. Both are logged in to iCloud with the same Apple ID (mine).

     

    This is regardless of whether they are set to Contacts Only or to Everyone.

     

    I've tried "rebooting" my phone with no success, as well as turning AirDrop off and on.

     

    Any ideas? This isn't dependent on 8.1 is it?

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