Q: AirDrop Problems in iOS 8.1

I started having problems with iCloud password prompts in iOS 8.1 when trying to compose new emails and then stumbled across this issue with AirDrop.  There's another thread going on over here about the issue too:  iOS 8.1: creating new mail asks for icloud password

Still haven't managed to get my issue resolved and I've done everything I can think of (DFU, setting up fresh, etc.) the problem seems to be tied to something with the iCloud account.

Similar issue here, two different problems...

Problem 1

At work I have a Mac Pro running Yosemite 10.10 and iPhone 5 running iOS8.1, one cannot see the other, very annoying, WiFi is on, Bluetooth is on. I then tried on a new iMac in the office, again running Yosemite 10.10 and it sees my iPhone, is it an issue with the Mac Pro I'm wondering? Bluetooth works as I'm using a Magic Mouse. Hmmm.

Problem 2

I have an iMac (couple of years old) at home also running Yosemite 10.10, I don't even see the option for AirDrop, it's not in my finder window like on my work Mac Pro and when I go to System Prefs > Extensions > Share Menu > AirDrop is selected but greyed out in the menu.

Very frustrating, would love it to work seamlessly! Any one have any ideas or is it a bug that needs fixing by Apple?!?

I also had the same problem where I can airdrop to my iPhone 5 (8.1) from my MacBook Pro Retina 2012 (10.10) but not the other way around.

I had tried everything in the threads but the thing that fixed it for me was to sign out from iCloud AND iTunes store on both Mac and iPhone, then restart. My iCloud and iTunes accounts also have different IDs.

I've also found that when using handoff and continuity, if your Mac is sleeping, DON't tap on handoff on your iPhone! It will mess up the settings and you will need to sign out of iCloud on both devices and sign back in again.

I'm running Yosemite on a MBP retina (12/2012) and iOS 8.1 on a brand spanking new iPhone 6 Plus: so it MUST be working!

I was going crazy with this AirDrop issue as well, until I noticed that in the finder window (when i was selecting "AirDrop") there's a really small blue writing "allow me to be discovered by:..." and then I could select "Everyone", "Contacts only" and "No One" (right under the blue AirDrop icon).

It was by default on "Contacts only".

It means that if you're not registered in your own Contacs list on your computer the iPhone (or iPad or iPod) can't see the computer itself since you're not register in the same Contact list as well.

Changing the setting on the computer to "Everyone" solved the issue as my MBP suddenly popped up on iPhone as AirDrop destination.

So basically if you're Airdropping from any iDevice to any Mac (or viceversa) be sure to have both systems set to be discoverable to"Everyone".

If only one of them is set on "Everyone" then it will be possible to AirDrop only towards the one that's set as "Everyone".

If both are set as "Contacts Only" then be sure that you're register in your own Contact's list, otherwise it ain't gonna work.

Quite clumsy from Apple not to explain a little better this thing and quite clumsy that on a Mac AirDrop is set as "Contacts only" by default.

I hope this is gonna help some of you people who's having this issue for some time now.

I had the issue where the iphone didn't see my MB Pro, but the MBPro saw the iphone...I logged out of iCloud on both devices, then back in and now everything works fine.

MMy iphone6 and my ipad4 retina are both running iOS 8.1 and as long as I use "Everyone" I can send pictures back and forth. Doesn't seem tomwantbto work if I don't select everyone.  Thats problem number one.

problem number 2 is that my wife's ipad2 running iOS 8.1 doesn't show the airdrop selection at all. Bluetooth is on, everything else seems to be working fine. I powered it down, waited a couple minutes, powered it up again, still not showing the airdrop selection in the grey menu That you slide up. Seems to me it might be smoother if there was a selection in "General" that actually switched this feature on and off.

incidentally, we both have iMacs hers is brand new, mine is circa 2008 but both are running Yosemite. Haven't even tried sending pix to the iMacs. Just sitting here at the kitchen table with the iOS devivices wondering why her iPad won't cooperate.

ANyone have some idea why her iPad doesn't have AirDrop?

Mike,

Do you have capital letters in your AppleID?  I had a similar issue to yours and it seems like the root cause was from logging into iCloud with capital letters in my username (which happened to be my email address).

Reference:  Re: iOS 8.1: creating new mail asks for icloud password

Best,

-Paul

I got same problem in IOS 8.1 between mac 10.10

Now I was update both of them, but I'm still having this problem now.

Even I thought  connection with cable may fix this prob but thats not worked...

Arash

Hey Sven9140, did you try logging into icloud on your iphone. The same problem for me seems to be resolving itself.

There are new terms and conditions on the icloud section of settings that need to be accepted separately after updating.

Well, looks like your work around was a lot better than mine!

After a couple of days AirDrop stopped working again, so I've followed your suggestions: it works.

For now.

Let's see if it f@cks up again... LOL

Take care

Deactivating icloud on my computer and reactivating it worked for me.  Good find!

AirDrop does not work between my BRAND NEW Mac Mini running Yosemite 10.10.1 and my BRAND NEW iPad Air 2 running iOS 8.1.1. You'd think these two devices would be compatible wouldn't you? Guess not. Yet another 'feature' that doesn't work.

I was having the exact same problem, logged out of iCloud on my Mac and re-logged in and all now works swimmingly. This is with a late-2013 rMBP and iPad Air, latest Yosemite and iOS.

Hopefully this helps!