Terry White3
Level 1 (140 points)

Q: My Mac Doesn't Show to Others on AirDrop

I have a MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display running the latest Mac OS X 10.8.3 with all the updates. My Mac is obviously supported by AirDrop as it is a current model. When I 1st got it, I used AirDrop all the time to transfer files back and forth with nearby colleagues. Then one day I went to use it as I always did and noticed that my Mac no longer showed up to others when we both went to AirDrop. I could see their Macs, but they couldn't see mine. I verified this later with my own MacBook Air 13" (current model) I could see the MacBook Air on the MacBook Pro, but not the other way around. The only way my MBP shows up on thei other computer is if I initiate a transfer to theirs it shows up long enough for them to accept the transfer and do the trasnfer. Once the transfer is complete my MBP disappears from there's again even though AirDrop is open on both Macs.

 

Here's what I've tried based on all the tips I could find on my searches.

 

Yes my MBP is supported by AirDrop (it used to work just fine)

Yes both Macs have Finder windows open with AirDrop active (it used to work just fine and I'm aware of how to use it)

No, the Firewall is NOT enabled on my MBP (never has been).

Yes, WiFi is on

Removed my Apple ID from Users and Groups and put it back in again.

Repiard permissions and the disk.

 

I have an external drive that I sometimes boot from for beta testing software. When I boot from that drive AirDrop works! So this leads me to believe that it's something to do with my internal drive's OS.

 

One tip I saw was to boot in Safe Mode (shift key down) and Repair Permissions. This is where I ran into a new problem. My MBP would hang during the Safe Boot. The progress bar would bet about 1/3rd the way through before just hanging. I let it go for hours and it never booted. After doing a little research I decided ti was time to backup my drive, boot from a clone backup, REFORMAT the internal drive, install a fresh copy of 10.8.3 and have it put the data, apps back on from the backup. After this process was done I tried AirDrop and IT WORKED! Problem solved! Or at least I thought. I closed the MBP after putting it to sleep and moved it back to my office. Woke it up and just for kicks I tried it one more time and to my dismay I could see the MBA, but the MBA couldn't see the MBP anymore!!! I didn't change any settings. It worked once, but now won't work again.

 

I rebooted and it worked! Woohoo or at least I thought. A few minutes after that post reboot success I tried it again and it didn't work. So it seems that it works soon after a restart and then it dies. I tested this theory with another Restart and sure enough the MBP showed up on the MBA (after about 20 seconds, whle the MBA shows up on the MBP immediately every time). I close the window on both Macs and try it again and the problem is back. I only get one use of AirDrop after a reboot from the MBP.

 

I'm at a loss as to what to try next. There has to be some preference somewhere that's keeping it from showing my MBP on other Macs.

 

FinderScreenSnapz008.png

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3), 16GB RAM

Posted on May 12, 2013 7:51 PM

by Terry White3,Solvedanswer
Terry White3 Terry White3
Level 1 (140 points)
A:

Tried again today and it's still working! So apparently one of those 3 files was the culprit. I'm guessing it was the com.apple.P2PSuperviser.plist.

 

In any case, the MBP showed up on the MBA (took about 10-15 seconds) without me having to do anything extra and after both computers were sleep all night.

Posted on May 14, 2013 12:15 PM

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Terry White3

Q: My Mac Doesn't Show to Others on AirDrop

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  • by ohm.wuthikaro,

    ohm.wuthikaro ohm.wuthikaro May 29, 2014 8:01 PM in response to Terry White3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 29, 2014 8:01 PM in response to Terry White3

    Thanks Terry ,com.apple.P2PSupervisor.plist is the problem. I only deleted it and its work.

     

    I'm using Late 2013 MBP 13" retina

  • by weakdayrock,

    weakdayrock weakdayrock Dec 1, 2014 9:46 AM in response to Terry White3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 9:46 AM in response to Terry White3

    I just wanted to chime in here as this conversation is over a year old and I was able to do something similar in Yosemite and it too solved my problem.

     

    My computer wouldn't show up on my phone or to any other people in my office or on my home Network. Terry White seems to know what he's doing more than I do so do this at your own risk but it totally worked.

     

    Inside Library > Preferences is a file called "com.apple.internetaccounts.plist". I just moved it to my desktop in case it screwed something up that I wasn't aware of.

     

    Immediately AirDrop started working again and I looked today (a few days later) and a new "com.apple.internetaccounts.plist" had been generated in that preferences folder. So, I am assuming I can now maybe trash the old one.

     

    Hope this helps someone!

  • by Flames5123,

    Flames5123 Flames5123 Jan 15, 2015 7:00 AM in response to Terry White3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 15, 2015 7:00 AM in response to Terry White3

    If you're running Yosemite, you might have to do this

     

    Our set up was an Early 2013 15" MBP Retina and a Mid 2012 15" MBP non-Retina. I could see the 2013 MBP in the 2012, but not vice-versa. We tried deleting the files and rebooting on the 2013, but that didn't work. Then we simply clicked "Don't see who you're looking for?" and it worked... Simple. We were over complicating things. The ironic part is that we were in our Software Engineering class at the time trying to figure it out.

  • by Slpy_Day,

    Slpy_Day Slpy_Day Sep 30, 2015 4:33 PM in response to Terry White3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 30, 2015 4:33 PM in response to Terry White3

    Went to Mac HD>Library>Preferences and deleted com.apple.P2PSuperviser.plist. Reboot and finally my iPhone recognizes my 2012 macbook pro retina on airdrop! Thank you.

  • by pluto ice,

    pluto ice pluto ice Oct 27, 2015 12:05 AM in response to Terry White3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2015 12:05 AM in response to Terry White3

    I had a similar issue. Removing the files didn't work. However, it got fixed when I went to System Preferences | Security & Privacy and clicked on the Firewall tab. The Firewall was turned on, I turned it off, and my mac was visible on the iPhone's airdrop. (When done with airdrop, I'd set Firewall back on again.)

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Oct 27, 2015 4:16 AM in response to pluto ice
    Level 8 (49,851 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 27, 2015 4:16 AM in response to pluto ice

    Why do you have the firewall turned on? Is your Mac connected directly to the Internet without a Router in-between. Unless that is the case, the firewall is doing absolutely nothing for you except getting in the way. A firewall is a network management tool, not a security device.

     

    If you are connected to a public network and you have any of the sharing services enabled, then it does have some utility, but it would be safer to just disable the sharing services if possible.

  • by pluto ice,

    pluto ice pluto ice Oct 27, 2015 11:00 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2015 11:00 AM in response to Barney-15E

    The firewall acts as an extra layer of security. If I were you, I'd turn it on.

     

    For example, what if some other machine within your network is infected? The router isn't going to protect you from that.

     

    Or what if a hacker knows a vulnerability in your router?

     

    Don't give bad advice.

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Oct 27, 2015 5:28 PM in response to pluto ice
    Level 8 (49,851 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 27, 2015 5:28 PM in response to pluto ice

    pluto ice wrote:

     

    The firewall acts as an extra layer of security. If I were you, I'd turn it on.

     

    For example, what if some other machine within your network is infected? The router isn't going to protect you from that.

     

    Or what if a hacker knows a vulnerability in your router?

     

    Don't give bad advice.

    Infected with what?

    Neither will the firewall

  • by pluto ice,

    pluto ice pluto ice Oct 27, 2015 9:09 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2015 9:09 PM in response to Barney-15E

    Suppose some other computer on the network has a worm. The firewall -- if it indeed is a firewall -- ought to prevent it from jumping on to your machine. Anyways, if you don't want to protect yourself, it's your prerogative.

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Oct 28, 2015 4:40 AM in response to pluto ice
    Level 8 (49,851 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 28, 2015 4:40 AM in response to pluto ice

    pluto ice wrote:

     

    Suppose some other computer on the network has a worm. The firewall -- if it indeed is a firewall -- ought to prevent it from jumping on to your machine. Anyways, if you don't want to protect yourself, it's your prerogative.

    What worm would that be?

    And, since you have some sharing services enabled to communicate between computers on your internal LAN, the firewall would be set to leave that vector open anyway. If you don't have any sharing services enabled, your point is moot.

  • by pluto ice,

    pluto ice pluto ice Oct 28, 2015 7:44 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 7:44 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Are you trolling?

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Oct 28, 2015 4:49 PM in response to pluto ice
    Level 8 (49,851 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 28, 2015 4:49 PM in response to pluto ice

    pluto ice wrote:

     

    Are you trolling?

    Why do you ask. Is that what you are doing and projecting?

  • by 031croat,

    031croat 031croat Oct 28, 2015 5:47 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 5:47 PM in response to Barney-15E

    Hi! im hawing same problem, im currently running OSX El capitan, and iv tried everything but this option, but i'm not seeing that file. Any solution? thanks, and sry for my bad english, im Croatian. :-)

    Screen Shot 2015-10-29 at 01.40.10.png

  • by 031croat,

    031croat 031croat Oct 28, 2015 5:52 PM in response to Slpy_Day
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 5:52 PM in response to Slpy_Day

    Hi! im hawing same problem, im currently running OSX El capitan, and iv tried everything but this option, but i'm not seeing that file. Any solution? thanks, and sry for my bad english, im Croatian. :-)


    Screen Shot 2015-10-29 at 01.40.10.png

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Oct 28, 2015 5:54 PM in response to 031croat
    Level 8 (49,851 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 28, 2015 5:54 PM in response to 031croat

    I don't know where that file is, either, but it appears you are looking in the main /Library folder.

    Try looking in your user Library. To get there, hold down the Option key and select Library from the Go menu in Finder.

    The Option key may be labeled "alt" on your keyboard.

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