MehulMistry

Q: Handoff and AirDrop not Working : MBA and iPhone 6

Hi

 

I saw quite a few discussion on this and even went through the solutions mention there but nothing helped. Posting as new thread so that it doesn't get lost in those discussion.

 

I am facing issues with HandOff and Airdrop with my MacBook Air (Mid 2013) with El Capitan 10.11.1 and iPhone 6 iOS 9.1.

 

AirDrop: It has just stop working. Neither my iPhone detects MacBookAir nor does my MacBookAir detects my iPhone. I did tried to log off and log in back again iCloud but it does't help.

 

HandOff: Except for calls, nothing else work. Previously it used to work seamlessly for Safari in both ways, MBA <-> iPhone 6. Tried so much but it just doesn't work.

 

Any idea when does this is gonna get fixed???? It is really sad that now the software updates from Apple are coming up with so many issues.

 

-Mehul

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Oct 31, 2015 11:03 PM

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Q: Handoff and AirDrop not Working : MBA and iPhone 6

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  • Helpful answers

  • by jason269,

    jason269 jason269 Nov 2, 2015 8:41 AM in response to MehulMistry
    Community Specialists
    Nov 2, 2015 8:41 AM in response to MehulMistry

    Hi, Mehul.  

     

    Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.  

     

    I understand AirDrop and Continuity aren't working as expected.  I also see some troubleshooting steps have been processed with no resolution.  Could you explain what steps you have already been through?  Sometimes a simple power cycle of both devices can correct this issue.  However, more in depth troubleshooting may be needed.  Some of these troubleshooting steps may have already been processed, but lets try going through them one more time and test the results.  

     

    Tips for sending items

    If you don't see the recipient in the AirDrop window or sheet:

    • Make sure that both devices have AirDrop turned on and are within 30 feet (9 meters) of each other.
    • If you're sending to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: 
         
      • Your Mac needs to be a 2012 or newer model with OS X Yosemite or later.
      •  
      • The iOS device must have Personal Hotspot turned off in Settings > Cellular. 
    • If you're sending to a Mac: 
         
      • If the receiving Mac is using OS X Mavericks, Mountain Lion, or Lion, it needs to have an AirDrop window open: choose Go > AirDrop from the menu bar in the Finder. 
      •  
      • If the receiving Mac is a 2012 or older model, click “Don't see who you're looking for?” in the AirDrop window or sharing sheet of the sending Mac. Then click “Search for an Older Mac.” 
      •  
      • Find out if the Mac has “Block all incoming connections” turned on in Security & Privacy preferences. A Mac won't receive items using AirDrop if this setting is turned on.
    • If AirDrop on the receiving device is set up to receive items from contacts only, make sure that both devices are signed in to iCloud. Also make sure that the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID is in the Contacts app of the receiving device.

     

    Use AirDrop to send content from your Mac

     

    Get help using Continuity with your iOS device or your Mac

     

    If these do not resolve the issue, please let me know.  

     

    Regards

  • by MehulMistry,

    MehulMistry MehulMistry Nov 4, 2015 9:22 AM in response to jason269
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 4, 2015 9:22 AM in response to jason269

    Hi Jason

     

    Thanks for your reply. Sorry to reply back a bit late. Well I tried all the tips that you have mentioned above and yet Airdrop and HandOff doesn't seem to be working. Everything is as mentioned in the tips above. Not sure what else to do now.

     

    Any more trouble shooting ??  Hope to hear from you.

     

    Thanks

  • by rtw54,

    rtw54 rtw54 Nov 9, 2015 9:27 PM in response to MehulMistry
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2015 9:27 PM in response to MehulMistry

    I was having the same problem, except with my MacbookPro and iPhone 6. Spent three long sessions on the phone with AppleCare without success.

    I would revert back to Yosemite and everything would work fine. Upgrade to El Capitan ... nothing.

    Finally tried a combination of suggestions I found;

    Reset iPhone network settings.

    Reset PRAM and SMC on my mac.

    Turned off bluetooth on my mac.

    Deleted /library/preferences/com.apple.blurtooth.plist on my mac.

    Turned bluetooth back on

    Signed out of iCloud on my mac.

    Signed out of iCloud on my iPhone.

    Signed into iCloud on my mac.

    Signed into iCloud on my iPhone.

    BINGO ... I have handoff, continuity, AirDrop and AirPlay!

     

    Hope this helps.

  • by adrain30nov,

    adrain30nov adrain30nov Nov 8, 2015 8:58 PM in response to rtw54
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 8, 2015 8:58 PM in response to rtw54

    Thanks rtw54, it works for my iMac27 4K too, many thanks

  • by MehulMistry,

    MehulMistry MehulMistry Nov 9, 2015 8:57 PM in response to rtw54
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 9, 2015 8:57 PM in response to rtw54

    Hi rtw54

     

    Thanks for your reply. I have been travelling these days so not able to try out the things right away.

     

    I did all the steps mentioned in your reply, except for deleting the file /library/preferences/com.apple.blurtooth.plist. And the reason I did not, is that I couldn't find it in my MacBook.

     

    Apart from that I tried all but it didn't work still

     

    Need help

  • by MehulMistry,

    MehulMistry MehulMistry Nov 9, 2015 9:19 PM in response to MehulMistry
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 9, 2015 9:19 PM in response to MehulMistry

    Ok rtw54, I take back my point above. I did find the file com.apple.blurtooth.plist.

     

    It was slightly named differently with caps. Trying again.

  • by MehulMistry,Solvedanswer

    MehulMistry MehulMistry Nov 9, 2015 9:27 PM in response to MehulMistry
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 9, 2015 9:27 PM in response to MehulMistry

    And that did the trick. Deleted the com.apple.blurtooth.plist file. Turned on Bluetooth again. And VOILAAAAA

     

    Its working...! Thank you

     

    Tried both ways, MBA <--> iPhone 6

     

    Thanks

    Mehul

  • by rtw54,

    rtw54 rtw54 Nov 10, 2015 5:20 AM in response to MehulMistry
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2015 5:20 AM in response to MehulMistry

    I am sorry that I did not correct my spelling mistake.

    The file is /library/preferences/com.apple.bluetooth.plist (not blurtooth)

    Glad it worked for you!

  • by uncharlie,

    uncharlie uncharlie Nov 15, 2015 7:28 PM in response to rtw54
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 7:28 PM in response to rtw54

    hi

    i'm havin the exact problem with same devices

    where can i reset PRAM and SMC on my mac?

    where can i find this /library/preferences/com.apple.blurtooth.plist?

    thank you

  • by rtw54,

    rtw54 rtw54 Nov 15, 2015 8:35 PM in response to uncharlie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 8:35 PM in response to uncharlie

    You can reset the PRAM by following these instructions, How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

    You can reset the SMC by following these instructions, Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    As noted in my previous post, I misspelled the file name, it is library/preferences/com.apple.bluetooth.plist (not blurtooth).

    If you go to your hard drive, open the Library folder, open the Preferences folder, you will find the file there.