Airdrop not working on iPhone 12 and pro

Yes:

• iPhone 12 Pro Max: iOS 14.4
• 10.5" iPad Pro: iPadOS 14.4
• 27" 5K iMac: macOS 11.1
• 16" MacBook Pro: macOS 11.1

I can share images between all these devices using AirDrop with no issues and do so regularly.

The two most common issues are the use of a VPN that you didn't recall and Bluetooth being shut off.

Also remember that even if your network connection is wired, WiFi must be turned on for AirDrop to work, as (the briefest summary possible) AirDrop devices discover each other via Bluetooth but transfer the data via a private WiFi connection between the devices.

• If Bluetooth is off, your devices generally won't see one another
• If WiFi is off, you will be able to tap on the remote device but a transfer will not start

I have very good news for a lot of people. I spent many hours today at the Apple store in Santa Monica, CA and they finally fixed my issue with airdrop. They had to do a "Factory Reset" for BOTH the Iphone 12 and the MacBook Pro, and after that, AIRDROP worked again for the first time in 5 months. It is not without its nightmares though. I am still entering passwords and scrounging around for all my data because of the Factory Resets. In order to do this, you will need to back up your phone and computer before going in, and also expect to spend a lot of time entering passwords etc etc etc , but at least it works now. Good luck to all.

My fiancé has a new iPhone 12 mini while I have an old iPhone 6s Plus. I can receive photos from his phone, but he can’t receive from my phone via Airdrop. All the settings were enabled. What fixed the issue was a power reset on his new iPhone 12 mini. You can try that and see if it would fix your issue.

I have very good news for a lot of people. I spent many hours today at the Apple store in Santa Monica, CA and they finally fixed my issue with airdrop. They had to do a "Factory Reset" for BOTH the Iphone 12 and the MacBook Pro, and after that, AIRDROP worked again for the first time in 5 months. It is not without its nightmares though. I am still entering passwords and scrounging around for all my data because of the Factory Resets. In order to do this, you will need to back up your phone and computer before going in, and also expect to spend a lot of time entering passwords etc etc etc , but at least it works now. Good luck to all.

The only other thing I can suggest is sometimes having Personal Hotspot enabled can interfere with AirDrop for unknown reasons, so if you (or the recipient) have it turned on, try shutting it off.

I dont know why Apple is ignoring this issue? When I am in touch with them they act like they have never heard of this before.

HAVE YOU UPDATED your phone with all avail software updates?????

Was Bluetooth on on her phone? Was her phone set to accept AirDrop from “Everyone?”

I know you know, but make sure all of the following is true:

How to use AirDrop on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

For example, I was trying and failing to send something via AirDrop once and forgot my Mac was logged into a VPN.

As far as the iCloud file folder, how are you saving it to iCloud, and are you sure your Mac is syncing properly?

Also, make sure you meet all of the requirements on all devices.

Notably AirDrop requires Bluetooth to be on on both devices, whether Macs or iOS devices, and WiFi must also be on for Macs.

For example, if you have a Mac with a wired network connection and have Bluetooth enabled but have WiFi shut off (because of the wired connection) your Mac will be seen by other devices but the transfer will never happen.

Likewise if your Mac is connected to a VPN; it will be seen by other devices but the transfer will not occur.

The best way to "get Apple's attention" is to:

1) Contact Apple Support directly:

Contact - Official Apple Support

2) Leave feedback:

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Apple engineers are not here, except employees that monitor for violations of the terms of use.

You can all post here every day, and it will not "cause Apple to notice" as we are all just fellow users here.

I have the same issue and i desperately need to airdrop. IS IT BECAUSE OF THE NEW IOS upgrade??????? That's when this nonsense started and even though I purchased a new MAC BOOK AND A NEW IPHONE 12 MAX, it continues. If this is the problem just tell us, and fix it!!!!

Hi there. Somehow my earlier respsonse did not go thru. IT IS SET ON EVERYONE. I think this is an IOS upgrade issue. If you go on Bluetooth Preferences and equivalent (I have new IPHONE 12 max & new Macbook pro iand both are updated to the most recent IOS), I think there is a problem with that. Intermittently discovering devices, and now the earpods are disconnecting intermittently also. If you know of something else, please let me know but I think this is an apple software issue--judging by the amt of people who are complaining about and also, when it started occurring, etc. etc.

i think it may be an apple IOS update bug. my friend, who has NOT updated her ios was able to send me photos today from her phone. INTERESTINGLY--I have updated mine to the most recent, and although I could receive FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I UPDATED,

. BUT I was not able to send her.

I'm not sure why people always want to blame their phone when in fact most people use AirDrop without issue all the time.

Personally the only time AirDrop has ever failed for me is when I forgot the Mac I was trying to AirDrop to was connected to a VPN (Bluetooth will "see" the remote system but WiFi won't allow the transfer to start.)

I know it's frustrating when it doesn't work, but that's by far the exception, not the rule.

Just for sanity's sake, make sure your iPhone 6s and 8 are also running iOS 11.4, that all the devices have Bluetooth turned on, and all have WiFi enabled and no VPN in use.