Cannot Airdrop from iPhone to MacBook.

One possibility: Although they may be able to see each other via Bluetooth, both devices need to be on the same network. If one device uses VPN it is possible that will interfere. When connecting to VPN you are connecting to another network entirely and all traffic is tunneled over an encrypted connection to the other network. There is a network concept called split tunneling which would allow a VPN connected computer to see other devices on the local network. But many VPN providers, especially corporate or education based prevent split tunneling. Make sure you are not running any sort of VPN.

Here's something I've found: If you have iCloud sync turned on, and a ton of new photos or very large videos (love that 4k quality!) Airdrop will not work until the iCloud upload has been complete. Make sure it does not say something like "Uploading (x) files" at the bottom of your photos.

Verify the following:

1. You are logged into the same iCloud account on all your devices
2. Bluetooth is enabled on all devices
3. You are on the same WiFi network (not a corporate managed network)
4. You are not using VPN, especially to a corporate network
5. The Firewall is not enabled on the Mac. You are not running any 3rd party firewall such as Little Snitch, or other security endpoint software
6. You have no Profiles icon in System Preferences (indicates a corporate managed Mac)
7. Each device Airdrop setting is set appropriately "Contacts Only" and you have a Contact record for yourself.
8. You are not running corporate managed mobile devices (iPhone / iPad)
9. You are not running any security nor VPN / Firewall software on your mobile devices.
10. Personal Hotspot is turned OFF on the mobile devices.

Hello cohn17,

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. We've reviewed your question and it looks like you're having issues sharing files between your Mac and iPhone using AirDrop. It's understandable that you'd want this resolved, so allow us to assist with that. The article that your question was linked from is very helpful when considering this issue: Use AirDrop on your Mac. Though you stated that both devices are recognized by the other, please check the steps under “If you can't see the other device in AirDrop” as that may still help with this behavior. Also, it might be helpful to restart both device.

If you have follow-up questions, please let us know. We're here for you. Have a fantastic day!

James - good suggestion as I have the same problem with my iMac (Big Sur) desktop and my iPhone SE (iOS15.0.1). Up until a couple of weeks ago, I was able to readily airdrop from phone to iMac with my Norton VPN turned on on both devices. All of a sudden, my iPhone will not stay connected via Bluetooth to my iMac for longer than about a half-second - whether the VPN is on or off on both devices. I've spent several hours with Apple support and they cannot seem to figure it out either. Apple support is now communicating with Apple engineering. None of us can explain why this suddenly started happening with no changes to either device with regards to software or hardware. If they ever get it solved, I'll post the solution.

The only other thing is that 15.0.1 is more likely to be paired with Monterey which isn't shipping yet. I think they are waiting for the new MacBook Pro M1X models to be ready for launch. Most macOS version launches occur with new hardware.

I have the same issue. Before, my ipad, my iphone 11, and my macbook pro could "communicate" and share stuff through airdrop with no issues. Out of a sudden, airdrop is not working in any of them... they all "see" the other devices, but once I choose one to share the document or rile in question, it just freezes in "wating" and nothing happens. The issues goes both ways in my 3 devices, so all of them register the others close by, but none of them share anything. Would it have something to do with ios recent update (ios 15.0.2).

I thought it was a vpn issue too, but then the problem would not be present on my iphone and ipad... also thought that maybe was an AVG antivirus installed on my mac, but then again, shall not interfere with the communication between my iphone and ipad (without the antivirus).

Any updates on this? I already updated all my devices to ios 15 and macbook pro to monterrey, and the airdrop issue is still there! No flow between iphone (11), Ipad pro and macbook pro, in any sense.

Thanks for the detailed response. I verified the steps and do not hold any corporate managed accounts. So, apparently, it started working, but from time to time. I noticed that now my devices appear with both, my icloud account picture, and with no picture, as if I were a third party. So, with the third party options, it works now, but not when I click on the option with my icloud account (which is the same in all my devices).

The chosen setting for airdrop is all, otherwise, despite seeing my devices as contacts, they do not "talk to each other"

Maybe it's a bug? It used to work before...

At least now it's working, although some times only.

It might very well have to do with those devices on iOS / iPadOS 15 verses those still on 14.x and Mac's not yet on Monterey which is still in beta. In other words, iOS / iPadOS 15 & Monterey are made for each other.

I had trouble with Airdrop between 14.x and 15.0.2 devices as well as from 15.x to Big Sur. But no issues with 14.x to Big Sur.