can't connect via bluetooth my I iPhone and Mac.

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Level 1

4 points

can't connect via bluetooth my I iPhone and Mac.

Recent questioner asked this, and the answer only said you can't pair devices like this. That's not MY problem, and I don't think it was the original problem either. Used to be able to Airdrop photos from my iPhone to my MacBook Pro. Updated the Pro to Monterey, and now the iPhone can't see it with Bluetooth turned on. Note: Bluetooth IS on for both devices, the computer can see the phone, they're both set to "discoverable by everyone" (since I'm sitting in my own house with both devices on the desk in front of me), but the phone says "No people found - There is no one nearby to share with."

YES I've tried turning-it-off-and-turning-it-on-again, where "it" includes the phone, the computer, and of course, both Bluetooths, which is basically all the online help I've been able to find.

I've had reasons to delay my iPhone upgrade, but if no one has any other ideas, I suppose I'll have to bite that bullet. Just want to know why my iPhone USED TO see my computer fine, but now it can't, even tho the computer can still see it.

iPhone SE, iOS 11

Posted on Mar 30, 2022 5:43 AM

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Answer 1

c_luc9

Community Specialist

Apr 9, 2022 2:23 PM in response to tidtb4

tidtb4,

Make sure you don't have any VPN, security, or virus try software installed on your Mac, this can definitely cause issues with AirDrop on the Mac. Also, testing in another user account can help determine if this may be user or account related settings causing this issue. Here's how you can create a new user for testing:

Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac

Keep us posted with the results.

Best Regards.

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Answer 2

tgok23

Community Specialist

Mar 31, 2022 8:55 AM in response to tidtb4

Hello tidtb4,

Let's see if these steps help you out:

"Make sure that your devices can receive AirDrop requests:

Choose Go > AirDrop from the menu bar in the Finder, then check the ”Allow me to be discovered by” setting in the AirDrop window. iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch have a similar setting. If set to receive from Contacts Only, both devices must be signed in to iCloud, and the email address or phone number associated with the sender's Apple ID must be in the Contacts app of the receiving device.
The Contacts Only option is available on devices that support iOS 10 and later, iPadOS, and macOS Sierra 10.12 and later. If AirDrop is set to Contacts Only on a device with an earlier software version, you can change the option to Everyone while using AirDrop, then change it back when not in use.
Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy. Click the Firewall tab, then click the lock and enter your administrator password when prompted. Click Firewall Options, then deselect “Block all incoming connections.”

It's found in Use AirDrop on your Mac under the section "If you can't see the other device in AirDrop". We realize that you've completed many of the steps in this guide but it's important to make sure all the settings are right on both devices. We're sharing the Mac info because you've noticed this since the update.

We're hoping this helps out. If not, let us know if your iPhone software is up-to-date too,

Kind regards.

Working through these steps will help resolve your issue by …..

Take care!

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Answer 3

tidtb4 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 11, 2022 6:41 AM in response to c_luc9

I'd forgotten the old try-another-user trick, even though that is, in fact, why I *have* an extra user already set up.

iPhone and MacBook can see each other under the alternate user. So I will now delve into more obscure user/account settings to see what is different.

Thanks!

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Answer 4

Apr 9, 2022 2:26 PM in response to tidtb4

Monterey is up to 12.3.1. And I don’t have a problem airdropping to my M1 MBP from my iPhone or iPad with it. Are the iPhone, iPad and Mac on the same Wi-Fi network? AirDrop uses Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth.

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Answer 5

tidtb4 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 9, 2022 2:07 PM in response to tgok23

Well, the only thing I hadn't tried was rummaging around in the firewall settings. I don't actually have my firewall enabled, and I had to enable it in order to see the option described. "Block all incoming" was not checked, i.e., I was NOT blocking all incoming - especially since I wasn't using the firewall anyway. I tried the connection again, both with firewall enabled but not blocking, and back to firewall disabled. iPhone still couldn't see the computer although, again, the computer can always see the iPhone.

So I bit the bullet and upgraded the iPhone all the way to 15.4.1. And it still can't see the MacBook Pro.

Good news, the iPhone and my brand-new iPad Air can see each other, and can exchange photos. However, more bad news, my brand-new iPad Air can't see the MacBook Pro either!

So I return to fingering Monterey 12.2 as the culprit. Suggestions?

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can't connect via bluetooth my I iPhone and Mac.

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