Same issue: Airdrop stops working after restart

Airdrop stops working after restart with Big Sur on iPhone with MacBook Air. Upgrade to Monterey? Same problem. It works for a while after restart, but then does not detect the MacBook Air. (It does detect other Apple devices in the area). It is SO irritating.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Sep 1, 2022 1:27 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 2, 2022 2:15 AM

Q1 - More than one antivirus app - This computer has multiple antivirus apps installed.


Q2- Antivirus software: CleanMyMac, TotalAV


A1 - There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX  Foundation and Permission Limitation. 


Additionally, and specific to Big Sur macOS 11 and Monterey macOS 12, the Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that can not be opened by the User and protects against from “ Bad Actor “ Software.


The Only thing this Antivirus software is protecting is the Bank Account of the Developers and for zero return to the User aside from the problems this software creates.


AntiVirus Developers purposefully Market their product to create a “ Fear Factor “. In so doing, creating a False Need for their Product.


A 2 - Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS,  is an invitation for disaster and comprising the Operating System


Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a portion on each sale. What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase


Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions


This will include CleanMyMac


Total AV


Please read some of the posting specific to Both Application and arrive at your own conclusions


The suggestions have been put forth on a volunteer basis, in good faith and in the best interests of the computer.



18 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 2, 2022 2:15 AM in response to Jaybeebee

Q1 - More than one antivirus app - This computer has multiple antivirus apps installed.


Q2- Antivirus software: CleanMyMac, TotalAV


A1 - There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX  Foundation and Permission Limitation. 


Additionally, and specific to Big Sur macOS 11 and Monterey macOS 12, the Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that can not be opened by the User and protects against from “ Bad Actor “ Software.


The Only thing this Antivirus software is protecting is the Bank Account of the Developers and for zero return to the User aside from the problems this software creates.


AntiVirus Developers purposefully Market their product to create a “ Fear Factor “. In so doing, creating a False Need for their Product.


A 2 - Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS,  is an invitation for disaster and comprising the Operating System


Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a portion on each sale. What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase


Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions


This will include CleanMyMac


Total AV


Please read some of the posting specific to Both Application and arrive at your own conclusions


The suggestions have been put forth on a volunteer basis, in good faith and in the best interests of the computer.



Sep 1, 2022 4:59 AM in response to Jaybeebee

1 - Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.


2 - Does the issue present in this mode ?


3 - Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.


4 - If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up. To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac. Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.


5 - If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.


6 - Is still having issues, Strongly suggest following the good Advise of @ Luis Sequeira1


Sep 7, 2022 3:11 AM in response to Jaybeebee

Cleanmymac is still installed:


[Loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2022-04-17)


User Launch Agents:

[Loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2022-04-17)



You also have a number of rather old stuff, which tells us that this have been upgraded in place for several years.


It is a good thing to start fresh with every new major OS: full TM backup, erase, install and then migrate only the user accounts.

This way you don't carry along old system extensions or daemons from years past, which could malfunction on a newer OS.

It takes a bit more time, but it pays off. Install the applications you do need, from the App Store, or the developers sites.

Sep 4, 2022 4:03 PM in response to Jaybeebee

User Launch Agents:

[Loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2022-04-17)[Loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2022-04-


[Not Loaded] MemoryCleanHelper (App Store - installed 2021-10-29)


This one may have been missed the first time but is caught this time


Totally useless and actually does more harm than good


It is fighting with the Operating System as to what is Loaded and kept in RAM and the application keeps removing it from RAM.


It may have been good on OS X Mavericks years ago, but is not needed any longer

Sep 7, 2022 3:47 AM in response to Jaybeebee

Very much concur with assessment and suggestions put forth by @Luis S


A little hard work up front will pay large dividends later for this computer.


Should the User decided to follow the suggestion --->>


This method will WIPE ALL Data and there is No Recovery - Period.


>> Only works on Intel Based Apple Computer <<


To perform this action will require booting from a Bootable Installer


The Bootable Installer can Only be performed on an Apple Computer 


This will have to be performed from a Qualifying Computer to run the version of macOS to be made on the Bootable Installer. Example : Bootable Installer of Monterey would have to be done on a computer that Qualifies to run Monterey.


Notation: If the computer being used to perform this action is Too New or Too Old to qualify to run the version of macOS - this computer can not be used.


Alternative is, to gain access to a Qualifying Apple Computer from a family member, friend or associate.


Extra Special Notation regarding the Touch ID equipped Apple Computer.


About Startup Security Utility and Must Enable from Recovery Mode the ability to boot from External Drive Before Attempting 


1 - Shutdown computer and disconnect all external drive Except the newly created Bootable Installer.


2- Restart and immediately hold the OPTION key until the Startup Manager appears and choose the USB Drive. 


3 - It will present options >> Disk Utilities >> View >> View ALL attached Drives. 


4 - Choose the Upper Most Drive ( not the volumes indented and list below ).


5 - The drive normally is called Apple Media or Apple SSD - that is the drive to Erase and format as APFS with the GUID Partition Map.  


6 - Once that is done >> backup out of Disk Utilities and choose install macOS. 


7 - Follow the prompts and it may automatically reboot several time. 


8 - Upon a final reboot - Setup Assist will present with the newer version of macOS.

Sep 1, 2022 3:24 PM in response to Owl-53

Airdrop is working right now, because I restarted the Macbook Air yesterday. My iPhone detects the computer. What happens is that it will stop detecting the computer after a couple of days. I don't know how long it takes, since I don't use Airdrop very often. I have tried a lot of the fixes, but since most (like resetting PRAM, starting in Safe Mode, etc.) require a restart, the Airdrop works for a while – so appears fixed.

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Same issue: Airdrop stops working after restart

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