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AirDrop is not working after new iOS 17 update

After updating both my phone and iPad to the iOS 17, my airdrop has been giving me problems. Although my iPad can airdrop to other people’s phone it cannot airdrop to my phone. And my phone does not pick up on my iPad nor any other devices. I am not able to airdrop something from my iPad if it’s from my phone. It also automatically declines when I try to airdrop something to my phone, or my phone won’t pick it up. I’ve tried everything that has been recommended on the internet but it doesn’t seem to help.


[Re-titled by Moderator]

iPhone 14, iOS 17

Posted on Sep 20, 2023 7:38 AM

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Posted on Oct 12, 2023 7:57 AM

I work for a school system and we have 500 iPad that are all doing the same thing after the IOS 17.0.3 update. Airdrop fail. I tried to use different networks as well. Please fix!!!!!!! We use Airdrop on a daily biases. Thanks

214 replies

Oct 12, 2023 5:52 AM in response to ArgusC3

UPDATE: I've now seen the same behavior--wifi shows connected, I get messages there's no Inet, wifi connection not working randomly, as well as failure of airdrop--using my same phone, same Mac mini, in another city while on a different Inet provider, needless to say different router/modem. The constant in this issue is APPLE!!

DO SOMETHING, Y'ALL BROKE IT.

Oct 26, 2023 4:06 AM in response to Tul1p_

I’ve just updated my iPhone and iPad to iOS 17.1 and rebooted both devices but airdrop is still not working. One suggestion above advised turning ExpressVPN off. So I turned ExpressVPN off on both devices and airdrop works. But it’s very annoying that every time I want to use airdrop I have to turn VPN off, then use airdrop and then turn VPN back on. That’s not convenient but it is a work around. I have reported this to Apple using the link above.

Nov 14, 2023 10:02 PM in response to Tul1p_

Let's try formatting this in a way Apple can possibly use.


Summary:

Attempting to send a password from an iPhone 13 Pro Max ("sender iPhone") to an iPhone X ("recipient iPhone") via the AirDrop function encounters a critical issue. When initiating the AirDrop transfer, the sender iPhone, running iOS 17.1.1, is required to select the recipient iPhone's corresponding saved contact name under the "People" section of the recipient selection screen. Selecting the recipient device name directly instead of choosing the corresponding contact under "People" results in an instantaneous and automatic decline of the password transmission.


Device Information:

- Sender iPhone: iPhone 13 Pro Max

- iOS Version: 17.1.1 (latest available version as of writing)

- Recipient iPhone: iPhone X

- iOS Version: 16.7.2 (latest available version as of writing)


Steps to Reproduce:

1. On the sender iPhone, initiate an AirDrop transfer of a password from the iCloud Keychain.

2. When prompted to select the recipient, ensure the corresponding saved contact name of the recipient iPhone is chosen under the "People" section.

3. Observe successful password transmission.


Expected Behavior:

The AirDrop functionality should allow the sender iPhone to transmit a password from the iCloud Keychain to the recipient iPhone seamlessly.


Actual Behavior:

On the sender iPhone: Selecting the recipient iPhone's corresponding saved contact name of the recipient iPhone flashes "Waiting..." After 30 seconds, "Failed" is displayed, indicating the timeout of the transmission.

On the recipient iPhone, nothing happens. The device is unlocked and is idling with the screen on the entire time.


Additional Notes:

- The issue appears to be unique to AirDrop to "People".

When sending other . types of files (e.g., images, videos, apps) using AirDrop, the sender iPhone can select the device under "Devices" and be able to successfully send the aforementioned types of files.

- When the recipient iPhone (or a device running iOS 16.7.2) AirDrops a password or any other file to the sender iPhone (or a device running iOS 17.1.1,) by any means, this issue does not apply in this case.


Relevance:

This bug report aims to highlight a specific issue that may be overlooked when users claim the problem is resolved. The inability to send passwords and files through AirDrop by selecting the recipient contact under "People" could affect the overall user experience and needs attention for a comprehensive resolution. This is especially important for functionality of sending passwords via AirDrop, where the only acceptable transmission of a password is to a contact under "People."


Attachment:

No specific attachment is required as the issue is related to the AirDrop functionality within the iCloud Keychain on the mentioned iOS devices.


Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I hope this detailed report aids in the investigation and resolution of the identified issue.

Dec 13, 2023 9:12 AM in response to Beartess

We're just now getting our iPads into 17.x and seeing the same thing. What I observe is this: when I remove the school's content filter smart PAC (Securly), then air-dropping starts working again for iPads on 17.x. When I put the smart PAC back on the iPad, air-dropping stops working again. I've started a ticket with Securly on this issue; they're usually very good about investigations.


So, if you all use a filter, you might want to try that experiment. Good luck.

Dec 23, 2023 7:30 AM in response to Tul1p_

Just updated my mother in law iPhone 12pro to ios 17.2.1, now the phone airdrop keep automatically denied. I have tried turn off and on Bluetooth, turn off airdrop off and on, turn airdrop available to all still not working. Even reset the phone setting and still have same problem. Something from the upgrade broke the Bluetooth function. Highly drivers issue.

Dec 23, 2023 5:56 PM in response to Tul1p_

I tried all the fixes listed here with no success. As a tech I systematically tested the problem:

First installed the latest 17.2.1. Airdrop starts to work and immediately locks up. Force quit photos, go back in, airdrop option inaccessible again.


Tried just resetting only the settings: Airdrop starts to work and immediately locks up


Tried doing a full hard reset, signed in with Apple ID but refused to do an iCloud restore. Airdrop works.


Do another full hard reset and restore Apps but customize settings: Airdrop is broken yet again


Do another hard reset and do not restore from iCloud. Manually download and reconfigure all apps. Signing in with Apple ID allows all photos and messages to sync. **Airdrop now works**


Clearly there is something causing the problem in the apps that the iCloud restore brings back.

Dec 23, 2023 11:21 PM in response to Reddevillians

After about a month contacting and communicating with Apple customer service, got contacted and engaged with two senior customer support from apple, the problems still does existing on my iPad. Both senior customer supports cannot find solutions regarding the issue with the bugs of the airdrop cannot be detected and/or detect other Apple devices.


contacting Apple support will not help you solving the problems, WASTING MY TIME, DATA, AND EVEN MONEY FOR SOME REASON during the process. The data they collect from my ipad cannot help, they just keep asking me to collect data over and over without promise they can solve the problems. Pathethic apple aftersales services.


Dec 26, 2023 6:20 AM in response to Tul1p_

Now IOS 17.2. Problem still NOT fixed! Airdrop stooped to work properly on my iphone 12 after installing ios17.

Inside PHOTOS or MESSAGE apps I can no longer transfer photos to other people from my contacts OR everyone. The app just freezes and becomes NON RESPONSIVE when you try to airdrop the photos.

I have also wasted my time trying everything I could find in the apple and internet sites!

Very unfortunate this lack of care with customers that have slightly older phones (iPhone 12)!

Apple should pay more attention to these feedbacks!

For one, I will be very cautious with ANY new update from this point on …

Not worth if we lose previously available functionality and time to try to fix a problem that DID NOT EXISTED BEFORE!

Jan 2, 2024 7:40 AM in response to Tul1p_

I'm happy to report with the latest updates that appeared this morning on my devices, iOS 17.2.1 on my iPhone, and 14.2.1 on my iMac and MacBook Air, Apple fixed the problem with AirDrop and it is working again. No need to restart anything or jump through a bunch of other hoops, just simply update your devices (which will cause them to restart as a part of the update process) and AirDrop is working for me like it used to.

AirDrop is not working after new iOS 17 update

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