Level 1

35 points

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

Top-ranking reply

Maksi

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Dec 23, 2023 5:56 PM

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.

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258 replies

DantiX

Level 1

24 points

Oct 26, 2023 7:52 AM in response to Cookie_52

Try turning off VPN

nkkhoo

Level 1

21 points

Nov 13, 2023 8:08 PM in response to Tul1p_

After updating to 17.1.1, my airdrop issue was resolved.

DantiX

Level 1

24 points

Nov 19, 2023 11:02 AM in response to cindyfer

Hopefully you’re using a VPN. Try turning it off.

DantiX

Level 1

24 points

Nov 21, 2023 7:00 AM in response to Wanda__

Wanda, Hopefully you use a VPN and turning it off will allow airdrop to work.

Dec 11, 2023 8:27 AM in response to Tul1p_

Update again to 17.1.2. That fixed it for me.

DantiX

Level 1

24 points

Dec 17, 2023 6:40 PM in response to jpetrea.1957

Did you turn off VPN? I replaced my SE with a 15 Pro Max two days ago and I still have to turn off VPN in order to airdrop to my iPad.

DantiX

Level 1

24 points

Dec 23, 2023 7:49 AM in response to CPham007

In settings, is VPN turned off on both devices?

May 13, 2024 11:48 PM in response to Tul1p_

It works for me only when I:

Disconnect the VPN
Turn off cellular in the control center
Turn off wifi in the control center

It makes no sense but it works.

cdcjr

Level 1

0 points

Oct 21, 2023 7:50 PM in response to Tul1p_

I have same problem when airdropping address book contact information from iPhone iOS 17.0.3 to iPhone SE 1st gen 15.7.9 , it did not detect it, However when sending contact from iPhone SE 1st gen 15.7.9 to iPhone iOS 17.0.3 it would detect it.

The workaround is first send any contact from iPhone SE to iPhone 17.0.3 receive it, once done you can now do the contact airdrop from the 17.0.3 to the iPhone SE, it will now detect it, but I suggest to do it immediately.

I hope they can fix it on the next update

Dec 4, 2023 6:36 PM in response to Innonurse

This worked for me. Posted by Lissy_12.

How to use AirDrop on your iPhone or iPad

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time.

2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.

3. Tap Allowed Apps and make sure that AirDrop is turned on.

75Westy

Level 1

16 points

Dec 24, 2023 3:58 AM in response to Tul1p_

The only way that always works for me to AirDrop between my iPhone and iPad is when I turn off cellular on my iPhone. What’s funny is that my wife and I have the exact same iPads and iPhones and she doesn’t have to turn off her cellular when she AirDrops with her devices.

Mar 1, 2024 9:11 AM in response to Tul1p_

I'm noticing that if I turn off my VPN on my MacBook pro Airdrop will usually work, but not always. If I turn off the VPN on my phone and my MacBook then Airdrop works 99% of the time. This suggests to me that Apple is basically mandating that I make my data vulnerable/ visible when being Airdropped. I think Apple is more concerned with selling metadata, censorship and allowing big-brother government doors in to monitor user activity MORE than they are concerned with Apple devices working as designed. Who really trusts Apple?

Apr 27, 2024 6:23 AM in response to 75Westy

Oh wow! Thank you for posting this! It worked for me. So frustrating because I bought into the Apple ecosystem because I wanted to airdrop files to my different electronics, and then when I updated to 17.4 it stopped working. Turning off cellular is a small price to pay to still have the airdrop working.

nkkhoo

Level 1

21 points

Oct 14, 2023 4:14 PM in response to vidman1972

Off both wifi and bluetooth and on both again, usually airdrop will work but for one time. Then it will fail again. Still waiting for Apple to fix this annoying bug.

DantiX

Level 1

24 points

Nov 27, 2023 6:40 PM in response to danielfromlake orion

Daniel, I hope you're using a VPN on one or both devices and can try turning it off.

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AirDrop is not working after new iOS 17 update