AirDrop is not working after new iOS 17 update

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.

Thanks for trying @DantiX, but those of us with problems are way past the basic steps in the video you posted. The transfer fails. btw - sending photos via AirDrop used to work, just not since the latest updates.

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.

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.

As a software engineer, how can Apple missed something this big. We review our code changes throughly, then alpha and beta test before releasing to production, we also provide ways to back out of the update.

what Apple needs is a way to back out of the updates if the new software install cause a problem.

l think the iPhone Airdrop are related to issues in China? Please see this CBS article I happened to see https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-apple-airdrop-encryption-cracked-to-block-inappropriate-information/

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?

I used to airdrop from my iPhone 13 Pro to my MacBook Pro everyday. After the update all Airdrops fail. I have tried everything suggested in this forum. My phone and MacBook still say the AirDrop failed BUT if I go to recents, the files I airdropped are there. Twilight Zone time? I liked how it worked before the update a lot more; but, at least I seem to have some functionality. Gotta love advice to not use a cell phone as a cell phone to make it work properly... what??? I think Apple needs to address this. They can do better. They are supposed to be making our lives better.

I never had a problem with AirDrop on my SE 2 gen till I updated to iOS 17 and it was like bam didn't work after that then I upgraded to a 15 pro hoping it would fix some of that and exact same story only way I can AirDrop is if I hold my phone over and then it still doesn't work half of the time I'm currently on iOS 17.4 please fix it in iOS 18

I never had an issue with airdrop until this latest update. Now when I want to airdrop between my iMac and iPhone I have to turn the phone off then on again before it will work. I've checked all the settings. This is ridiculous that airdrop is an available app; apple has not fixed this bug; and I have to go through additional steps if I want to use airdrop every time. I'm using Messages instead. Get your act together apple!!

This did not help. I dind't have restrictions turned on, but since you suggested this I turned it on and made sure that Airdrop was allowed. However, I still cannot Airdrop anything from my iPad Pro to my MacBook. This has been going on for months.

This is ridiculous. Please fix and lets us know when you've done so. In the meantime, not recommending iPad Pro to colleagues anymore. It's a pain in the ***.

Restarting the iPhone worked but it doesn't last. The next day, the same problem existed. With all the comments about the non functionality of airdrop, I hope Apple is listening and is working to correct this problem. It is a pain!!

I tried on both the iPad and my iPhone and the airdrop photo is being declined. Now what?

Wish it helped, but it didn't.

Can you please report this as a bug? Thanks!

Hi, thanks but that isn't 😭 solving my issue: I verified, Airdrop is on (iPad + iPhone). It shows up, but than it declines everything.

Can you please help us?

🙏