AirDrop is not working after new iOS 17 update

Try restarting both devices that has this problem,

For me, Restarting solved the problem

Reset the whole settings

it worked for me

airplane mode worked for me.

thank you so much!

I do have a VPN and SOMEtimes turning it off helps airdrop, but not always. Now I'm getting the No Internet messages while on 5G and it seems to work after a couple of attempts of turning on the VPN and the VPN connecting. This has gone past annoying and is now dangerous--I cannot rely on navigation for one.

I'm reposting this link and asking everyone on this thread to hit Apple with bug reports; they obviously don't pay any attention to Community.

Product Feedback - Apple

I just updated to 17.2 and it seems to contain a fix. I've been able to airdrop 12mini to Mac mini and I have not noticed the incessant connectivity drops... so far ;-)

And Apple if you're listening (seems you are not), your lack of transparency, your blatant disregard for user experience creates an environment in which we will be extremely hesitant to update in a timely fashion thereby putting us all at risk.

Not working on both my iphone and ipad pro. But, it did work if I airdrop from my iphone to my macbook, then airdrop from my macbook to my ipad... Weird! My macbook pro is running macOS Ventura 13.6.1

Not fixed yet in iOS17.0.3.

This made Airdrop work from macOS 14.1.2 to iOS/iPadOS: turning temporarily off Freedome VPN on my mac. Freedome can stay active on iPhone and iPad.

I’ve done everything I’ve been told to do and Airdrop still not working between my 2 iPads (both updated to OS 17) since the OS 17 update. Used Airdrop for years before this update and never once had a problem. Airdrop still works between either of the updated iPads and an older iPad that hasn’t been updated to 17 but is still running on OS 16.7, but on the two OS 17 updated iPads, I get “Declined” message every time.

I am having the same issue with iOS 17.02. and iMac with MacOS 13.6. It was working prior to the iOS update. I tried all the suggestions and non of it resolves the problem. Apple get your stuff together! One step forward and two steps back with every update!

We are wasting effort here on discussions.apple.com. If anyone at Apple ever read these posts, it would have been fixed long ago. So far there are 299 "me too's" and if each one would file a bug report, we might get our air drop back. I've already filed one.

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.

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.

This worked for me! Power cycling iPhone is always a good start, resetting AirDrop was the necessary next step. Did not know about the press and hold function on Wi-Fi.

iPhone 15 Pro 17.0.3 < > iPad Pro 17.2

This has worked for me! I’m so excited. Thank you Wondered2close2daedgeofspace your solution seems to have fixed the issue for me.

I was not able to airdrop photos from my iPhone to my iPad without turning my VPN off and then I had to remember to turn it back on afterwards. I updated my location on my iPad to my iPad and without turning my VPN off I was able to airdrop in both directions. Then I realised the location on my iPhone had been updated to my iPad which I didn’t want. So I updated the location on my iPhone back to my iPhone the same as it had been previously and airdropping of photos still works. So the changing of the location has does something but it seems you can change it to your other device and then change it back and that seems to have fixed the issue. At least it has for me. I hope it works for others too.