iOS 18.0.1 AirDrop not working on iPad Pro

Hi All -

I managed to figure out the root cause of the issue and derive a solution. The problem is being caused by MDM solutions that implement an app restriction list. In IOS 18, Apple made some changes that make the app restriction list more strict than prior IOS versions and any apps not on the list are blocked, including various system services. To resolve, either remove the app restriction list or add the following bundle identifier to the allowed list: com.apple.Sharing.AirDropUI (if your IT department controls the device they will need to make this change). Following this change, you will be able to receive Air Drops once again.

Kaesh18 - I live in the same world you do. My daughter uses an iPad as a talker as well. Depending on the provider of the talker, you might be able to call them and have them either make the change I mentioned above or if they offer this, pay a small fee to have them unlock the device and remove the MDM restrictions entirely (our provider allowed the latter and we now control the device 100%). One way or another they should be able to help you out. Good luck!

I get something similar, The iPad beeps, but the books go to my files folder, bizarely when I transferred to my wife's iPad, (Different account) also 18.1.1 it asked where (books) and went there.

I did manage to get one to open in books on my pad, but I had to share it to books from files

I was having this same issue on some shared iPads I had setup. In addition to com.apple.Sharing.AirDropUI I also added:

com.apple.notificationsettings

This allowed the notification to show up on the iPad screen and allowed me to accept the file.

I have the same issue. My son had a 7th generation ipad that is locked with a "talker" app on it to use for a speech device. Its locked by the speech device company do it ONLY used as a talker and not as a personal device. Literally the only App on there is the speech app they use. So my way of adding pictures of things we want to add to his talker buttons is through airdrop from my iphone which is a 14 i think. Anyways. Now after this stupid 18.1.1 update i tried to send new pictures through airdrop and his ipad dings like normal but WONT show the pop up for accept/deny. But oddly enough i can send a picture from that ipad to my phone and it works like normal. I checked "allow everyone for 10 mins" for sending, wifi and bluetooth are both on.... even restarted both the ipad and my iphone just to make sure. I even tried with his regular personal ipad which is an ipad pro with my phone that worked fine too. But then from ipad to ipad. Could send from the old 7th gen to the new personal one but not back to the 7th gen locked one. I dont get how it still makes the sound but wont accept/deny anything. And just because its older doesn't mean we shouldn't have to spend a lot of time and money to get the speech company to replace it. Come on APPLE!!! Fix this. It worked just fine a few weeks ago.

Kaeshia -

The restriction list is part of the MDM solution and you can NOT see it NOR edit it. You *HAVE* to contact the provider for them to help you. Further, com.apple.Sharing.AirDropUI is not a website, it is something the provider needs to add. Contact them and share what I posted and either they can help you or perhaps can unlock the device for you.

@MDMDev007 -

I connected the device, and with Apple Configurator running, I tailed the logs from the console. While doing so, I attempted a few airdrops and noticed the com.apple.Sharing.AirDropUI being called several times. With this finding in hand, I added it to the MDM solution and sure enough, AirDrop started to work again.

Oh, I assumed since you said both devices were yours, they use the same Apple Account (formerly Apple ID). Now that you explain one device is work related and the other personal, it would make perfect sense for them to have different Apple Accounts, and in that case my remarks above would not apply.

tkkuenz wrote:

they said that it is a bug in the current operating system

I disagree. I can AirDrop files from my iPhone to a nearby iPad using a different Apple Account with no problem (both using iOS/iPadOS 18.0.1).

I did check the restriction list and airdrop was allowed on both devices. I checked the website you added and was unable how to figure out how to add a bundle identifier. 

How do you do that part of it?

Do i need too still even if both my iphone and the old ipad have airdrop approved?

Thanks,

Kaeshia

Well with reading this post about the agree/decline option not showing up, I must add something. Today, connected by my Ipad Air M2 11 with Apple support, seeking help with FCP, it being majorly painfully sluggish even sticky, Chris sent me the agree/deny form for him to take over my screen. I then kept hitting AGREE, agree…and the button would not work at all!! Over.

Hi ApplesnBananas

Appreciate your help on providing a solution for this issue. It would be helpful, if you can tell us how you were able to find the root cause of this issue. Like how you came up with allowing this particular identifier "com.apple.Sharing.AirDropUI " fixes the issue.

Previously there was one instance were iCloud logins were not working and Apple published an article to get around the issue. If users can't sign in to iCloud or Google on a managed iOS device - Apple Support

This time there was no such announcements from Apple.

Since the two devices are both yours, there is no option to accept an AirDrop, as there is no ability to decline the AirDrop. It just happens!

Hi - did you ever find resolution for this issue? Experiencing the exact same issue. Are your devices managed with an MDM solution?