Airdrop from iPhone to MacBookAir fails due to firewall configuration mistake

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Level 1

4 points

Airdrop from iPhone to MacBookAir fails due to firewall configuration mistake

Unable to airdrop photos from brand new iPhone to MacBookAir. I edited the settings in Advanced Firewall which was requested by work/office. I no longer require that, so trying to revert firewall settings. Can I revert to factory defaults? I have spent a lot of time allowing what the internet says are the required services/ports/etc to allow this. It still times out. I am certain the laptop is dropping the traffic. When I disable the firewall, Airdrop works straight away, enable it, times out. I am baffled what I have not allowed. It must be something. Is there a way to grep the firewall log to see which port/traffic the firewall is dropping, so I can then allow it? Thank you. -Sjo

MacBook Air, macOS 26.5

Posted on Jul 20, 2026 3:56 PM

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Answer 1

leroydouglas

Level 10

205,600 points

Jul 20, 2026 4:42 PM in response to sjobeck_

sjobeck_ wrote:

When I disable the firewall, Airdrop works straight away

I would simply disable the Firewall setting—

you do not need the application firewall, it is a user feel good option with no true benefit

Your Mac is fully protected and unreachable from the Internet because it uses Network Address Translation service provided by your Router.

Wifi or ethernet cable connects directly to your home router, you are already protected by the router's hardware firewall, which blocks all unsolicited incoming internet traffic

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