Can't receive files via bluetooth from my mobile phone

Hi there. i had the same problem as you but i solved it by going into system preferences -> bluetooth -> sharing setup (at the bottom right of the window) and ticking "bluetooth sharing" from the list on the left, which should allow you to share.

Hope this helped....

I stumbled across this discussion because i was having trouble getting my Samsung (SGH-T528G) to send pictures to my mac laptop (MacBook Pro) via bluetooth. I was synced up correctly and everything was perfect until i tried to send a test picture from my phone to my computer.

i was receiving "sending failed" message on my phone. i had (what i thought) everything necessary selected/ turned on or off/ filled in everything in system preferences....

turns out in my particular situation i needed to check both boxes 'FILE SHARING' (which i had found out about online already) AND: 'BLUETOOTH SHARING'! when i realized that i had missed something so obvious i was like DUH michael!

but anyways after i checked that box everything works smoothly now... didn't have to down load anything to make it work and i don't even have cell phone service on my phone right now.

all i had to do was go to SETTINGS on my cell phone and TURN ON BLUETOOTH for it to communicate with other bluetooth capable devices in proximity.

then on my laptop go to SYSTEM PREFERENCES and change the appropriate settings in BLUETOOTH (<this has its own icon, universal bluetooth symbol) & SHARING (<this has its own icon as well, on my comp it looks like a crossing guard symbol on a folder) .

it's really cool now that i know how to do this. i've had this old prepay phone for a loooonnng time and the only reason i hang onto it is all the pictures it contains. so now i can send my pics to laptop and save them. the only way i knew how to save pictures to my computer before was when you send them as a message to an e-mail address and open and save them from there.... this is so much better.

sorry for such a long message but i hope this helps!

Had same problem, Mac -> samsung OK but samsung -x-> Mac

Enabled Bluetooth sharing under "System Preference" -> Sharing -> Bluetooth Sharing

Try this - System Preferences -> Sharing. You should see Bluetooth Sharing option on the left side.

I've tried everything to get a new iPhone 4s to send a photo via Bluetooth to a MacBook Pro (OSX 10.8.5). It seems such a simple thing to do. Used to be able to do this with my old Nokia C3-01. To have one Apple product unable to talk to another in this most basic of ways seems ludicrous. All me settings are geared up fr this, but it simply won't work. MacBook Pro can see my iPhone, but not connect to it for more than 2 seconds. iPhone can see my MacBook Pro, but cannot connect to it.

All I want to do is be able to take a photo on my iPhone & instantly transfer it to the MacBook pro, where all other pictures are kept - to add to the MBP's directories. To have to email the photo iPhone > MBP seems archaic. Seriously planning to take this new iPhone back to the shop & swap for an android.

Apple - you used to (appear to) care about your users.

Hi Sergio,

It is my greatest pleasure to have assisted you in solving your problem. And with the point system, the procedure to give me recognition is shown in the link below:

https://discussions.apple.com/static/apple/tutorial/mark.html

Thanks! 🙂

this worked for me, thanks sahan_96 ... for whatever reason I believe in snow leopard it is automatically enabled to ask you if you want to receive a file transfer via bluetooth (in bluetooth sharing preferences), however, this wasn't automatically enabled for me in lion.

Hi LadyMarwood,

I think the best solution for your problem is to try 'Photostream'. You can find this in iPhoto. Since it is photos you are trying to transfer, I think this is the best solution. If you have an active internet connection at home, the photos taken on any of your Apple products will be transferred throughout each device incuding your Mac. This is what I use to access all my photos on any device (iPad). If this is the kind of solution you are looking at, heres the process:

Go into 'Settings' --> iCloud --> And select Photos there by ticking --> Click 'Options' if you've got it on there and select both 'My Photostream' and 'Photo Sharing'.

Now, open up iPhoto --> Click on 'iPhoto' on the menu tab (to the left of the top of the screen) and click on preferences from the drop down menu --> Go into iCloud and select all the options.

The next step is to go to your iPhone and make sure that Photostream is turned on there as well. To do this, go into 'Settings' --> iCloud --> Photos --> and make sure that both 'My Photostream' and 'Photo Sharing' is turned on.

I think this the best alternative, since I too am an Android mobile owner, and I have to say that I prefer the Photostream option better than any method android offers, just because its in one safe and secure place to access all your photos at anytime and it is an option directly offered by Apple. JUST MAKESURE THAT YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION PROVIDES YOU WITH ENOUGH DATA, SINCE PHOTOSTREAMING DOES TAKE LARGE AMOUNTS TO UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS, AND YOU DON'T WANT A HUGE BILL COMING OUT.

But hope this helps! 🙂

Thank you, sahan_96 🙂

I can see this does work. I'll just have to get used to storing all photo files on iPhoto, instead of in directories on my hard disk, like I'm accustomed to. Macs try to do a lot of things in a different way & sometimes succeed. I can now get to the pictures if my iPhone's wired up to my MacBook & see them in iPhoto.

I'm just used to the computer taking things wirelessly, asking me what I want to call a file & where I want to save it. Old Microsoft ways die hard! 😉

Hi LadyMarwood,

I can understand exactly where you are coming from. Well atleast you are getting a hold of it, and I believe the more you get to know the Mac OS and iOS you'll get better at understanding how it works. I'm happy to have given a helping hand and hope you all the best! 🙂

Hi Sahan_96 I have recently reinstalled my OS and could not receive Bluetooth files anymore but your suggestion solved my problem thanks !

I;m new in this community but I have seen there are points given to people who solve issues. How can I give you points recognition?

Sergio

Hey im having the same problem in os x10.9,bt when i open bluetooth i dont see any sharing setup at the bottom top....

thank you.

that worked with me

Thanks so much! We had the same issue and this worked perfectly!!🙂