iOS 7 - Airdrop Problems

Same problem! Have an iPad 4 and an iPhone 5, both running iOS 7. Can't Airdrop between them. I did hard-resets a few times, and that worked a couple of times so I could send stuff from iPhone to iPad, but it only lasted about 3 minutes before they disappeared again and I haven't been able to get it to work again since, even with hard-resets.

Actually what you've described are not "problems"; that is exactly how AirDrop is designed to work.

The "contacts only" setting requires that each person has his or her Apple ID included in his or her contact card within the Contacts app, because that setting uses iCloud to determine contacts.

Secondly, a phone must be awake in order to be discoverable.

Just Google "Airdrop iOS 7." Any number of articles describe these basics. :-)

Same problem here, I don't understand. Every once in a while I can see my wife when AirDrop is set for "Everyone" (even then its inconsistent), but never on "contacts only." She can see me . . . whats the deal?

I'm not misunderstanding. But I think you are. :-)

Why should a phone have to be unlocked? Because the whole point is to send items to people who are actively using their phones, not those who have put them down somewhere.

Did you google it? Perhaps not. Let me help:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2048737/get-to-know-ios-7-airdrop.html

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5887

Let me add myself to the list of people that airdrop in iOS 7 works very inconsistently. My iPhone five is on and not unlocked, as is my iPad mini and not unlocked. AirDrop is set for contacts only, and I have myself and both of my address books. It works initially if I turn it off and then back on, but then after an hour or so, with the phone and iPad mini unlocked, it doesn't work again. I believe that's the problem people are having, because that's the problem I have. Oh, let me add that I worked for an Apple reseller and specialist doing software support for 15 years, and now run my own Mac support business, so I know what I'm talking about.

The really simple solution to this would be for Apple to

- implement Bluetooth fully, it has done device to device file transfer for YEARS ( ie Apple choose to be a technology laggard)

- implement Wifi direct to do this even faster

But no, Apple insist on perpetuating their closed world and will do so as long as they can get away with it.

(My use of Apple products is minimal, for this reason and occurs only because some of my family who would never dream of using these sort of facilities buy Apple for their "fashion appeal". As de facto "technical support" I need to have some knowledge of the Apple world!)

Syncopator wrote:

I'm not misunderstanding. But I think you are. :-)

Why should a phone have to be unlocked? Because the whole point is to send items to people who are actively using their phones, not those who have put them down somewhere.

Did you google it? Perhaps not. Let me help:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2048737/get-to-know-ios-7-airdrop.html

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5887

None of your advice or links explains why the OP can't AirDrop to 'contacts only'.

What I found was that the phones need to be very close to each other in order to detect them using Airdrop.

I tested both using the "Everyone" and "Contacts Only" setting and both only worked when I got my phone close (within a few feet) of the other device I was trying to drop to.

I was trying AirDrop last night with my and my and wife's units. Since Bluetooth and I have never gotten along, I assumed that distance is a weakness for AirDrop, too.

I put them inches apart in Contact Only mode. (iCloud.com email addresses in contacts.) No connections.

I had to use Everyone Mode and toggle AirDrop on and off several times in slow rotation. Finally they connected.

We have been having iMessage problems, too, as described in some tech blogs. Related? I wonder.

I too am having these problems with AirDrop. Both my wife and I have 5S and our Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on. In the beginning ,"contacts only" didn't work. We changed it over to everyone and I could see her and she could see me and it work for little bit. But after a little bit it stopped working now neither one of us can discover each other no matter what setting we are on or how close we are to each other. I've tried resetting all network connections on both phones and that still does not do anything. I love this feature but am very upset that it is not working. Please advise.

I had the same problem and discovered it is mainly distance related. You almost have to be within 5 feet or less.

I'm within inches of her phone....

The "upgrade" has also stopped bluetooth pairing working on 4/4S. It used to, now even when so close they are on top of one another it won't work, no matter how long you wait.