AirDrop set to "Everyone" still doesn't work

My family has an iPhone 5, iPad 4, iPad Air and retina iPad mini. All with the latest iOS 7 updates, all on the same WiFi, all with Bluetooth and Airport enabled, and all set to Everyone.

Even when tested inches away, a using Safari to share a link exhibits the following:

- None of the devices can see the retina Mini, and it can't see any of them.

- The iPad 4 can see the iPad Air, but nobody can see the iPad 4.

- The iPad Air and iPhone 5 can see each other, but nobody else can see the iPhone.

Toggling AirDrop on and off (and using Apple's troubleshooting tips) doesn't help. But even of it did, it's not worth the hassle when email "just works." I have the patience to try lots of things to share something simple, and keep using AirDrop even if it works only occasionally. But the rest of my family is done spending time on it. It seems they will not be AirDrop users!

Can Air Drop Everyone be made to be reliable, or is it just not ready yet?

It would be great if I could just walk up to iOS users and share stuff, but currently it has been an embarrassing failure.

Posted on Dec 22, 2013 5:24 PM

23 replies

SIBoyd

Level 1

23 points

Mar 22, 2016 2:05 PM in response to Morgan Adams1

Airdrop has only worked a couple of times for me. It worked once in my office between my Macbook Air and an iMac on the same WiFi network through an Apple Airport Express. It may have worked once or twice in my home, where all equipment is Apple and computers have Airdrop setup to "see" everyone. In short, it has been a big failure as far as I'm concerned.

Jul 26, 2016 10:08 PM in response to Morgan Adams1

Yeah, I haven't been able to get AirDrop to work reliably between my Macs. Even spending 10 minutes is far too long and I have spent more time than that. DropBox "just works" so that is what I use.

Sep 6, 2016 7:57 AM in response to Diavonex

¿router? Airdrop works with bluetooth, not wi fi. ¿no?

sbailey4

Level 1

35 points

Sep 15, 2016 5:25 AM in response to javierfromvalencia

Sorta. It uses both BUT it creates its own wifi network so all this talk about being on the same network and resetting routers is invalid. It uses Bluetooth to find each other and wifi to actually transfer the info. But in an adhoc fashion. You can be in the woods and Airdrop pics between friends with no wifi network available anywhere.

dimwat

Level 1

4 points

Oct 29, 2016 2:14 PM in response to deggie

this is not true

dimwat

Level 1

4 points

Oct 29, 2016 2:17 PM in response to deggie

"Sounds like you have issues with your router if it is working then dropping off. Or interference." THIS IS NOT TRUE.

guguii

Level 1

72 points

Nov 29, 2016 2:26 PM in response to Morgan Adams1

airdrop fails a lot. it's something like siri, people doesn't use it because it's annoying.

Jon H.

Level 2

195 points

May 23, 2017 3:26 PM in response to DreamWorld

Yes, Dropbox seems to be the answer. Works every time. Airdrop promises, does not deliver.

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AirDrop set to "Everyone" still doesn't work