Airdrop on iPhone 5

You have to be on a WiFi network with another AirDrop capable device.

Here is a writeup about AirDrop on iOS:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5887

AirDrop uses bluetooth to detect and negotiate the connection.

Another airdrop capable iOS device with airdrop turned on has to be present within 30ft or so.

Both devices must have wifi and bluetooth active.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5887

sberman wrote:

You have to be on a WiFi network with another AirDrop capable device.

As it turns out, that's exactly what you don't need. You need Wi-Fi turned on of course, but if one of the devices is connected to a network then AirDrop simply will not work in my experience. I believe AirDrop establishes its own peer-to-peer network, so if you're connected to another network this is not possible. I've tested this multiple times, and it only works when I disconnect from whatver network I (or recipient) are connected to.

You are wrong.

It does not matter if you are connected to a network, airdrop still works.

Interesting observation.

On reflection, I believe you're right about establishing a peer-to-peer network. I believe I've read you can AirDrop with two iOS capable devices at the beach, for example.

But indeed when my iPhone is the only iOS device powered on, and I am on my WiFi, I do get AirDrop to appear. The reason may very well be that I have an AirPort Express on my WiFi, and I am guessing you do not.

Strange, why then would my wife's 5s and my 5 not see each other right now unless we both disconnect from our home Wi-Fi (an Apple AirPort Extreme BTW)? Just verified it right now ... and this has been the case in other Wi-Fi environments too.

I just transferred a GIF using airdrop between my iPhone and iPad.

iPad is connected to a 5ghz wifi network.

iphone connected to a 2.4 ghz network.

PS.

I am on an Asus router-not an airport.

Maybe that's why, you're using two separate networks, or at least two SSIDs?

Not sure why we have this issue, and we're certainly not alone in this where getting off a network has been stated as the solution in other threads.

But the bottom line is that you don't need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network to AirDrop as sberman was suggesting above. You just need Wi-Fi turned on.

rockmyplimsoul wrote:

Maybe that's why, you're using two separate networks, or at least two SSIDs?

Just moved one iPhone to our 2.4 GHz network and left the other on the 5 GHz network (I have the AirPort 5 & 2.4 frequencies on separate SSIDs). Now we see each other fine, so it sounds like if the two devices are on the exact same network then they won't see each other -- at least one of them needs to get off for AirDrop to work, at least in our case.

Ah, I just noticed something ...

I turned my WiFi off and still see AirDrop on my iPhone 5S' Control Panel. It's AirPlay that I only see when WiFi is on.

Sorry about the confusion.