AirDrop Problems in iOS 8.1

Mike,

Do you have capital letters in your AppleID? I had a similar issue to yours and it seems like the root cause was from logging into iCloud with capital letters in my username (which happened to be my email address).

Reference: Re: iOS 8.1: creating new mail asks for icloud password

Best,

-Paul

This is from Apples's site:

Using AirDrop with OS X Lion, Mountain Lion or Mavericks

System Requirements

AirDrop requires that both Mac computers include Wi-Fi hardware that supports AirDrop mode. Both Mac computers need to have OS X Lion or later installed.

To see if your Mac works with AirDrop, make sure you’re in the Finder by clicking the desktop (the background area of your screen), or by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock. Then, check to see if AirDrop is listed as an option in the Go menu. If you don't see AirDrop listed, your Mac doesn't support this feature.

You won't be able to receive AirDrop files if you have enabled "Block all incoming connections" in the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences.

Macs that include AirDrop support are the same as, or newer than, the models listed below.

• MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or newer)*
• MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
• MacBook (Late 2008 or newer)*
• iMac (Early 2009 or newer)
• Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)

*The MacBook Pro (17-Inch Late 2008) and the white MacBook (Late 2008) do not support AirDrop.

I'm running Yosemite on a MBP retina (12/2012) and iOS 8.1 on a brand spanking new iPhone 6 Plus: so it MUST be working!

I was going crazy with this AirDrop issue as well, until I noticed that in the finder window (when i was selecting "AirDrop") there's a really small blue writing "allow me to be discovered by:..." and then I could select "Everyone", "Contacts only" and "No One" (right under the blue AirDrop icon).

It was by default on "Contacts only".

It means that if you're not registered in your own Contacs list on your computer the iPhone (or iPad or iPod) can't see the computer itself since you're not register in the same Contact list as well.

Changing the setting on the computer to "Everyone" solved the issue as my MBP suddenly popped up on iPhone as AirDrop destination.

So basically if you're Airdropping from any iDevice to any Mac (or viceversa) be sure to have both systems set to be discoverable to"Everyone".

If only one of them is set on "Everyone" then it will be possible to AirDrop only towards the one that's set as "Everyone".

If both are set as "Contacts Only" then be sure that you're register in your own Contact's list, otherwise it ain't gonna work.

Quite clumsy from Apple not to explain a little better this thing and quite clumsy that on a Mac AirDrop is set as "Contacts only" by default.

I hope this is gonna help some of you people who's having this issue for some time now.

I started having problems with iCloud password prompts in iOS 8.1 when trying to compose new emails and then stumbled across this issue with AirDrop. There's another thread going on over here about the issue too: iOS 8.1: creating new mail asks for icloud password

Still haven't managed to get my issue resolved and I've done everything I can think of (DFU, setting up fresh, etc.) the problem seems to be tied to something with the iCloud account.

As informed on this other thread,iOS 8.1: creating new mail asks for icloud password user name Scoobs figured out the iCloud backend bug or quirk is a result of a capital letter in the iClouds user name that causes the password prompt for AirDrop's "Contacts only" and iCloud Mail app not behaving correctly.

Same problem here to.

MacBook Pro mid 2012 with Yosemite installed and Iphone 6 plus with iOS 8.1.

No Airdrop possible in both ways.

All settings have been checked: Same Wifi, Bluetooth on, Airdrop set to Everyone.

Saw al lot of posts with the same problem, Airdrop feature does not work reliable or not at all.

Suggestions anyone...

Sven

Hello,

Same issue for me. My mac see my phone and I can send file from my computer to my iphone but no way to do that in the other way. My iPhone can't see my MBP. I check my icloud login, my wi-fi settings and my bluetooth settings.

Thanks for your help,

Same problem here.

Is very annoying, in the last releases every release brings bugs on the main feature. Enough is enough.

My iPhone can't see my MacBook retina. Viceversa is OK.

I Checked iCloud login, Wi-Fi and everything is required by AirDrop.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Have you tried doing a hard reset by holding the standby and home button until your iPhone restarts?

This sometimes fixes software issues.

remember to turn both wifi and bluetooth on when you try again. 🙂

I also have this exact problem with my iPhone 5 in iOS 8.1, where I would select 'AirDrop for Contacts Only', and then I would be asked my iCloud password (happens every time I choose that AirDrop option). But after that the AirDrop option will go back to the Off status. If I select the Contacts Only option again this whole process will repeat itself.

However, I can select 'AirDrop for Everyone', and then AirDrop will stay on - however, I'm wondering why the Contacts Only option is not working for me as well, because that's the option I'd prefer to use.

But the interesting thing is that on my iPad Air, I do not have this problem - the Contacts Only option turns on and stays on on my Air just fine - it does not ask me for my iCloud password at all, although I'm pretty sure I'm signed in on both devices to the same iCloud account.

Hi Guys!

I just solved this problem by logging out and logging in my iCloud account in both devices, i turned off the airdrop in my iPhone 6, and turned on again, and suddenly it works again!. Hope that the work!

Removing icloud from the Setting, booting and re-enabling did work for me. Afterwards I do not get a password prompt in airdrop -> Contacts only anymore as well as when writing a new email.

Disabling/Reenabling contact sync in icloud setting did not solve the issue. Actually after disabling the contact sync the contacts where gone and kept gone even after booting and reenabling the contact sync. Removing the icloud account from the iPhone and adding it back after a reboot solved the issue.

I'm having the exact same problem, Mike.

Perhaps related, I'm also often asked for my iCloud password when composing a new email or replying to an email.

I've tried signing out/reboot/sign in to iCloud - same issue.

I've tried delete all content and settings and restore - same issue.