NJM55
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: AirDrop

I've just upgraded to Yosemite on a brand new iMac and a MacBook Pro, purchased about a year ago. I'm trying to use Air Drop to send a file from one to the other, and I just can't figure out how. From the document I'd like to send, I've gone to Air Drop under the Share pulldown menu, but then what? Air Drop is activated on both computers. I tried to put the document in iCloud, per instructions that I found while experimenting with the menu, but I got the "spinner" for about five minutes and gave up. I ended up mailing it to myself. What trick am I missing, given that yesterday I did manage to use Air Drop to share a spreadsheet? Both computers are on my desk, about two feet apart, so distance is not an issue.There may be some quirk in how this new computer got set up, given that migrated data from an older iMac, which didn't have iCloud. Periodically when I've been upgrading apps, etc., I've seen the name of my OLD computer come up rather than the name I gave the new one. I don't really understand all of this, but maybe that's part of the problem in using Air Drop.

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014)

Posted on Dec 31, 2014 5:54 PM

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NJM55

Q: AirDrop

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  • by david.lski,Helpful

    david.lski david.lski Dec 31, 2014 6:27 PM in response to NJM55
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Dec 31, 2014 6:27 PM in response to NJM55

    Check out this page to make sure that all requirements are checked.

     

    Make sure Wi-Fi and BlueTooth are turned on on both computers.

     

    If the computer you've had for a year is the Mid-2012 model, follow the instructions at the end of this article for sharing items via AirDrop to older computers.

     

    Also make sure that the firewall is disabled in System Preferences > Security/Privacy > Firewall. The firewall prevents AirDrop from working.

  • by NJM55,

    NJM55 NJM55 Jan 1, 2015 8:11 AM in response to david.lski
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2015 8:11 AM in response to david.lski

    I eventually remembered that I had hooked up a power cable because the WiFi connection was sporadic. Once I unplugged that, I was able to use AirDrop.