why can't i find airdrop on my laptop.

I was trying to airdrop photos to my husband. I can do it from my iPhone to his iPad but not from my laptop. The option doesn't come up when I share. I have Yosemite 10.10.3

Posted on Jul 18, 2015 12:20 PM

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16 replies

Jul 19, 2015 6:51 PM in response to Sweetsu

It's mid 2012

There is no MacBook Mid 2012, but whatever you have, it would be new enough to have Airdrop capability. This posting area is for 12" Retina MacBook 2015s.


You should see an Airdrop icon in the Finder. If you select, for example, a photo, on your iPhone, you should see an option to share with Airdrop (not to be confused with Sharing in System Preferences). You should the find the photo in your Mac's download folder.

Jul 19, 2015 9:46 PM in response to Sweetsu

Actually, this is the MacBook area. MacBook was just released in 2015, as Lanny says. However, this area is also for older MacBooks. The newest MacBook that preceded 2015 was manufactured in mid-2010.


Therefore, if you in fact have a MacBook, and it was made earlier than 2015, it cannot AIrDrop to anything other than another Mac. This is confirmed here:

Use AirDrop to send files from your Mac to another nearby Mac or iOS device - Apple Support

Jul 19, 2015 10:09 PM in response to sberman

However, this area is also for older MacBooks.

Incorrect. There is a seperate area for 13" MacBooks 2006-2010.


User uploaded file


Therefore, if you in fact have a MacBook, and it was made earlier than 2015, it cannot AIrDrop to anything other than another Mac. This is confirmed here:

Incorrect again. Your given link does not state that.

Jul 19, 2015 10:21 PM in response to Lanny

OK, you are right about the first point ... older MacBooks do have a separate area. Obviously I did not realize that. Thanks for the correction.


But your second point is refuted here:


Lanny wrote:

Therefore, if you in fact have a MacBook, and it was made earlier than 2015, it cannot AIrDrop to anything other than another Mac. This is confirmed here:

Incorrect again. Your given link does not state that.

From the cited article:


User uploaded file

As stated there, a Mac must be a 2012 or later model running Yosemite to transfer files between a Mac and iOS device. A late 2008 or newer MacBook can transfer files Mac to Mac.

Jul 19, 2015 10:40 PM in response to sberman

I have requested that the MacBook label be updated on several occasions because there is a high incidence of people with MacBooks posting to the wrong area. They could just add 2015 or Retina, or both to the name.


However, it's also common that posters mis-identify their MacBooks as MacBook Pros and vice versa. And then there are the posters that confuse MacBook Pros with Mac Pros.


I'm still betting on the Mid 2012 part being the most accurate part of the name though. It could either be a MacBook Pro Mid 2012 or even a MacBook Air Mid 2012.




Sweetsu, now would be a good time to clarify the identity of your Mac Model.

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why can't i find airdrop on my laptop.

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