gswank2
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Airdrop only works in one direction

I've been trying to send a picture from my iPhone to my MacBook Pro. They are next to each other, so distance isn't an issue. The MacBook Pro sees the iPhone, but the iPhone doesn't seem to see the laptop—EXCEPT that I can transfer files from the computer to the phone. I can't send a file from the phone to the computer.

 

Not sure whether this is related, but I'm unable to establish a bluetooth connection between the two of them, though this has been done in the past. Both pair to other devices, but not to each other.

 

Both devices have been restarted, but nothing changed.

Posted on Aug 8, 2015 1:49 PM

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gswank2

Q: Airdrop only works in one direction

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  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Aug 8, 2015 2:12 PM in response to gswank2
    Level 8 (41,031 points)
    Aug 8, 2015 2:12 PM in response to gswank2

    How old is your MacBook Pro?  See the following:

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

     

    You also have not mentioned the operating system version any of your devices are using.  I assume your Mac is running Yosemite as you posted in the Yosemite area.  Check that in the article as well.

     

    Both devices need to have Bluetooth turned on, but they do not have the capability to be paired to each other.

  • by gswank2,

    gswank2 gswank2 Aug 8, 2015 5:18 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 8, 2015 5:18 PM in response to sberman

    Sorry. Because I had to show the device and operating system before I posted the question, I assumed that it would show up. However, I see that it doesn't.

     

    The MacBook Pro was produced in mid-2012. It is running 10.10.4. The phone is an iPhone 6 running whatever version of iOS that Apple last sent out.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Aug 8, 2015 9:18 PM in response to gswank2
    Level 8 (41,031 points)
    Aug 8, 2015 9:18 PM in response to gswank2

    Things to check that come to mind:

     

    • Are you using a firewall on your Mac?  If so, check the above referenced article.
    • When you set up AirDrop on your iPhone, have you allowed either contacts or everyone, and by doing so, not excluded your Mac?

  • by collier,

    collier collier Sep 7, 2015 2:47 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 7, 2015 2:47 PM in response to sberman

    I'm having the same problem. Mid 2012 MBP Retina, iPhone 5s, both have every OS update installed. Airdrop from phone to laptop USED TO WORK just fine, though sometimes it would take a few seconds for the Mac's icon to show up on my phone when I went to send a picture. Now in the last few weeks (after updating OS on both not too long ago), the Macbook recognizes the phone and can send files to it, but the phone will no longer show the Macbook's icon to send to.

     

    Yes, I've tried turning it off and on again. I've turned off wifi and bluetooth on both phone and pc, turned them back on, and in various orders. Changed settings on Airdrop to Everyone / Contacts Only / Off on both, and switched them back again. I've restarted both devices numerous times. I've tried it with my bluetooth headphones paired with one device or the other (which was not a problem in the past), and with them turned off. My software is all up to date. Bluetooth and wifi both work fine on both devices in every other instance. The phone is literally three inches from the laptop. Firewall on laptop is off. It is absolutely infuriating. I'm transferring photos by texting them to myself and dragging them to Finder from Messages one by one like some kind of neanderthal (sorry, still hate the Photos app). WHAT am I doing wrong? And if it's not me, WHEN will there be a Yosemite / iOS update to repair this issue that a previous update apparently broke, because it worked fine before?