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Handoff and AirDrop not working in El Capitan

After upgrading to OS X 10.11 El Capitan, my Handoff and AirDrop stopped working between iOS 9.0.2 on iPhone 5S and my MacBook Pro Late 13. I've tried logging out of iCloud account on both devices numerous times, it didn't help.


For my friend with MacBook Air and iPhone 5S with same iOS version it works flawlessly.


Did anyone encounter similar issue, and if so, how did you solve it?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, iOS 9.0.2, plus iPhone 5S with iOS 9.0.2

Posted on Oct 1, 2015 6:18 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 1, 2015 10:56 AM

Hey there AlexWoodblock,


I understand that you are seeing some issues with AirDrop and some Continuity features like Handoff as well. I have a couple of suggestions for troubleshooting these issues, the first of which can be found here:

Tips for sending items

If you don't see the recipient in the AirDrop window or sheet:

  • Make sure that both devices have AirDrop turned on and are within 30 feet (9 meters) of each other.
  • If you're sending to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
    • Your Mac needs to be a 2012 or newer model with OS X Yosemite or later.
    • The iOS device must have Personal Hotspot turned off in Settings > Cellular.
  • If you're sending to a Mac:
    • If the receiving Mac is using OS X Mavericks, Mountain Lion, or Lion, it needs to have an AirDrop window open: choose Go > AirDrop from the menu bar in the Finder.
    • If the receiving Mac is a 2012 or older model, click “Don't see who you're looking for?” in the AirDrop window or sharing sheet of the sending Mac. Then click “Search for an Older Mac.”
    • Find out if the Mac has “Block all incoming connections” turned on in Security & Privacy preferences. A Mac won't receive items using AirDrop if this setting is turned on.
  • If AirDrop on the receiving device is set up to receive items from contacts only, make sure that both devices are signed in to iCloud. Also make sure that the email address or phone number assocated with your Apple ID is in the Contacts app of the receiving device.

Use AirDrop to send content from your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203106


Next, use these steps to troubleshoot your Continuity features:


Get help using Continuity with your iOS device or your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204678


Take care, and thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities.

316 replies
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Oct 10, 2015 2:15 PM in response to AlexWoodblock

I get handoff working between my Mac and iPhone 6 and vice versa with no problems. AirDrop will not work between our Mac and either of mine or my wife's iPhone 6 - with neither the Mac or iPhone detecting one another at all (despite airdrop set to everyone on both devices, firewall off on Mac etc.) No problems with airdrop from iPhone to iPhone Though. i can live without it but it's frustrating that it doesn't work, esp given the cost of a new Mac - I paid out for an apple laptop specifically for this kind of thing not to happen... Grr.

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Oct 11, 2015 3:35 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

Hello,

I'm also facing the same issue. Logged a ticket with Apple Support. Two senior support team members have tried to fix it. But still issue persists. Before the upgrade Airdrop application was working without any issue from my Mac Book Pro 13 to iPhone6 and iPad. Now it's working between iPhone 6 and iPad, but not with Mac Book Pro.


Suresh K. K

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Oct 12, 2015 11:42 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

Hey everyone,


I have this issue in El Capitan as well, among other semi-related issues, if you're interested, here's a link to my other discussion about my issues which MAY OR MAY NOT be related (I don't know whether or not they are related): Apple ID on El Capitan does not work at all


Do any of you happen to have TWO-STEP VERIFICATION (AKA two-factor authentication or what ever you want to call it) on your Apple ID?


DO please read my thread as you may find some similarities in issues. Of course you can and should also try the steps people wrote in my thread as they may be helpful.


NOw, here's a somewhat unrelated question and I apologize for this in advance: for those of you who have tried to sign out of your iCloud accounts, specifically by going to system preferences>iCloud> sign out, you should have received a pop up that said something to the point of "warning: if you sign out of iCloud, all iCloud documents will be deleted from your Mac."


I am scared of signing out which may fix my issue because I am scared that my files may be deleted from iCloud. Did anything happen to your files after you signed out of iCloud?


side note: I once signed out of iCloud and almost lost all my keychain passwords, that's why I have a deathly fear of signing out of stuff. Long story.


THank you for your help, and forgive me for the random capitalization errors in this post. I am typing on my ipad which doesn't play nice with this discussion forum.

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Oct 13, 2015 8:07 AM in response to anonymoussir

IPhone 6 and iMac 2011 and Macbook 2009:


- can't use Airdrop (iPhone not seen)

- can't use Bluetooth tethering (connextion drops)

- can't see the iPhone in Wifi to share its connexion via Wifi...

- no continuity functionality


After an hour spent with online support, we couldn't fix the problem (in fact it's worth because bluetooth tethering and continuity used to work with the Macbook and won't work anymore now).

Even setting the iPhone to a blank iOS9 wouldn't work.

They acknowledged the issue wich I was said is a known issue. They advised me to wait for an update. They consider it a software issue.

If no joy with next issue I'll ask for an iPhone replacement...

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Oct 13, 2015 1:03 PM in response to braden85

Among my iPhone, iPad and iMac all's fine. Nothing wants to communicate with my MBP. Everything was working under Yosemite and iOS 8. I tried restarting, logging out of iCloud (and waiting over 24 hours until everything on iCloud synced again), discovered by Everyone, etc. The MBP is absolutely invisible. However I can access it through the Shared.

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Oct 13, 2015 11:28 PM in response to AlexWoodblock

Same here.

I called Apple Care yesterday. After reseting/ restarting/ re...ing my iPhone 6 and Mac, it's still not working. Couple of senior supporters went to phone, but still they couldn't solve my issue.

I've tested my iPhone with my father's iPhone plus, and the airdrop went through well between them.

So I believe this is the issue of Mac and EI Captain.


They arranged a genius bar appointment for me.

Hope it helps. Hope they won't just re-install the whole system. I will let you guys know if I can get solution useful.

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Oct 14, 2015 12:15 PM in response to Vian Cai

Airdrop problem:

MBP 2015 El Capitan 10.11.1 beta <-> iPhone 6 IOS 9.1 beta

1. at work working ok. (linksys router)

2. at home not working. (asus rt-n12 router)


MBP 2015 El Capitan 10.11.1 beta <-> iPhone 5 IOS 9.1 beta

1. at work not tested

2. at home not working. (asus rt-n12 router)


iPhone 5 iOS 9.1 beta <-> iPhone 6 IOS 9.1 beta

1. at work not tested.

2. at home working ok.


problem is on El Capitan side, also for next beta


Handoff is working.

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Oct 14, 2015 12:44 PM in response to vanagsg

Hi guys

today my Handoff returned to work again, maybe some people will ask what I did?

i did that before returning to work :

1. update my iMoves on my Mac book pro .it was available on iTunes.

2. I cant not find my ipad in the devices connected to Bluetooth (it was there before!) so i search by my ipad and then pairing between it and mac .

After this I was surprised when handoff returned to work.

Not : my Airdrop its working after upgrade so I tested after my handoff back, it's fine.


but I do not know Is it a solution or just a coincidence?

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Handoff and AirDrop not working in El Capitan

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