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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

Top-ranking reply

braden85

Community Specialist

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.

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316 replies

Oct 27, 2015 10:43 PM in response to am285

I have been facing same problem with MacBook Pro OS X 10.11 and iPhone 6 Ver 9.0.2 - AirDrop not working, update in App Store not working, Mail - not allowing junk mails deletion. El Cap is just very frustrating, very unhappy with present state of Apple update's

mansorea

Level 1

5 points

Oct 27, 2015 10:58 PM in response to VCMBP

Try this :

on iphone Bl list , if your mac show delete it and Turn off / on Bluetooth and search until the mac show again , then do the pairing between it . for more you can do same with your Mac BL list also .

Oct 27, 2015 11:01 PM in response to mansorea

thank you, all normal trouble shoots have been tried before posting, nothing worked. Its sad for me as I have started to get dissatisfied with Apple on its performance. whilst on Windows 10 have seen a lot of ease and efficiency

Oct 29, 2015 5:04 PM in response to AlexWoodblock

Same problem since Capitan.

Tried all suggestions including deleting plist.

5c and Macbook pro can see each other, will send pairing code. When I accept they connect for a second then disconnect again and the connection never holds.

Airdrop has been dilettantism from day one by Apple. Why they can't just use bluetooth is beyond me. Oh wait, propriety technology means $

Oct 30, 2015 7:03 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

Working!!

No need to delete anything...

The issue was with my Wi-Fi router.

Before: Wireless Encryption was WPA2 (Mixed) : Didnt work

Today: Wireless Encryption WPA2(AES) : Working 🙂

On Yosemite, It used to work with WPA2(Mixed) btw..

Oct 30, 2015 7:57 AM in response to Arthar360

Yes,

this helps me to get Airdrop to work. Thanks for this. I split my Airport network into normal and 5 GHz. With all devices on 5GHz Airdrop works.

Handoff is working only in one direction:

MacBook Pro Retina -> iOS devices and between all iOS devices.

The other direction:

iOS devices -> MacBook Pro Retina i not working in normal way.

Its working great and fast only when i open the Bluetooth preferences and let it in the foreground. This is very strange.

I already tried all solutions described in this forum

haginile

Level 1

25 points

Oct 31, 2015 10:06 PM in response to AlexWoodblock

I reset network settings on my iPhone and iPad, after which Handoff began working perfectly.

OmegaJJH

Level 1

0 points

Nov 1, 2015 10:20 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

I'm having same problem since upgrading to El Captain / iOS 9.

The major problem I have is that everything still works absolutely fine with my iPad and iPhone 5 (airdrop / handoff etc).

My problem lies between my iMac and iPhone 6. Airdrop works however Handoff no longer works. (It did before upgrades).

Tried everything and no at a complete loss???

Nov 1, 2015 11:47 PM in response to donkermo

donkermo,

I'm not sure why this worked but it did!!!

Thank you so so much!!!

My handoff stopped working when I updated my iOS to 9.1 and I tried so many different things to get it working with no success. When I tried your solution ... boom ... started working.

Thanks again!!

siawqian

Level 1

0 points

Nov 2, 2015 6:34 AM in response to OmegaJJH

Im having the same problem!

my ipad mini IOS 9 and iphone 6 IOS9 works perfectly but my Macbook Pro Retina El-Capitan 10.11.1 airdrop not even functioning. 😟

cant get any connection after i turned on all the bluetooth, someone please help me.

i tried to deleted the list but still not working 😟

HELP~~

vanagsg

Level 1

5 points

Nov 2, 2015 6:42 AM in response to siawqian

After OSX update 10.11.1 I lost connection to Airdrop one more time. And one more time I get it back following this on iOS: Settings->General->Reset->Reset Network Settings. You will need to enter wifi passwords.

Nov 3, 2015 7:18 PM in response to AlexWoodblock

I'm trying to AirDrop between my iMac and MBP Retina. Both have the latest El Capitan release. It use to work just fine and now it doesn't. I can AirDrop between my iPad Air 2, on the latest iOS, and my iMac and MBP. I have tried all the suggestions without success.

Nov 10, 2015 9:21 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

This is what I did to fix the Airdrop Between Macbook Pro (Retina - Mid 2012) and iPhone 6S Plus

Set the Airport extreme to 5ghz and used that for both iPhone and the macbookpro
and used the WPA/WPZA2 Personal
Turn off Bluetooth
Deleted com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
turn On bluetooth
Reset SMC
Reset NVRAM
Deleted com.apple.Bluetooth.plist (again)

After that I was able to see the iPhone from the macbook pro and send files but was not able to see the macbook pro on my iPhone

Then I

Changed the service order in the network preference and set first the wifi then the bluetooth and lastly the thunderbolt bridge
Reset network settings on the iphone

After that settings above I was able to see and airdrop files from iPhone to the macbook pro

Handoff and continuity still are not working though.

vanagsg

Level 1

5 points

Nov 10, 2015 9:56 AM in response to robert513

Thank you, thank you! I did it again!

This is what I did to fix the Airdrop:

Deleted com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
Turn off Bluetooth
Reset SMC
Set the Airport extreme to 5ghz and used that for both iPhone and the macbookpro
and used the WPA/WPZA2 Personal
Reset NVRAM
Turn off Bluetooth
Reset SMC
Deleted com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
turn On bluetooth
Reset SMC
Reset NVRAM
Reset SMC
Deleted com.apple.Bluetooth.plist (again)
Deleted com.apple.Bluetooth.plist (again) and (again)
Deleted com.apple.Bluetooth.plist (again) and (again) and (again)
Reset SMC
Reset NVRAM
Reset SMC

After that I can power on my iPhone.

Where is my old NOKIA 1100?

Nov 10, 2015 10:01 PM in response to Arthar360

Stopped working after sometime. Ultimate solution was to downgrade to Yosemite. Everything is awesome now. But didn't expect Apple to do such mistake..

Handoff and AirDrop not working in El Capitan