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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

Nov 11, 2015 8:41 PM in response to am285

I am having this same issue. I can see on my iPad and iPhone the tabs I have open on my Mac but not the other way around. Been having this issue since Yosemite with no luck resolving it.

vanagsg

Level 1

5 points

Nov 12, 2015 9:12 AM in response to theapplemacgirl

FINALLY. After OSX 10.11.2 Public beta 3 (15C40a) problem for missing Airdrop between OSX and iOS is fixed now without aditional steps. Now all Airdrop phones are visible and connection is fast.

p.s. Handoff for me was working also before.

Nov 28, 2015 12:34 PM in response to AlexWoodblock

Just an update with one more positive result for getting Airdrop to work again between iPhone and El Capitan on my retina MacbookPro (El Capitan).

I did not have to do all the steps mentioned above.

Assuming you've got the Airdrop finder window open and have turned on to be able to send to contacts (yourself being one of them):

Enable Airdrop on the sending device (swipe up from home screen and enable if on an iOS device)

If that fails to send anything by enacting an Airdrop:

Try this first and see if you have the same positive result:

Go to the computer's hard drive;
Do not open the User folder Library.
Turn off Bluetooth on computer.
Open the system-level LIBRARY>Preferences> delete the com.apple.bluetooth.plist file.
Empty trash (possibly optional, but that's what I did)
Turn on Bluetooth.
Try using Airdrop again. First sign that it will work is when your user's icon appears on both send and receiving devices.
select a photo and try the Airdrop from one device to the other. That worked for me.
If not, try re-booting both devices and try steps again.

dino2345

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2015 10:31 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

I have had to same problem with airdrop on my phone and computer. I found out how to fix it at leave on my computer.

Open system preferences
Click on Sharing
Go to the very bottom of the the list where it says, "Bluetooth Sharing"
Make sure the arrow directly to the left of where it says Bluetooth Sharing is turned on.
Go to the Airdrop tab in Finder
On your phone, turn your bluetooth on if it's off or off then back on if it's already on
Make sure you are allowed to be discovered by everyone on both your iPhone and computer

After doing all of that, my airdrop seemed to be working just fine.

I hope this helped everyone who was experiencing this same problem as I.

Sinuku

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2015 8:33 PM in response to dino2345

I called Apple for help (iMessage and handoff don't work), the Apple guy told me to press "command"+"option"+"P"+"R" till 6 chime sound, and miraculously the handoff is back (but iMessage issue still...)

Dec 1, 2015 11:08 AM in response to Sinuku

I've tried several solutions to get Airdrop working - the one that worked for me was to turn off bluetooth and Wifi multiple times on both my Macbook Pro and iPhone. After two or three cycles, my airdrop function was restored.

(OSX El Capitan, IOS 9.1)

Dec 2, 2015 6:42 AM in response to donkermo

excellent. this worked for me - thanks so much! i'm on a mac mini, using a bluetooth mouse, so was about to go get my old mouse out of storage so i could turn off bluetooth, but decided to delete the file com.apple.Bluetooth.plist from the system folder as directed, but WITHOUT TURNING BLUETOOTH OFF... handoff works great now between iPod touch and man mini.

it was working quickly and accurately from mac to iPod, but it wasn't working at all from iPod to mac, although it use to with yosemite. so now this is great, it's more useful to go from iPod to mac for me most of the time, and now it's fast and flawless. best wishes everyone.

Dec 8, 2015 11:37 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

After 2 months of trying every troubleshooting method mentioned in this thread, nothing had worked.

That is until today, when I downloaded and installed the 10.11.2 patch for El Capitan from the App Store, which mentions that it "improves reliability of Handoff and Airdrop"

I finally have these two functionalities back!

HaraldS

Level 2

361 points

Dec 8, 2015 3:05 PM in response to dharmon66

Did you do anything special to kick start the behavior? I still do not see the thing working after it worked great on Yosemite.

HaraldS

Level 2

361 points

Dec 8, 2015 3:06 PM in response to Arthar360

Reversion is futile (not possible,) after my Photo Library update. That is the ONE feature barrier. Sad...

HaraldS

Level 2

361 points

Dec 8, 2015 5:14 PM in response to HaraldS

I tried what other have tried:

- Turn of BT

- Delete BT and some other system preferences

- Shut down

- SMC Reset

- 5 "Holy Maries" - parameter resets

Carefull check of the network options (same WiFI)

All my other systems work with handoff, but still nothing on my troubled Mac Pro.

031croat

Level 1

4 points

Dec 11, 2015 6:52 AM in response to HaraldS

I solve problem, try to delete ur old "com.apple.Bluetooth.plist" and copy with this new one. it worked for me!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5pQoB17O34rYWMxQzk2a3NDMWM

031croat

Level 1

4 points

Dec 11, 2015 6:52 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

I solve problem, try to delete ur old "com.apple.Bluetooth.plist" and copy with this new one. it worked for me!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5pQoB17O34rYWMxQzk2a3NDMWM

Tettiko

Level 1

0 points

Dec 11, 2015 9:01 AM in response to 031croat

how did you delete the com.apple.Bluetooth.plist ? it is locked file on my el capitan and no way to delete it.

031croat

Level 1

4 points

Dec 11, 2015 10:47 AM in response to Tettiko

U just enter your password and delete the file. i found something else here is a screenshot make sure that the bluetooth sharing is turned on, copy and paste new Bluetooth.plist and restart ur mac, after that everything just works fine. I been testing it for couple of hours, and everything works perfect.

Handoff and AirDrop not working in El Capitan