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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

Dec 31, 2015 10:20 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

FYI to everyone interested. I had the same issue. There is another root cause for this if you are using OS X Server on your Mac. I tried probably every other solution and nothing would show up on my AirDrop screen, and the problem Mac would not show up on any other AirDrop screen. Solution: Under the Server app's setting, under 'Access', make sure the Default Network Access option includes 'all networks'. Once I did this, AirDrop sees and works with all Macs and iOS devices.


Good luck! This was one annoying problem!

Dec 31, 2015 10:31 AM in response to MDaytona

I have tried everything imaginable and listed here. I finally installed El Cap freshly on another disk. Handoff worked on that. So I backed up my main disk, wiped it, and CopyCloned the fresh installation. Handoff still worked! I migrated all the apps and moved my document files. Handoff worked once more.


After a reboot, it stopped.


Very frustrating. none of my other systems have the issue.

Jan 5, 2016 7:22 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

For what it's worth, I find Continuity to be extremely frustrating and buggy. It never seems to quite work properly.


That said, I've just encountered a problem with Handoff not recognizing a Pages document on my iPad that is open on my iMac (IOS 9 / El Capitan). I turned bluetooth on/off on the iPad (still nothing), then I turned the iPad off completely and back on. That did the trick.

Jan 10, 2016 8:09 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

Well, as I had said in previous posts in my house AirDrop never worked between my MacBook and my iPhone 5s/ iPad mini no matter what I have tried. Between iPhone and iPad it always works.
When I go to a friend's house Airdrop always works without changing any settings. Just turn on the AirDrop and it works. During Christmas my friend had left and disconnected the router. I went over the house to check it and test a couple of things with AirDrop. Turned on the router but no AirDrop!
I dropped by my friend after he got back and Airdrop was working again. The only difference was the router was on for about 24 hours.


What I did, Ι left Airdrop on so I could see my iPhone on the Mac, prevented MacBook and iPhone going to sleep and returned home.
Airdrop was working at my house.

AirDrop was not working though between my iPad mini and my MacBook + iPhone!

I was not expecting this to last and it didn't. It lasted 1-2 days. I checked AirDrop and iPhone and MacBook don't see each other anymore, but Airdrop between iPad and iPhone started working again.


What I intend to do is use a router I have which is the same with my friend's. Model, firmware, settings - everything and let it run.
I had done this test again but I never let it run for more than a couple of hours as Airdrop was not working.

If I get lucky I will post back.

Another strange thing I want to report is that my Macbook could see the iPhone on the AirDrop page even it the Airdrop on the Mac was set not to be found by anyone which up to now I was translating it to Airdrop off!


P.S. I noticed that my Macbook has the mura issue. Depending how apple responds to that as it is under warranty until 26/1 I will decide if I continue purchasing apple products. We pay a lot for not having things work as the meant to be.

Jan 11, 2016 5:49 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

Did you try turn "Handoff" on?


  • Make sure that Wi-Fi is on in Settings > Wi-Fi.
  • Make sure that your iOS devices are on the same network: On each device, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and compare the network names.
  • Make sure that Bluetooth is on in Settings > Bluetooth.
  • Go to Settings > General > Handoff & Suggested Apps. Make sure that Handoff is on.

Jan 25, 2016 12:26 PM in response to AlexWoodblock

I've just installed the new updates on my phone as well as my macbook and still nothing. I've tried deleting /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist and restarting it - that doesn't work either. Any other ideas on what to do? I'm about to travel abroad and would really need AirDrop to work so I can transfer pictures from laptop to phone without much of a hassle =/

Handoff and AirDrop not working in El Capitan

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