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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

Apr 5, 2016 7:19 AM in response to JosueK

Hello,

Spoke with Apple care today they acknowledge that some models are facing so they are gonna release os x 10.11.5 to ensure working of airdrop and other problems. Let's wait for the update.

HaraldS

Level 2

361 points

Apr 5, 2016 7:35 AM in response to jillusmart95

That would be nice. After outgoing Handoff worked on mine, I had an episode, where Mail and Contacts started crashing, contacts lost groups and entries (restored from iCloud after restart,) and oddly some preferences for other apps were lost. I restarted, had to log back into iCloud for some reason, and all Handoff function was lost after that.

My three other systems have no problems in this regard.

Apr 5, 2016 7:47 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

Please check time zone for both mac and iPhone are the same.

set time and date format to be same exactly on both devices.

Restart both devices.

Hope this could help. I try many ways to solve all the problem with airdrop, handoff and FaceTime.

This one works find for me.

My IOS is 9.3.1

My Mac is 10.11.4 Capitan

Apr 5, 2016 7:50 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

Please check time zone for both mac and iPhone are the same.

set time and date format to be same exactly on both devices.

Restart both devices.

Hope this could help. I try many ways to solve all the problem with airdrop, handoff and FaceTime.

This one works find for me.

My IOS is 9.3.1

My Mac is 10.11.4 Capitan

Biennie

Level 1

4 points

Apr 5, 2016 8:45 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

I found the real solution for this long discussion about handoff and airdrop problem.

 > System Preferences > Security and Privacy > Firewall

Check if your firewall if its turn on then turn it off.

Handoff and Airdrop will works perfectly.🙂

TIA.

JosueK

Level 1

20 points

Apr 5, 2016 9:55 AM in response to Biennie

Thank you for your comment but this is a software issue not a settings matter, in fact even in a Clean install with the firewall off airdrop doesn't work.

annabelle

Level 3

623 points

Apr 5, 2016 11:22 AM in response to JosueK

I'm afraid that is not a pure software matter :

When I'm at home my computer works with airdrop and handoff and my airport base connected to a router

In another location , same computer, same settings but different router and no airport

doesn't work. At my sister's no airport and a different router it works.

Three different locations, different routers, three different results

Airdrop works between computers only if they are in a very close range

With Maverick it was working from a longer distance, two rooms away

not now with ElCapitan.

My Firewall is on

JosueK

Level 1

20 points

Apr 5, 2016 12:01 PM in response to annabelle

Ah ok , but I'm sure it is a software problem , I already tried with two different router , the strange thing is that with "El Capitan" Airdrop doesn't work with any of the routers, but with Yosemite and the same routers Airdrop works well , so this tells me that the problem is not the router itself.

Biennie

Level 1

4 points

Apr 5, 2016 10:34 PM in response to JosueK

In my iphone 5s with iOS version 9.3.1 and OS X El Capitan version 10.11.4 it works fine handoff and airdrop.

Base on my observation its kinda slow to recognize both device to detect airdrop. hmmm maybe software issue.

Here's the screen shot below:

nkan

Level 1

4 points

Apr 11, 2016 12:46 AM in response to MDaytona

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I have been struggling with this for months...

Apr 11, 2016 7:00 PM in response to JosueK

airplay would also be affected by the same things that run airdrop, right?

after the update to 10.11.4, my apple TV does not show up (airplay) in the sound preferences, preventing me from playing any music, like a streaming or Spotify output through, Apple TV...ironically, the Apple tv sees iTunes...

so whats the deal?

jhayha

Level 1

4 points

Apr 11, 2016 10:01 PM in response to mike_from_moscow

Great! Thanks! Simple solution. This should be on the first page!

llawsey

Level 1

8 points

Apr 20, 2016 2:40 AM in response to jillusmart95

I have tried every solution suggested, and have spent hours on phone with Apple Technical Support. AirDrop will simply not work with my MacBookAir running El Cap. Hoping that the El Capitan update is fast tracked and will solve the issue!

Apr 20, 2016 3:18 AM in response to AlexWoodblock

This is what worked for me.

I was having Handoff issues in that Mac to Phone was working fine but Phone to Mac wasn't. So clearly, some form of oneway comms was being undertaken. Having tried all the previous solutions, well those listed on the first 4 pages anyway, I wondered if it was an issue with permissions. Following a quick First Aid & tweak of the permissions on my home folder all is well in the land of Apple.

Run First Aid
Within finder, select your home folder from the sidebar and either press command+I, select File, Get Info or right click and then select Get Info.
Within Sharing & Permissions, select your Name (make sure your privilege is Read & Write) and in the settings wheel select Apply to enclosed items....

Immediately Handoff started working for me. It must be noted that at the high level my permissions were set to read & write but lower down in the hierarchy something may have been remiss. Additionally I didn't check Handoff between running First Aid on my HD and changing the permissions but neither will do any harm. Not saying that this is what's causing other peoples problems as everyones system/config is unique but worth a try if you're still having issues.

Cheers

Paul

Apr 22, 2016 9:09 AM in response to Namo_2554

Actually, all I did was go to date & time settings on the macbook pro and check the setting. I didn't even change anything. Next thing I know, now my iphone SE can see the macbook for air drop purposes.

To clarify my situation:

I could air drop from Macbook Pro to Iphone SE, but not from Iphone SE to Macbook Pro. The airdrop button on the iphone SE simply did not see the Macbook.

Now it sees it. Go figure.

Handoff and AirDrop not working in El Capitan