macbook pro can't find iMac on airdrop

Question

Level 1

9 points

macbook pro can't find iMac on airdrop

We bought the macbook pro a few days ago. It is my wife's computer. I have an iMac which is 2 years old. Both are on the most recent update of El Capitain.

On the first day she could airdrop to my iMac just fine. Then I installed an Apple Time Capsule for a faster wifi(AC) and back up capability. Now she can't airdrop to my iMac. I can airdrop from the iMac to her macbook Pro. She can airdrop to my iPhone.

Anybody have any ideas? I called apple yesterday, but they weren't much help. They just said to change airdrop to be visible to everyone, but it worked before on "contact only".

MacBook Pro with Retina display

Posted on Feb 17, 2016 8:18 AM

Reply

Answer 1

judysings

Community Specialist

Feb 18, 2016 2:03 PM in response to ronvanb

Hi ronvanb,

The resource below provides some troubleshooting steps for the issue you are having with AirDrop from your new MacBook Pro to iMac. Did you try changing the setting to Everyone, just to test it? Have you restarted the MacBook Pro and the iMac since the Time Capsule was installed?

Use AirDrop to send content from your Mac

Turn on and set up AirDrop

On Mac computers:

Choose Go > AirDrop from the menu bar in the Finder. An AirDrop window opens. If Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is turned off, you'll see a button to turn it on. AirDrop turns on automatically when Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on.

To receive files from everyone instead of only those in your Contacts app, you can use the “Allow me to be discovered by” setting at the bottom of the AirDrop window.

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 associated with your Apple ID is in the Contacts app of the receiving device.

Take care,

Reply