HT203106: Use AirDrop to send content from your Mac

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gipelser
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Transfer files via AirDrop not working on Mac Pro with El Capitan

I have tried to transfer files between my macbook pro 2015 with El Capitan 10.11.5 installed and my iPhone 6 / iPad pro. Between the latter devices it works without fail, however on the Macbook this does not work. I have followed all the suggestions in the forums, to delete the bluetooth.plist file etc. However non of these are working. I did notice something in the "About this Mac / System Report / Bluetooth" section. Bluetooth settings.png

I am not sure if this will be of any assistance, but I would have thought this should not be disabled, as Airdrop makes use of Bluetooth.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on May 18, 2016 12:40 PM

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gipelser

Q: Transfer files via AirDrop not working on Mac Pro with El Capitan

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  • Helpful answers

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass May 18, 2016 12:47 PM in response to gipelser
    Level 10 (187,557 points)
    Desktops
    May 18, 2016 12:47 PM in response to gipelser

    Those services are for regular BT file transfer, not AirDrop.

    They are listed as disabled on my 2013 Mac Pro too but AirDrop works fine between my iPhone 6+ and Mac.

  • by gipelser,

    gipelser gipelser May 18, 2016 10:17 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 18, 2016 10:17 PM in response to lllaass

    Thank you Illaass, Not the answer I was hoping for. Which version of MacOS are you running on your Mac. Have you upgraded to El Capitan yet?

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman May 18, 2016 10:43 PM in response to gipelser
    Level 8 (38,694 points)
    May 18, 2016 10:43 PM in response to gipelser

    I agree with lllaass.  Mine looks as yours does, and my AirDrop works fine also.

     

    I have a 2013 MacBook Air running OS X 10.11.5.  My iOS devices run iOS 9.3.2.

  • by gipelser,

    gipelser gipelser May 18, 2016 11:12 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 18, 2016 11:12 PM in response to sberman

    Thank you sberman, I have a macbook pro retina 2015 with OS 10.11.5, iPhone 6 running 9.3.2, iPad Pro running 9.3.2, iPad mini 4 running 9.3.2. Between the iPads and iPhone everything works as designed, however AirDrop isn't working to the macbook. Handoff works as designed even from my apple watch. Really would like some help if possible. I have to note that I am running Kaspersky Internet security (Latest). Maybe there is a block there somewhere....

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman May 18, 2016 11:20 PM in response to gipelser
    Level 8 (38,694 points)
    May 18, 2016 11:20 PM in response to gipelser

    That sounds like a good hypothesis that Kaspersky may be involved.

     

    Try turning it off and see if that helps.

  • by gipelser,

    gipelser gipelser May 18, 2016 11:41 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 18, 2016 11:41 PM in response to sberman

    Morning sberman, Done and no change, even completely exited the program too. Rebooted a couple of times, signed out of iCloud and back in, removed the com.apple.Bluetooth.plist file and all the other suggestions floating around. Maybe it was not meant to be then.

  • by Sreejith Panickar,

    Sreejith Panickar Sreejith Panickar May 19, 2016 12:58 PM in response to gipelser
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 19, 2016 12:58 PM in response to gipelser

    I am facing the exact same issue between my MacBook Air and (Early 2014) and iPhone 5s since I updated to El Capitan a few months ago. It used to work when the bluetooth.plist file was deleted and AirDrop restarted but not now. Current version is the latest El Capitan 10.11.5 and iOS 9.3.2. AiDrop works quite well between the same iPhone 5s and iPad Air 2 though.

     

    Have been searching for a solution for months now, without any luck. Any help appreciated.

  • by Bradl3yG,

    Bradl3yG Bradl3yG Jun 3, 2016 6:03 AM in response to gipelser
    Level 1 (12 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 3, 2016 6:03 AM in response to gipelser

    I have had this problem on iPhone 5s after upgrading from ios8 to iOS 9 and still having this problem on a brand new iPhone SE with iOS 9.3.2.

    Apple should acknowledge that this is a problem after so many user complaining on the support forums.

    As a IT manager i have done numerous test and found the common cause to be iOS 9.

    Macbook El Capitan  to Macbook El Capitan -- > works

    Macbook El Capitan  to iPhone SE iOS 9.3.2 --> cannot see iPhone in Finder AirDrop and iPhone can't see Macbook

    Macbook El Capitan  to iPad mini iOS9.3.2 --> cannot see iPad in Finder AirDrop and iPad can't see Macbook

    Macbook El Capitan  to iPhone 5c iOS 8 --> Works

    Macbook El Capitan  to iPad mini iOS 8 --> Works

    Test done with 6 different iPhone and 2 iPad mini and 2 MacBooks

     

    Apple please look into this.

  • by Eric Root,Helpful

    Eric Root Eric Root Jun 3, 2016 9:14 PM in response to Bradl3yG
    Level 9 (69,546 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 3, 2016 9:14 PM in response to Bradl3yG

    Apple doesn’t routinely monitor the discussions. These are mostly user to user discussions.

     

    Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

     

    Feedback

     

    Or you can use your Apple ID to register with this site and go the Apple BugReporter. Supposedly you will get an answer if you submit feedback.

     

    Feedback via Apple Developer