Airdrop is not an option in my new MacBook?

Question

Level 1

11 points

Airdrop is not an option in my new MacBook?

Hello,

I bought a new MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) two weeks ago. It's updated to macOS High Sierra (version 10.13.1). It should have the Airdrop function, but it doesn't.

Airdrop doesn't appear in my Finder sidebar and the option to put it in the sidebar doesn't even appear, as you can see in the pictures below.

When I search "Airdrop" in my Spotlight, the option for Airdrop shows up, but when I click into it it says the item cannot be found (see pictures below).

This was also a problem that showed up in my old MacBook Air, and I was thinking maybe it's something that was transferred to my new MacBook because I used Time Machine to transfer all my files over?

Please help! I find the Airdrop function really useful and I used it a lot when it worked on my old MacBook Air.

MacBook, macOS High Sierra (10.13.1)

Posted on Nov 17, 2017 7:45 PM

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Answer 1

180233 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 17, 2017 8:05 PM in response to The-Blob

Just rebooted in Safe Mode. I have weird display glitches now and everything's laggy... Also Airdrop still doesn't show up as an option in Finder and when I search Airdrop in Spotlight the option has disappeared as well.

Edit: Just searched it up, apparently graphic performance lag is expected in Safe Mode.

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Answer 2

The-Blob

Level 1

47 points

Nov 17, 2017 8:20 PM in response to 180233

Thank you for checking. Safe Boot disables graphics acceleration, which causes the glitches and lag. The AirDrop app is located deep within a system folder. Let's see if we can find it!

Open a Finder window. Then choose Go in the menu bar. Then click "Go to Folder" and paste this path in:

/System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/Applications

It should open a window like this:

Do you have AirDrop listed in this folder?

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Answer 3

The-Blob

Level 1

47 points

Nov 17, 2017 8:53 PM in response to 180233

The only thing I can think of that would cause this behavior in one user account but not another is a permissions issue.

Try the steps listed here: Resolve issues caused by changing the permissions of items in your home folder - Apple Support

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Answer 4

The-Blob

Level 1

47 points

Nov 17, 2017 8:35 PM in response to 180233

Thanks for checking! We've isolated the issue to the Apple software (by using Safe Boot).

Now let's see if it's the operating system itself, or just something in your Home folder causing the issue.

Can you create a new user account in System Preferences and test AirDrop in that account?

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Answer 5

The-Blob

Level 1

47 points

Nov 17, 2017 9:10 PM in response to 180233

Do this in the same account that's having the AirDrop issue.

"Apply to enclosed items" takes the permissions you see there and applies it to everything within your home folder (all files and folders), which ensures consistency.

The permissions you see in your screenshot are the same permissions my Home folder has - I'm not sure if "apply to enclosed items" will grant other users the ability to access this account's Home folder or not. But regardless, running the terminal command after "apply to enclosed items" should secure the Home folder again anyways.

Let us know how it goes!

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Answer 6

180233 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 17, 2017 8:27 PM in response to The-Blob

Yes it is!

Still can't open it though...

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Answer 7

180233 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 17, 2017 8:48 PM in response to The-Blob

I logged into my useradmin account. Airdrop works there! How do I make it work for the other accounts too?

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Answer 8

180233 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 17, 2017 9:30 PM in response to The-Blob

Airdrop still doesn't work even after this. It says the item can't be found.

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Answer 9

The-Blob

Level 1

47 points

Nov 17, 2017 7:51 PM in response to 180233

1) Can you start your Mac in Safe Boot and see if AirDrop becomes available?

2) If not, can you verify your WiFi and Bluetooth are both turned on?

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Answer 10

180233 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 17, 2017 9:03 PM in response to The-Blob

Do I do this in my useradmin account or my other account? And what exactly does "Apply to enclosed items" do, grant access of everything to all accounts?

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