AirDrop not working on late-model Mac

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Level 1

8 points

AirDrop not working on late-model Mac

Running High Sierra on MacBook Pro circa late 2015, iOS 11.2.5 on iPhone 7 and iPad Pro 9.5".

AirDrop is working fine between the two iOS devices but not showing up on my Mac, and the Mac is not showing on AirDrop screens even with Finder AirDrop screen up. So there appears to be an issue with AirDrop working on the Mac and it does meet the system requirements. Can't figure out what I'm missing.

I've checked the following:

- current operating systems on all devices

- Bluetooth is activated on all devices

- All devices are on same iCloud ID (shouldn't matter for AirDrop set to "Everyone")

- All devices signed in to WiFi (on same network)

- "Block All Incoming Connections" on Mac firewall is not checked. (The other items are checked)

The Mac can see the iOS devices (if you pull up the WiFi menu, they show up as link options).

Bluetooth works fine on my other devices, and AirDrop shows up across those devices when they are both active.

Any ideas what to try next? Trying to avoid an iCloud rebuild.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS High Sierra (10.13.3)

Posted on Feb 5, 2018 8:10 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

f239

Level 1

8 points

Feb 17, 2018 4:24 PM in response to scryer999

Dear all,

I saw in several places this problem.

For a couple of days I was trying to fix a problem with transferring media, via AirDrop, from iPhone to iMac. In iMac 5K was capable to see contact of iPhone 8 and transfer media, but when I tried send from iPhone to iMac the contact didn't appear. I tried almost everything (discovered to everyone, reset, update software, airplane mode, etc.) without working.

The problem it was in the iMac Firewall, because when I disabled I has instantaneously see the iMac user and capable to transfer. In Firewall I tried several points, and it worked when I changed "sharingd" from deny to allow (as you can see below).

I hope that help.

Best regards

Filipe

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Answer 2

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Feb 5, 2018 8:15 AM in response to scryer999

reboot all devices and verify the following:

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 be using iOS 7 or later and 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.

Use AirDrop to send content from your Mac - Apple Support

Use AirDrop on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

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Answer 3

scryer999 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2018 1:50 PM in response to JimmyCMPIT

I had done almost all of that, as posted in my original post.

To add to the list:

- Personal Hotspot is turned off.

However... in rechecking firewall settings I found my VPN was turned on and this apparently prevents AirDrop from connecting across the Mac and iOS bridge. Turning off the VPN solved the problem.

Thanks for your reply.

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AirDrop not working on late-model Mac

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