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Todays’ topic is airdrop not working on Mac. AirDrop is a feature that lets Macs and iOS devices share files wirelessly with a minimum of fuss. Usually, when we want to share a photo with someone, we just send it in a text message. But when that someone is standing right beside you, it’s easier to use AirDrop.
On OS X, select AirDrop in the Finder’s Go menu, or hit Command– Shift – R. You can also open a new Finder window and click AirDrop in the sidebar (to show the sidebar, hit Command – Option- S.
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Adjust AirDrop visibility by clicking the link next to “Allow me to be discovered by” in the AirDrop window, and then choose Between Off, Contacts Only and Everyone. Again, selecting Everyone is the best way to prevent complications arising from limiting AirDrop to the more private Contacts the Only option.
AirDrop has three levels
AirDrop has three levels: Off, Contacts Only, and Everyone. Contacts Only are the most complex of the three. Since it has to verify who knows who. If you’re in a pinch, you can switch to Everyone and try again. You can also turn it off and on again.
- Launch Settings from your Home screen
- Tap on General.
- Tap on AirDrop.
If you’re trying to use AirDrop from an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to your Mac, but your Mac isn’t showing up, here’s something else to try:
- Launch Finder on your Mac.
- Click on AirDrop in the sidebar.
You can also toggle between Everyone, Contacts, and No One right from there, as described in the step above.
The AirDrop protocol needs Bluetooth to detect if the devices are in close proximity of one another, and Wi-Fi to transfer data (one exception being a legacy Wi-Fi-only AirDrop mode on 2012 or older Macs). Once presence information is established, content is beamed via Wi-Fi. If Wi-Fi is on and Bluetooth is off, or vice versa, AirDrop won’t work.
Fix AirDrop Not Working on Mac
AirDrop relies on both Bluetooth to detect devices within 30-feet and Wi-Fi to perform the actual data transfer. If either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is not turned on AirDrop will not function.
On your iOS device, you can enable both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from within the Sharing menu:
- Bring up an item to share such as a photo then tap Sharing.
- If either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is disabled, AirDrop will offer to turn the needed network services on. Tap AirDrop.
- AirDrop will become available.
On the Mac, AirDrop can enable Bluetooth if disabled
- Open a Finder Windows and select the AirDrop item in the sidebar, or select AirDrop from the Finder’s Go menu.
- The AirDrop Finder window will open offering to turn on Bluetooth if it is disabled.
- Click the Turn on Bluetooth button.
- To enable Wi-Fi either launch System Preferences from the Dock or select System Preferences from the Apple menu.
- Select the Network preference pane.
- Select Wi-Fi from the Network pane sidebar.
- Click the Turn Wi-Fi on the button.
Turn on the Bluetooth Through the Menu Bar
On the Mac, the AirDrop window (Command– Option– R) provides a button to enable Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (or both) in case they’re disabled, so you don’t have to manually connect to a Wi-Fi network and enable Bluetooth through Mac’s menu bar.
On the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, you can simply tap the AirDrop icon in the AirDrop menu to automatically turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in case either, or both are disabled.
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Another common error that causes AirDrop problems is to forget that your device is in Airplane Mode or in Do Not Disturb.
Airplane Mode disabled all wireless radios including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that AirDrop relies on to operate.
You can verify Airplane mode as well as change its settings by selecting Settings > Airplane Mode. You can also access the AirPlane mode setting from the Control Panel by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
Do Not Disturb in iOS devices and on the Mac can prevent AirDrop from working correctly. In both cases, Do Not Disturb disables notifications from being delivered. This not only prevents you from seeing any AirDrop request, but it makes your device undiscoverable as well.
The opposite is not true, though, while you are in Do Not Disturb mode you can send information via AirDrop.
On iOS Devices:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the Control Center.
- Tap the Do Not Disturb icon (quarter moon) to toggle the setting.
Airdrop Not Working On Macs:
- Click on the Notification menu bar item to bring up the Notification panel.
- Scroll up (even if you are already at the top) to see the Do Not Disturb settings. Toggle the setting if needed.
So, these were the issues and also their solution to airdrop not working problems.
