If AirDrop is not working, first check that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, are within 30 feet (10 meters), and that the receiving device allows the sender. Then check contact matching and Personal Hotspot settings before restarting. The right fix depends on whether the recipient is missing, a transfer is blocked, or the file is simply hard to find.
What to check first when AirDrop isn’t working
- On both devices, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Keep the devices within 30 feet (10 meters), as Apple specifies in its AirDrop troubleshooting guide.
- Check the recipient’s AirDrop receiving mode. On iPhone or iPad, open Control Center, touch and hold the connectivity controls, tap AirDrop, and choose a mode that allows the sender. On Mac, open Control Center from the menu bar and check the AirDrop receiving option.
- If either iPhone or iPad is using Personal Hotspot, disconnect the hotspot and try again.
- Check whether the recipient is set to Contacts Only and, if so, verify that the sender’s contact card includes the email address or phone number associated with their Apple Account.
- Retry the transfer and accept the prompt. If the documented checks do not help, restart both devices and try again.
Apple also cautions that a VPN configuration that prevents local networking may interfere with Continuity features, including AirDrop. Check the VPN configuration rather than assuming every VPN causes a problem.
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If the other device does not appear
Start with distance, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the recipient’s receiving mode. AirDrop discovery can fail if receiving is off or if Contacts Only cannot match the sender to the recipient’s contacts.
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For a quick test with someone who is not in the recipient’s contacts, set the recipient to Everyone for 10 Minutes. Apple says this mode reverts after ten minutes to Contacts Only if the recipient is signed in to an Apple Account, or to Receiving Off if not signed in. If the device disappears after the window expires, check the receiving mode again.
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Check the contact details
When the receiver uses Contacts Only, the sender needs to be in the recipient’s contacts, and the contact card needs the sender’s Apple Account email address or phone number. If those details do not match, try Everyone for 10 Minutes as a temporary diagnostic setting.
If someone outside Contacts cannot complete the transfer
Apple’s current guides describe an AirDrop code workflow on iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, or macOS 26.2 and later: a sender who is not in the recipient’s contacts may need a code. The recipient selects Get AirDrop Code and shares it with the sender. Apple says the sender is then added to the recipient’s “Other Known” list for 30 days, unless removed earlier. This is a version-specific process, not a universal requirement for older operating systems.
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If the transfer was accepted but the item seems missing
Look in the app that sent the item first. Apple says most AirDrop items are saved in their sending app; some items on iPhone or iPad may be in Files, while some items on Mac are saved in Downloads.
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If AirDrop was opened in Finder on a Mac, the acceptance notification appears in Finder rather than Notification Center. Also, transfers between devices signed in to the same Apple Account are accepted automatically, so there may not be an acceptance prompt to look for.
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When AirDrop is not suited to the transfer
Apple describes AirDrop as best for a small selection of files. For moving many files between a Mac and other Apple devices, Apple points to file transfer using a storage device, server, or cloud. An external storage drive may be one alternative for moving or backing up files, but it will not fix AirDrop. Check that the specific device, connector, operating system, and filesystem are compatible before choosing a drive. Apple does not rank these alternatives or provide comparative pricing in its Mac file-transfer guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to contact Apple Support
If the receiving mode, contact details, connectivity, Personal Hotspot, and restart checks do not restore AirDrop, contact Apple Support. The documented checks do not establish that a failed transfer means the device has a hardware fault.
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