When it comes to file management, Apple fans have had it easy. Ever since Apple debuted AirDrop in OS X Lion, way back in July of 2011, moving files around your linked desktop and laptop systems. When it comes to file management, Apple fans have had it easy. Ever since Apple debuted AirDrop in OS X Lion, way back in July of 2011, moving files around your linked desktop and laptop systems.
AirDrop lets you wirelessly beam almost anything from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to any other recent Apple device. It uses Bluetooth 4.x for power-efficient broadcast and discovery, and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi for speedy transfer. The entire process isn't just simple, it's incredibly secure... when it works. If you're having trouble, though, it can be maddening. Luckily, there are a few things you can try to get it working!
Which devices are compatible with AirDrop?
Older model devices aren't compatible with AirDrop. Even if one device (like your iPhone) is compatible, the other devices (like your Mac) must be, too. Here's a list of all devices compatible with AirDrop.
AirDrop between Mac and iPhone or iPad:
- Mac from 2012 or later (excluding the mid-2012 Mac Pro) using OS X Yosemite or later
- iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using iOS 7 or later
AirDrop between Macs (both computers must be at least):
- MacBook Pro introduced in late 2008 or later, excluding the MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008)
- MacBook Air introduced in late 2010 or later
- MacBook introduced in late 2008 or later, excluding the white MacBook (Late 2008)
- iMac introduced in early 2009 or later
- Mac mini introduced in mid 2010 or later
- Mac Pro introduced in early 2009 (model with AirPort Extreme card) or mid 2010
- iMac Pro (all models)
Adjust AirDrop
AirDrop has three levels: Off, Contacts Only, and Everyone. Contacts Only is 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.
That puts your Mac in an AirDrop-ready state as well and can help in detection. If it doesn't, keep reading!
Toggle radios
If toggling AirDrop itself doesn't get things going, you can escalate to the radios.
On iPhone or iPad:
- Launch Settings from your Home screen.
- Tap Wi-Fi and then toggle it off and back on.
- Tap Bluetooth and then toggle it off and back on.
Note: Control Center no longer turns Wi-Fi or Bluetooth completely off. It simply stops the current connection but leaves things like AirPods, Apple Pencil, and Apple Watch available.
On Mac:
- Launch System Preferences from the Dock or via Spotlight.
- Click on Network, then on Turn Wi-Fi Off, then turn Wi-Fi back on.
- click on Bluetooth, then on Turn Bluetooth Off, then turn Bluetooth back on.
Note: If you have the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons on the right of your Menubar, you can click on those to toggle them faster.
Alternatively, you can turn Airplane Mode on and then back off to toggle all the radios all at once.
Once you're done, try connecting again. If it works, great. If not, keep reading.
Hard reset
The next thing to try is a hard reset. Make all the 'reboot Windows' jokes you want but it's a cliche for a reason!
For iPad (except iPad Pro 2018) and older iPhones with mechanical Home buttons (iPhone 6s and earlier):
- Press and hold down the On/Off button on the right side (iPhone 6s or iPhone 6) or top (all other iPhones, iPods, and iPads) of your device.
- While continuing to hold the On/Off button, press and hold the Home button on the front of your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.
- Hold both buttons as the screen turns off, and keep holding them until the screen turns back on and displays the Apple logo.
For iPhone 7:
- Press and hold down the On/Off button on the right side
- While continuing to hold the On/Off button, press and hold the volume down button on the left side of your iPhone.
- Hold both buttons as the screen turns off, and keep holding them until the screen turns back on and displays the Apple logo.
For iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and iPad Pro (2018):
- Quickly click and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly click and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the sleep/wake button.
- Keep holding down the Side button, even after the Shut Down screen shows up. (iOS 11.2 and later.)
On the Mac:
- Click on the icon at the far left of the Menubar.
- Click on Restart.
Once you've rebooted, try connecting it in again. If it works, you're good. If not, go on to the next step.
Update!
Apple's Bluetooth stack—the set of software that controls your device's radio—isn't without its occasional quirks. Sometimes, new versions of iOS introduce compatibility problems; other times, they fix them. If you're having Bluetooth connectivity problems, you're better off updating than not. If it's already broken, the update is your chance for a fix.
- Launch Settings from your Home screen.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Software Update.
- If there's an update available, tap to install it.
Once you're done updating, try to use AirDrop again. If it works, awesome. If not, there's even more to try!
Reset networks
Resetting can be a huge pain, but if something has gone wrong with the way your iPhone or iPad connects to other devices, it might just be necessary.
- Launch the Settings from your Home screen.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Reset at the bottom.
- Tap on Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your Passcode, if prompted.
- Tap Reset Network Settings to confirm.
Once this is complete, you'll have to reconnect to every Wi-Fi and Bluetooth device you own or use; once you're done, check AirDrop again. If it works, it was all worth it. If not, let's keep going.
Contact Apple
Sometimes a problem really is a problem. Like any electronics, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios and the various connections to them can have problems. If you have AppleCare+, don't walk, run to your local Apple Store to get it looked at.
Updated February 2019: Updated for iPhone XS and iPad Pro (2018).
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One of the easiest way to transfer files, photos and videos from Mac to iPhone is by making use of the AirDrop feature. You will find below the steps to AirDrop from Mac to iPhone.
Requirements to AirDrop From Mac to iPhone, iPad or iPod.
Before going ahead with the steps to AirDrop from Mac to iPhone, make sure that your iPhone and Mac fulfill the following requirements.
- Your computer needs to be a 2012 or later version of Mac, running at least OS X Yosemite or later version of macOS.
- iPhone 5 or later, iPad 4 or later and iPod 5th generation or newer
- iPhone, iPad or iPod must be within 30 feet of your Mac and must be Powered ON
- Both Mac and iPhone/iPad/iPod must have WiFi and Bluetooth turned on
- In case you had created a Personal Hotspot on your iPhone, you will need to disable it.
Also, it is a good idea to sign-in to your Mac and iPhone using the same Apple ID.
While signing in with the same Apple ID is not a requirement, it is recommended because if you are not signed in with the same Apple ID you will be required to approve the file transfer, each time you try to AirDrop something from Mac to iPhone.
AirDrop From Mac to iPhone
The procedure to setup your Mac and iPhone to use the AirDrop feature involves the following steps.
- Enable WiFi/Bluetooth on Mac and iPhone
- Setup iPhone to use AirDrop
- Setup Mac to Use AirDrop
Enable WiFi/Bluetooth on Mac and iPhone
As mentioned above, you will first need to enable both WiFi and Bluetooth networks on your iPhone and Mac, in order to make use of the AirDrop feature.
1. Open the Control Center on your iPhone by swiping up on the screen of your iPhone. On the Control Center, tap on WiFi and Bluetooth icons to enable them.
2. Click on the Finder icon on your Mac.
3. Next, click on the Go option from the top menu bar on your Mac and then click on AirDrop in the drop-down menu that appears (See image below).
Airdrop For Mac Not Working
4. On the next screen, click on Turn On WiFi and Bluetooth button
In case WiFi is already enabled on your Mac, you will see Turn on Bluetooth button. Similarly, in case Bluetooth is enabled on your Mac, you will see Turn ON WiFi button.
In case both WiFi and Bluetooth have been enabled on your Mac, you will not see Turn ON WiFi or Turn ON Bluetooth buttons.
![Airdrop for macbook 2010 Airdrop for macbook 2010](https://applebase.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/how-to-airdrop-from-iphone-to-mac-lead.jpeg)
Setup iPhone to Use AirDrop
After enabling WiFi and Bluetooth Networks on your iPhone and Mac, follow the steps below to setup your iPhone to receive Data from Mac using the AirDrop feature.
1. On your iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen in order to open Control Center.
2. On the Control Center screen, tap and hold on the Networks widget in order to expand it.
3. In the expanded Networks Widget, tap on the AirDrop icon.
4. On the next menu, tap on Everyone (See image below).
Setup Mac to Use AirDrop
Follow the steps below to Setup Mac to transfer data to your iPhone using the AirDrop feature
1. Click on the Finder icon located in the Dock on your Mac.
2. Next, click on the Go option in the top menu bar and then click on AirDrop in the Menu that appears (See image below).
3. On the AirDrop screen, you should be able to see your iPhone, iPad or iPod listed (See image below)
Airdrop For Macbook 2010
Note: In case your device is not listed, try unlocking your iPhone and see if it is now listed.
Now you are all setup and ready to Share Data between your Mac and iPhone.
Transfer From Mac to iPhone Using AirDrop
Once your Mac and iPhone are setup to use AirDrop, it becomes really easy to transfer Files, Photos, Videos and other Data from Mac to iPhone.
![Airdrop Airdrop](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126030453/973922009.jpg)
Airdrop From Iphone To Mac
1. Click on the Finder icon located in the Dock of your Mac.
2. Next, click on the AirDrop option located in the left menu bar in the Finder window (See image below)
3. Now, select the File, Photo or Video on your Mac that you want to transfer to iPhone and drag/drop them into the iPhone’s circle (See above image).
AirDrop Photos, Videos, Notes From Mac to iPhone
The AirDrop feature is built-in to some of the commonly used Apps like Photos, Notes and Safari. This means that you can transfer Photos, Videos and Notes from Mac to iPhone without having to open the Finder window.
1. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
2. Select all the Photos or videos that you want to AirDrop to iPhone
3. After selecting photos/videos, click on the Share icon located in the top left corner of the window (See image below)
4. From the drop-down menu that appears, click on AirDrop
5. On the ensuing pop-up, click on your iPhone (See image below)
The selected Photos will be magically transferred to your iPhone.