AirDrop is a useful feature that helps Mac users to move documents, photos, contacts, videos, and other stuff between their Apple devices, thus eliminating the need for long, inconvenient file transfers. Apple introduced it back with iOS 7 and Mac OS X Lion as a smooth and secure method to exchange pictures and records from an iPhone to an iMac or MacBook, iPhone to iPhone, iPhone to iPad, and vice versa.
- How Do I Make My Mac Discoverable For Airdrop Settings
- How Do I Make My Mac Discoverable For Airdrop Free
- How Do I Make My Mac Discoverable For Airdrop
- How To Make My Mac Discoverable For Airdrop
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/4/8/124896617/614567223.jpg)
The built-in feature uses peer-to-peer Wi-Fi for speedy transfers and Bluetooth for a power-efficient broadcast and discovery. Recently, the company made it possible for users to share Wi-Fi secret phrases using AirDrop.
While Airdrop is a handy feature that simplifies file transfer between Apple devices, some users have reported that their AirDrop is not working after Mojave update. Sadly, some users couldn’t even send or receive anything via AirDrop. In short, the Mojave update has destroyed AirDrop.
Apr 24, 2014 Tap on “AirDrop” Choose “Contacts Only” to limit who your iPhone / iPad is discoverable by to those only contained within your address book The AirDrop text within Control Center will change to indicate the new setting, and you can swipe out of Control Center now to keep the option preserved.
If, after upgrading to Mojave, you find it hard to send files via AirDrop, then your only remaining option is to fix it by looking for potential causes. There could be several culprits behind the issue of AirDrop not working on Mac. Below, we will discuss some fixes to try when AirDrop is not working on Mojave.
Try These Fixes When AirDrop Is Not Working on Mojave
To ensure that you don’t stray too much, we have recommended practical solutions that have worked for many users. If a trick doesn’t resolve a problem, move on to the next one.
Solution #1: Check If Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Are the Culprits
As you already know, AirDrop uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for discovery and file transfer, so it works well when devices are close to each other. Taking this into account, the distance between your two devices shouldn’t exceed 30 feet. You should also be keen on physical obstacles, such as walls, which may interfere with the Bluetooth reception.
Additionally, there could be interferences from other devices. It is not just Bluetooth devices that can trigger the problem. There are many devices in your home that could mess up with your network connection. Potential suspects range from baby monitors to microwaves.
Needless to say, you should ensure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on your Mac. If that is not the case, go to the top-right side of the screen and click on the Bluetooth icon, and then tap on the Turn Bluetooth On option. After that, click on the Wi-Fi icon and select Turn Wi-Fi On. Even if these functionalities are already turned on, try toggling them off, and then turn back on again.
Sometimes, it is better to activate these settings from System Preferences. Here is how to do it:
- Launch System Preferences and navigate to Network.
- Next, toggle Wi-Fi to Off, and then back On.
- Now, do the same to the Bluetooth option.
How Do I Make My Mac Discoverable For Airdrop Settings
Solution #2: Adjust Your Mac’s Firewall Settings
A Firewall might prevent AirDrop from working steadily. So, if you have unknowingly enabled the built-in Firewall on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Launch System Preferences and tap on Security & Privacy.
- Now, navigate to the Firewall tab, then click on the Lock icon.
- After that, enter the Administrator password.
- Now, tap on the Firewall option and uncheck the box next to Block all incoming connections.
Solution #3: Set Your Device to Be Discoverable
Let’s assume that you don’t have an active Firewall, but you have accidentally tampered with the discoverability of your device. So, your next course of action is to make it discoverable. By default, the AirDrop feature has three levels of visibility to other Apple devices: No one, Everyone, and Contacts only.
To resolve the problem, try changing the visibility settings on your device to Everyone. Here is how:
- Launch Finder and click on the AirDrop option in the left pane.
- In the AirDrop window, tap on the drop-down link next to Allow me to be discovered by, and then choose Everyone.
- Your device should not be now reachable by other nearby Apple devices.
Solution #4: Ensure Your Mac Is Awake
The AirDrop feature should work fine if your computer in an active state. But as you know, some built-in system settings may allow your Mac to go into sleep mode after a predetermined time for the sake of saving the battery life.
To avoid this situation, adjust your system settings to prevent your computer from sleeping automatically. Here is how:
- Head to System Preferences and select Energy Saver.
- Now, activate the ‘Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off’ option.
- That’s it.
Solution #5: Make Sure to Sign in to iCloud
Sometimes, AirDrop may not work on Mac if you have not logged into iCloud, especially if you have made your device discoverable by your contacts. Even if you have made it visible to everyone, it is still wise to remain logged into iCloud. So, logging out of your iCloud account, and then re-login into it could be a probable solution. Here is how to perform this trick:
- Open the Apple menu.
- Click on System Preferences > iCloud.
- Now, try signing out of iCloud, and then signing in again.
Solution #6: Remove Special Characters in Your Device’s Name and Transfer One File Type at a Time
It is possible that AirDrop sent the file, but your receiving device didn’t know where to look for it. For this reason, you should remove spaces and special characters, such as $, *, #, and %, when naming your devices. And if you already have them, try changing to something readable.
Apart from this, you shouldn’t transfer different file types at the same time. AirDrop is designed to handle only one file type at a go. So, if you are sending a video, an ePub file, pictures, and many other files at once, you are more likely to encounter the problem. Rocksmith for mac.
![Airdrop Airdrop](/uploads/1/2/4/8/124896617/153521320.jpg)
What Else Can You Try?
Clean Up Your Mac
While it is not a direct fix, cleaning your Mac will resolve most computer glitches. The issue of AirDrop not working after Mojave update could have been triggered by corrupted data files or other types of trash on your system. The easiest way to resolve this is to perform a full system scan with the help of a reliable third-party Mac repair tool.
Update Software
Besides cleaning your Mac, go for the software update. Apple’s updates usually fix most of the annoying bugs. So, if the Mojave update destroyed AirDrop, Apple is most likely to have fixed the issue through a recent update.
Use Alternative File Transfer Options
If there is no respite yet, consider using other file transfer solutions. Install a reliable third-party program that is compatible with your devices.
Final Thoughts
As long as you have set it up correctly, nothing works better than AirDrop when it comes to transferring files between two Apple devices. There is no third-party software needed, and it has no strict limits on file size. However, things are different when AirDrop is not working on Mac.
Hopefully, the above solutions helped you to fix the problem. If you have a challenge implementing any of them, share it with us in the comments.
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
How Do I Make My Mac Discoverable For Airdrop Free
Defragment for mac. 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!
How Do I Make My Mac Discoverable For Airdrop
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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How To Make My Mac Discoverable For Airdrop
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