Is your Mac device not showing up on AirDrop while receiving content from others? When this happens, you must check whether the problem is within your Mac settings. The primary cause for AirDrop not showing on Mac is disabled Bluetooth connectivity and inappropriate AirDrop settings.
Furthermore, other factors like WiFi and Bluetooth may affect the sharing process. In this guide, we have listed the possible causes and different tricks to fix your Mac device not showing up on AirDrop.
Why is AirDrop Not Showing Up on the Mac
The following causes might be why your Mac device does not appear on AirDrop search results.
REASONS | QUICK FIXES |
---|---|
Mac is not configured to get AirDrop requests. | Enable AirDrop on Mac. |
WiFi and Bluetooth are not turned on. | Toggle on WiFi and Bluetooth on Mac. |
The sending device is not within 30 feet of your Mac. | Keep the sender device as close to Mac. |
The devices are not logged into the iCloud account. | Ensure the sender and recipient are logged in to iCloud. |
Hardware issues or outdated Mac firmware. | Restart and update the Mac. |
The Firewall may block the AirDrop connection. | Disable the Firewall on Mac. |
AirDrop requests may not be shown if DND mode is enabled. | Turn off DND mode on Mac. |
Fixes for AirDrop Not Showing Up on Mac
We have listed the possible causes and best troubleshooting methods in the following. It will take you through the steps for fixing your AirDrop not showing up on Mac.
Make Sure to Enable WiFi and Bluetooth
To access AirDrop, it is necessary to enable WiFi as well as Bluetooth on both devices. You need to check whether you have enabled WiFi and Bluetooth on your Mac device. Open the Control Center on your Mac device and enable WiFi and Bluetooth by selecting it. You can also use the Settings menu on your Mac to enable these options.
Enable AirDrop on Mac
If your Mac is not visible on AirDrop, it is important to check whether you turn on AirDrop. To share files via AirDrop, it is necessary to change your AirDrop settings to Everyone or Contacts Only. If you have the receiver’s number or email on your contacts card, you can choose the Contacts Only option. You can select the Everyone option to share your files if you don’t have their details. If the discoverability error perishes, you can disable AirDrop on your macOS and turn it on later.
Restart the Mac
Restarting your Mac will help you fix some technical glitches. If the Airdrop does not find devices nearby, you can restart the Mac.
1. Switch on your Mac and hit the Apple menu (Apple Logo) from the menu bar.
2. Hit the Restart option in the popup.
3. Wait for some time until your Mac device gets restarted.
4. Now, check whether it is visible on the AirDrop menu.
Keep the Devices Closer
AirDrop works only in close proximity. So, you must keep the sender and recipient devices closer to make them visible on the AirDrop. The sender and receiver devices should be kept within a range of 9 meters. If the range exceeds, your Mac device will not be shown in the search results of AirDrop.
Check if Mac is Compatible for AirDrop
If you use an old Mac device that doesn’t support AirDrop, you will not share or receive files. You must check whether your Mac device is compatible with the AirDrop feature. AirDrop works on Mac models released in 2012 and later. To check the model of your Mac device, open the Apple menu from the menu bar and select About This Mac to view your model.
Update Mac Firmware
Updating software can fix multiple errors, and AirDrop is not an exception. If your device doesn’t have the latest software version, it may cause some issues. So, it is necessary to keep your Mac device up to date. AirDrop only works on Mac if it runs with OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 or later.
1. Switch on your Mac and connect it to a strong WiFi connection.
2. Navigate to the System Settings menu.
3. Scroll down and select the General option.
4. Finally, click the Software Update option and wait for a few minutes to get it updated.
Update your iPhone or iPad
If your Mac is still not showing up on the AirDrop devices list after updating the Mac firmware, check if the sender device is up-to-date. Go to Settings, click General, and tap About. Verify whether your iPhone or iPad is running with the latest firmware.
Disable the Do Not Disturb Mode
The “Do Not Disturb” mode might interfere with the discoverability of your Mac on AirDrop. So, it is necessary to turn the DND mode OFF on Mac before airdropping your files. The symbol appears to be a half-moon, and you can find it in the Control Center of your device. Turn it off, in case it was enabled on your Mac or the other device.
Turn Off Firewall on Mac
Checking the firewall settings is another important thing to do. An active firewall may block incoming connections, so you have to ensure whether it is enabled or disabled.
1. Turn on your Mac and go to System Preferences.
2. Click Security & Privacy and navigate to the Firewall.
3. Hit the Lock icon in the bottom left corner and unlock the security to make changes.
4. Click the Firewall Options button and uncheck the Block all incoming connections option.
5. Finally, hit OK to confirm the settings and try connecting your Mac to AirDrop.
Reset Network Settings on Mac
An unstable internet connection may also create issues during discoverability. So, your Mac device may not be visible on AirDrop. Resetting the network settings will help you fix the AirDrop not working issue on your Mac.
1. Turn on your Mac device and navigate to System Preferences.
2. Select Network and choose WiFi from the sidebar.
3. Hit the minus icon located at the bottom and click the Apply button.
4. Now, click on the plus icon to add your WiFi connection once again.
5. Choose WiFi in the popup and hit the Create button.
6. As a last step, select Apply to change your network settings.
Reset Bluetooth on Mac
Sometimes, the AirDrop may malfunction due to unknown errors in Bluetooth on Mac. To fix this, you need to reset the Bluetooth settings on your Mac using a secret command.
1. Go to Finder on Mac, select Applications, and click Utilities.
2. Double-click the Terminal option.
3. Paste the command sudo pkill bluetoothd in the Terminal screen and tap Return to execute the command.
4. Input your Mac password and tap Return.
Once the Bluetooth reset is done, check if your Mac device name appears on the AirDrop devices list.
Reset your Mac
If you couldn’t find your Mac on AirDrop even after trying all these fixes, this should be your final way to resolve it. Resetting your Mac to factory settings will fix your visibility on AirDrop. But remember that it will erase all your data, so backing them before going through this is necessary.
1. Switch on your Mac and hit the Apple menu (Apple Logo).
2. Select System Settings and hit General.
3. Choose the Transfer/Reset option.
4. Click Erase All Content and Settings to reset your Mac.
5. The issue has been rectified, and you can easily AirDrop Photos to your Mac from an Apple device.
Try AirDrop Alternatives to Share Files
If your Mac still has problems receiving AirDrop requests after trying these fixes, there is one last solution. You can try AirDrop alternatives to receive files from an iPhone or iPad. Optionally, you can backup and sync media files across your devices using cloud-based apps like Google Drive and OneDrive. Also, visit iCloud.com on Mac to manage your iPhone photos, files, and other documents.
FAQ
Check whether you have enabled Bluetooth and WiFi on both devices and try re-pairing them on AirDrop.
The devices should be placed within 30 feet or 9 meters to be visible on AirDrop.
Disabling the Bluetooth feature may be one of the reasons behind the issue. So, try to enable the Bluetooth feature while AirDropping iPhone to Mac.