{
 "id": "B14-01",
 "slug": "airdrop-not-working-on-a-mac-7-fixes-to-try",
 "title": "AirDrop not working on a Mac? 4 fixes to try",
 "url": "https://howtosimply.com/guides/airdrop-not-working-on-a-mac-7-fixes-to-try/",
 "answer": "Bring the two devices within 10 metres, switch on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both, and check who may send to you under System Settings, General, AirDrop & Continuity. If the other device still does not appear, restart both devices.",
 "device": "Mac",
 "systems": [
  "macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)"
 ],
 "app": "System Settings",
 "published": "2026-10-02",
 "updated": "2026-10-10",
 "verified": "October 2026",
 "steps": [
  {
   "n": 1,
   "title": "Switch on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both",
   "text": "Apple's macOS 27 guide: both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on and must be within 10 metres. Open System Settings, Bluetooth and check the switch: on our MacBook Neo it is on. Wi-Fi is the row above it in the sidebar.",
   "screenshot": "https://howtosimply.com/static/shots/airdrop-not-working-on-a-mac-7-fixes-to-try-1.webp"
  },
  {
   "n": 2,
   "title": "Choose who can send to you",
   "text": "Open System Settings, General, AirDrop & Continuity and set AirDrop to Contacts Only or Everyone on the device that receives. On our MacBook Neo it is set to Contacts Only.",
   "screenshot": "https://howtosimply.com/static/shots/airdrop-not-working-on-a-mac-7-fixes-to-try-2.webp"
  },
  {
   "n": 3,
   "title": "Check the contact card if you use Contacts Only",
   "text": "With Contacts Only, Apple's guide says you must be in the receiver's contacts, with your Apple Account email address or phone number in your contact card. Our MacBook Neo also lists Known AirDrop Contacts: you appear for 30 days to people you have shared a one-time code with.",
   "screenshot": "https://howtosimply.com/static/shots/airdrop-not-working-on-a-mac-7-fixes-to-try-3.webp"
  },
  {
   "n": 4,
   "title": "Restart both devices",
   "text": "Apple's last step: restart your device and try again. On the Mac, choose Apple menu, Restart…; on our MacBook Neo it sits between Sleep and Shut Down….",
   "screenshot": "https://howtosimply.com/static/shots/airdrop-not-working-on-a-mac-7-fixes-to-try-4.webp"
  }
 ],
 "if_option_missing": [
  {
   "issue": "No AirDrop button in Control Centre",
   "fix": "Apple's macOS 27 guide: click Control Centre in the menu bar, then AirDrop; it is blue when on. The same choice is under System Settings, General, AirDrop & Continuity, where our MacBook Neo showed Contacts Only (step 2).",
   "sources": [
    {
     "name": "Apple Support: Use AirDrop to send items to nearby Apple devices",
     "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-airdrop-to-send-items-to-nearby-devices-mh35868/mac"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "The sender is asked for an AirDrop code",
   "fix": "Apple's macOS 27 guide: someone who is not in your contacts must use an AirDrop code. Our MacBook Neo lists such people under Known AirDrop Contacts, with a Manage… button.",
   "sources": [
    {
     "name": "Apple Support: Use AirDrop to send items to nearby Apple devices",
     "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-airdrop-to-send-items-to-nearby-devices-mh35868/mac"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "if_not_working": [
  {
   "issue": "The other device is still missing",
   "fix": "Put the devices side by side, and wake and unlock the iPhone or iPad. Apple's guide also says both must be an iPhone, iPad or Mac with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on.",
   "sources": [
    {
     "name": "Apple Support: Use AirDrop to send items to nearby Apple devices",
     "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-airdrop-to-send-items-to-nearby-devices-mh35868/mac"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "The transfer stops when you walk away",
   "fix": "Apple's macOS 27 guide says a transfer that has started continues over the internet if you leave Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range.",
   "sources": [
    {
     "name": "Apple Support: Use AirDrop to send items to nearby Apple devices",
     "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-airdrop-to-send-items-to-nearby-devices-mh35868/mac"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "good_to_know": [
  "On a Mac, Apple's macOS 27 guide says some items are saved in the Downloads folder, and some let you choose where to save them.",
  "If you switched to Everyone for a transfer, you can set AirDrop back to Contacts Only or No One afterwards.",
  "How sending works: how to use AirDrop on a Mac and how to use AirDrop on an iPhone.",
  "If Bluetooth itself is the problem: Mac Bluetooth not working: 7 fixes to try."
 ],
 "sources": [
  {
   "name": "Apple Support: Use AirDrop to send items to nearby Apple devices",
   "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-airdrop-to-send-items-to-nearby-devices-mh35868/mac"
  }
 ],
 "attribution": {
  "required": true,
  "name": "How To, Simply",
  "link": "https://howtosimply.com/guides/airdrop-not-working-on-a-mac-7-fixes-to-try/",
  "terms": "https://howtosimply.com/api/#terms"
 }
}