AirDrop is a technology used to transfer data between Apple devices using Bluetooth and WiFi. The beauty of the technology is that it quickly transfers data, and files between iPhones, iPads, and Macs without using wi-fi or cellular data. With AirDrop, you can wirelessly send your photos, videos, websites, locations, and more to other nearby devices. But its main drawback is unreliability. In this guide, we will deal with all the issues you might come across via AirDrop on iPhone running on the latest iOS 17.
There are simply countless reasons for breakdowns. Therefore, it is difficult to quickly find out the cause of the problem when using AirDrop. There are more than a dozen of them. But we will try to sort them out.
Bluetooth and Airdrop are both file transfer technologies. They differ in transfer speed, technologies, and usage. While Airdrop uses both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to transfer files at great speeds. Bluetooth is much slower but consumes less battery.
Problems You May Experience and how to fix Airdrop on iPhone:
This is a list of problems that you may experience when trying to use AirDrop:
- AirDrop keeps saying that it’s waiting.
- AirDrop fails to save an item.
- You cannot detect other AirDrop devices around you.
- AirDrop cancels or declines transfers.
- Slow transfer of files.
- AirDrop is not showing up at all on your device.
How To Fix AirDrop Problems on iOS 17:
The following are common ways that can be used to fix the “Airdrop not working” problem.
- Reset Network Settings
Resetting network settings restores all the network-related features and settings to their original values-factory state. These include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN, and Network adapters.
AirDrop requires you to turn on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your devices. The method you can try to fix your Wi-Fi connection is to reset the network settings on your device. The steps are shown below.
- Open the “Settings” App and Click “General“
- Choose “Reset” and tap on “Reset Network Settings. “
- Restart Wifi And Bluetooth:
When AirDrop seems not to work properly, you can try to restart Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to see if they get to work. Restarting cleans out the setting’s short-term memory, also called “cache”, to keep it running more smoothly.
- Re-sign into iCloud:
After restarting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you can re-sign into your iCloud to fix the problem. Open the “Settings” App, tap on your name, and then goes to “iCloud“. Sign out from your iCloud first then sign in again.
- Update your iOS version:
It is important to upgrade to the latest version of iOS software, which provides the latest features, security updates, and bug fixes.
When Airdrop isn’t working, it might be caused by the defections within the old iOS system, with the latest iOS version, some old defections might have been repaired.
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Restart your device to Fix Airdrop on iPhone
This is one of the easiest solutions to fix temporary system issues that applies across a range of devices, systems, etc.
There are multiple reasons that you should restart your device at least once a week, and it’s for a good cause, retaining memory, preventing crashes, running more smoothly, and prolonging battery life. You could use this to reset the system operations.
- Make sure your devices are Closer Together:
Check the distance between your devices. AirDrop uses Bluetooth discovery so make sure the device you’re trying to AirDrop to is within 30 feet of yours. If necessary, move the devices closer together to improve Bluetooth reception.
- Update the Operating System
If AirDrop isn’t working, install the latest updates for your devices to fix it.
On an iPhone or iPad.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
On a Mac, Open the Apple menu and go to System Preferences > Software Update.
- Turn Off Do Not Disturb Mode:
Your device might not receive transfer requests from AirDrop because the Do Not Disturb mode is turned on.
Open Control Center
Tap the moon icon to turn it OFF on your iPhone or iPad.
On a Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top-right of the menu bar to reveal a Do Not Disturb toggle.
- Change Your AirDrop Visibility Settings to fix Airdrop on iPhone
AirDrop gives you three visibility options: Everyone, Contacts Only, or Receiving Off. If your device isn’t showing up in AirDrop, try switching to each of these options to fix it.
On an iPhone or iPad, open Control Center, then tap and hold in the top-left section to reveal an AirDrop button.
- Disable Personal Hotspot on Your iPhone:
Both AirDrop and Personal Hotspot use your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, so you can’t use them at the same time. If AirDrop isn’t working on your iPhone,
Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot to turn off that feature, then try using AirDrop again.
Here is all you can do to fix Airdrop issues on iPhone running on iOS 17. If you have further questions or queries, feel free to ask them in the comments.
