iOS · iPhone & iPad
Fix AirDrop Not Working on iPhone or iPad
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices, move them within 10 metres, choose Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes, and restart both devices if discovery still fails.
Check both devices
Use supported Apple devices, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, turn off Personal Hotspot, and keep the devices within about 10 metres.
Set who can discover you
Open Control Center, touch and hold the network controls, tap AirDrop, and choose Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes.
Fix Contacts Only
Make sure both people are signed in to their Apple Accounts and the sender's Apple Account email or phone number is saved in the recipient's contact card.
Retry the transfer
Unlock both devices, keep them awake, select the item > Share > AirDrop, and accept it on the recipient device.
Restart and check restrictions
Restart both devices. On managed or child devices, check Screen Time or organization restrictions that may disable AirDrop.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If AirDrop still fails, verify both devices' compatibility, proximity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, hotspot, Contacts Only identity, and receiving state. Do not reset the whole device first.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: iPhone & iPad.
Reviewed against the linked first-party guidance; interface labels can vary by current app, service, or operating-system version.