15 Ways To Fix AirDrop Not Working On iPhone 15/14/13/12

Is your AirDrop not working on iPhone after updating to iOS 17/16/15? Wondering why AirDrop stuck on waiting? If your answer is yes then don’t panic as this article will help you to fix the issue.

Airdrop is one of the best and easiest ways to transfer data between iPhones and other devices. However, this app sometimes does not work and the transfer process stops. This kind of issue really irritates users.

Many users have reported that they were facing issues with the Airdrop app and they are coming across the “Airdrop not working” error. If you are also facing the same error and looking for fixes then don’t panic.

In this blog, we will share you with some best ways to fix Airdrop not working on iPhone so that you can easily transfer data from iPhone to iPhone/iPad.

Reminder: AirDrop is compatible with all iPhone models running on iOS 7 and later, iPad with iPadOS 13 and above but ensures both devices are compatible with Airdrop.

Reasons For Airdrop Not Working On iPhone 15/14/13/12

When you fail to transfer data between the devices then you might want to know “Why is my Airdrop not working on iPhone”? There are many reasons for AirDrop not working on your iPhone.

Here are a few of them:

• Using an older version of iOS
• You have disabled Bluetooth
• Due to bugs or glitches in your current version of iOS
• AirDrop is not compatible with your iOS device
• DND is turned on
• There is a long distance between the sender and the receiver
• You have disabled receiving and sending files through AirDrop

How To Fix Airdrop Stopped Working On iPhone 15/14/13/12

After knowing the reasons for the above error, now it’s time to check all the possible methods to fix Airdrop not showing up on iPhone. So let’s read further.

Method 1: Restart Your iPhone

Your Airdrop not working on iPhone 15/14/13/12 issue can be solved by just a simple restart. It can occur due to some bugs or glitches in the system for which it stops working.

Follow the steps to restart iPhones for different models:

iPhone 8 and above, Press and release the Volume Up and Down keys quickly. Long press the Side key until the iPhone logo appears on the screen.

For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:  Long press the Side and Volume Down key together to see the iPhone logo

iPhone 6s and before, Long press the Side and Home keys together to see the iPhone logo. Hold the power key for a few seconds to see the slider on your device screen. Thereafter, move the slider to the right and switch off your iPhone. Wait for a minute and after that, restart your iPhone by pressing the power button.

Method 2: Check Compatibility Of Your Device With Airdrop

The next reason for AirDrop keeps crashing could be when both devices are incompatible with AirDrop. Check whether your iOS devices are compatible or not by following way:

• For iPhone: You need iPhone 5 or above which runs on iOS 7 to use AirDrop
• For iPad: Need a 4^th generation iPad that was released in 2012 or above. The device must run on iOS 7.
• For iPod touch: You need to have a 5^th generation iPod touch released in 2012 or afterward. It must run on iOS 7 or above.

Method 3: Turn On Bluetooth

Along with Wi-Fi or Mobile Network, AirDrop use Bluetooth to find nearby devices. So, ensure that your Bluetooth is turned on on both devices. If it is disabled, enable it in the following way:

• First, open Settings followed by Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth

• After turning it on, you will be able to send and receive files via AirDrop

Method 4: Log In To iCloud Again

iPhone users know about iCloud which is an in-built service. Sometimes, iCloud interferes with other services and can lead to AirDrop not working issue. It can be fixed by logging out and logging in to iCloud again.

Follow the steps:

• First, open Settings and go to your profile picture
• Next, click on the SignOut option
• Now, after waiting for a few seconds, again re-login to it

Method 5: Ensure Airdrop Device Is Discoverable

You have to ensure that your AirDrop is discoverable to other devices. On your iOS device, move to Settings followed by General, and tap on AirDrop to choose discoverability mode.

To control who can send you or to whom you want to send files, use the following points:

• Everyone: This option will allow your nearby devices to see you are using AirDrop. This is suggested to every user.
• Contacts Only: This option will only allow your saved contacts to see your iPhone. Both devices need to sign in to iCloud, email addresses, and phone numbers related to Apple ID. This option keeps your device private and no unknown AirDrop request will come to you.
• Receiving Off: This option will not allow anybody to see your device but you can send AirDrop items to another device

Method 6: Enable/Disable Bluetooth And Wi-Fi

If there is any issue with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, this could lead to the iOS 15 Airdrop not working. In such cases, you need to disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and re-enable them.

Here are the steps to follow:

• First, move to Settings on your device
• Now, click on Wi-Fi and turn off the Wi-Fi slider. After a while, re-enable it

• Follow the same steps for Bluetooth as well

Method 7: Disable Do Not Disturb Mode

Files transfer will not happen if the receiver has turned on DND mode. So in such a situation, you should check and turn off DND mode.

Steps to turn it off:

• Open Settings then tap on Focus. After that, click on the Do Not Disturb option and swipe the toggle button beside DND to turn it off.

Once you follow the above steps, you will be able to transfer files through AirDrop.

Method 8: Check Airdrop Settings

AirDrop offers three options: Contacts Only, Everyone and Off. Among the three, Contacts Only needs to verify others. It’s better to use Everyone and again try it. You can adjust these options according to your moods and needs while transferring files.

Steps to adjust settings:

• First, open Settings
• Now, tick on General

• Then, tap on AirDrop
• Now, click on the level which you need

Method 9: Update Your iPhone

To avoid any kind of crashing issues, you must ensure that your device is running on the latest version of iOS. If AirDrop is not working, an update on your OS might fix it.

Follow the steps to update your iOS device:

• Open Settings and click on General
• Now, choose the Software Update option and install the latest version if not done yet

Method 10: Turn Off Personal Hotspot

Personal Hotspots and AirDrop use Wi-Fi to work. So, when you use both services via WiFi then there is a chance to clash between them. In such a situation, you need to disable Personal Hotspot to avoid a warning showing “AirDrop is not available when using Personal Hotspot”.

To disable this feature; open Settings and tap on Personal Hotspot to turn off it. Tap on the Wi-Fi sign if required and choose the option to disconnect Wi-Fi from Personal Hotspot.

Method 11: Switch Off Focus mode

Turning on focus mode will help you to transfer files using AirDrop but the device will not be discovered and it will also disable another device to see the request of AirDrop.

Follow the below steps to turn off focus mode:

• First, open Control Center by moving down from the top right of your device screen on FaceID or by moving up from the bottom edge of your screen on the TouchID device
• Next, click on Focus mode if it shows turned on

• At last, click on Focus to disable it

Method 12: Reset Network Settings

As AirDrop needs both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to enable both devices, if any problem occurs regarding the Wi-Fi connection that could be the reason for AirDrop keeps stopping on iPhone. In that case, you can fix the issue by resetting the network settings by following the below steps:

• First, navigate to Settings and tap on General
• Now, select the Reset option and click on Reset Network Settings

That’s it.

Method 13: Remove Restrictions On Airdrop

There are always some restrictions on the app you use and this restriction may be set up mistakenly on Airdrop. This can be the reason for Airdrop not working on iOS 17. Therefore, you should check this and remove it immediately.

Here is what you have to do:

• First, go to Settings on your iPhone
• Now, click on Screen Time and then on Content & Privacy Restrictions
• Here, click on the Allowed Apps option and ensure Airdrop is enabled

Method 14: Contact Apple Support Team

The last option left you is to contact the Apple Support team if nothing works to fix Airdrop not working on iPhone. Contact Apple Support and they will assist you to resolve the issue. Professionals can fix this kind of issue and you can use the app as usual.

Method 15: Ultimate Way To Fix Airdrop Not Working On iPhone With One Click

You might be looking for an advanced solution that can help you fix Airdrop not working iPhone 13 without a hitch. In this context, the iOS System Repair Tool is one of the highly suggested solutions. This is a powerful tool that works effectively to troubleshoot various types of iPhone or iPad issues with one click.

It is an easy-to-use program that fixes the error without technical skills. Some other issues it can fix include horizontal lines on iPhone, iCloud backup greyed out, AOL mail not working, cannot verify server identity, stuck in recovery mode, etc. It supports all iPhone models like iPhone 15/14/13/12/11/X/XR/XS/8/7/6 along with the latest iOS 17/16/15/14/13/12.

Therefore, you need to download and install this repair tool and get rid of the error easily. Go through its complete user guide here.

Bonus Tip- Best Way To Transfer Data Between iPhone With One Click (Suggested)

If you are unable to use the AirDrop feature to transfer data between iOS devices then you have several other options. iOS Data Transfer is one of the best and most convenient tools that allow users to transfer files between iPhone/iPad and PC or other devices. This software provides the same feature that AirDrop does.

It lets you transfer all types of files like contacts, photos, videos, notes, text messages, and others. No matter whatever reasons the AirDrop is not working or crashing or stopping, you don’t have to bother transferring files from one phone to another. Simply download and install this software and then transfer whatever data or files you want to share with other devices.

Conclusion

AirDrop is really a helpful and smart way to share files between devices like iPhones/iPads. However, similar to other apps, it can also go through some unwanted situations and fails to work when you need it. In this article, I have discussed the best ways to fix AirDrop not working on iPhone 15/14/13/12/11. I hope, following them has helped you to overcome the situation without further issues.

When you encounter AirDrop not showing up on iPhone and what to do when Airdrop is not working then use iOS Data Transfer. It’s one of the easy and advanced ways to transfer files between iPhone/iPad.