Sending files between two devices that are within the Apple ecosystem is very simple and fast thanks to AirDrop. But this is not a perfect function and can sometimes crash. In this article we will tell you everything you need to know to solve all problems with AirDrop.
Is the receiver among your contacts?
One of the failures that can occur when the receiving device to which you want to send a document or an image by AirDrop does not appear is that it is not among your contacts. As a security measure, on many occasions the delivery is limited to devices whose Apple ID you have registered in your agenda. That is why if it does not appear in AirDrop, check your contact list to see if you have added that person or not. Although these privacy options can be edited in the control center itself by long-pressing on the section where you can activate or deactivate airplane mode or WiFi and clicking on the AirDrop icon at the bottom.
If you have it added, it is recommended to edit the contact card and enter the email that corresponds to the Apple ID of the receiving device. In this way you can guarantee that everything works correctly between both teams.
Restart your wireless connections
AirDrop is a technology that uses the WiFi connection like the Bluetooth connection to be able to share files between computers that are nearby. On some occasions it may be the case that one of these wireless connections is failing. In these cases, it is always recommended to disconnect and reconnect to try to solve the problem.
It is important to bear in mind that for deactivation and subsequent activation to take effect it has to be done from Settings . Although it can be done in the control center itself in a very simple way, it is not possible to turn it off completely, remaining in a state of latency. That is why you will have to enter the equipment settings to perform this manual operation. On certain occasions it can also help to activate airplane mode and deactivate it again since a similar effect is caused by deactivating all wireless connections.
Added to this is the recommendation that both computers share the same WiFi network. If they are connected to it, it is easier for them to appear on the screen as a much more stable connection can be formed.
Reset network settings
If the previous step has not worked for you, you can always restore the network settings, which is something a bit more extreme. In this way it is possible to have the connections totally clean as if you had restored the factory equipment. The problem is that all the networks that you have saved will be deleted as well as the VPN settings, something that can be somewhat annoying when having to re-enter them manually. To be able to do this you simply have to follow the following steps:
- Access Settings.
- Go into General.
- At the bottom of the screen, click on ‘Reset’.
- Choose the option ‘Reset network settings’.
Check the distance
You must bear in mind that AirDrop works by the proximity of two devices, not being a system that serves to send files to the other side of the world. As reported by Apple through its own website, the AirDrop range is only 9 meters, which corresponds to the bluetooth range. That is why both teams must be close enough to work optimally. Otherwise, in no case will the receiving device appear on the screen, having to resort to other delivery methods.
Update and restart your devices
The fact that someone in your range does not appear to transfer different files may be caused by a simple bug in the software. That is why the latest update available must be installed on the computers so that all problems that may arise are patched.
Also, one of the simplest but most effective tips is to restart the device when this problem occurs with AirDrop. This way you can force AirDrop to work nearby devices again by re-establishing all connections and starting them from scratch.