Airdrop not discoverable :-(

[IngridH]

Hi there

I'm new to this forum but not sure where else to go....Airdrop is working on all devices, except my iMac. It is not discoverable and not giving me any options (to select everyone etc).

In Finder, when I click on Airdrop the circle just keeps swirling around - like a timer that never stops.

I am using OS X 10.9.5. Bluetooth is on. Wifi is connected.

Any help would be great, thank you!

 

[RadDave]

Hi Ingrid - welcome to the forum! I love using AirDrop and have exchanged files between my Macs and iDevices in all combinations (all are hardware & software compatible), but the Apple technology is 'flaky' at times for me - works fine one time and then a NO GO - irritating - so, just for starters and if not already done, checkout this Apple KB Article and make sure that your Mac (did not tell us the model/year) w/ the installed OS X is not the issue - also, can your Mac be upgraded (you're 3 versions behind)? Dave

 

[pm-r]

In Finder, when I click on Airdrop the circle just keeps swirling around - like a timer that never stops.
I am using OS X 10.9.5. Bluetooth is on. Wifi is connected.

FWIW, I'm still using Mavericks OS 10.9.5 and tried to use Airdrop several times and finally just gave up.

It really didn't help when one apple support page said everything was supported, and another support page said I needed to update or upgrade something.

My most recent attempt was to try to connect with my iPad 2, but it never shows up so I did what I often do with some Apple stuff, I just quit trying to use it and I have a reputation of being persistent and suborn. But not worth the hassle for this guy.

And I guess I'd call RadDave's description of it as "flaky" as a big understatement.

PS: I just ended up using Dropbox instead which worked well for what I needed to do.

Thank God for third party software that works when Apple's own stuff doesn't. And better it seems. SNORT!!!






- Patrick
==========

 

[RadDave]

FWIW, I'm still using Mavericks OS 10.9.5 and tried to use Airdrop several times and finally just gave up.

It really didn't help when one apple support page said everything was supported, and another support page said I needed to update or upgrade something.

My most recent attempt was to try to connect with my iPad 2, but it never shows up so I did what I often do with some Apple stuff, I just quit trying to use it and I have a reputation of being persistent and suborn. But not worth the hassle for this guy.

And I guess I'd call RadDave's description of it as "flaky" as a big understatement.

Hi Patrick - now all of my HW & SW is updated to current standards and AirDrop usually works for me - are you sure that an iPad 2 (released in 2011 - my first iPad) w/ an older iOS version is up to 'snuff' for the service? Not sure but could be the issue - AirDrop is much more reliable w/ the newest devices and operating systems - I've gone through a number of stages and can vouch for better compatibility. Dave

 

[pm-r]

are you sure that an iPad 2

Just as the typical article says, http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/ma...ssly-share-files-ios-10-macos-sierra-3500407/
"AirDrop is a way to transfer files between devices that arrived on iPhones and iPads with iOS 7. It has existed on Macs for even longer, but Macs and iOS devices were unable to communicate due to differences in the technology required (the iPhone and iPad use Bluetooth in conjunction with WiFi, while the Mac just used WiFi). This difference meant it wasn’t possible to easily drop files from mobile to desktop or laptop. "

My iPad 2 was running iOS 7 when I got it, now running 9.1. But my wife's retina iPad 3 running 9.3.5 doesn't normally even show up on our iMacs or MBPro.

I might get around and do some more fiddling when I want to get a headache some time later and see if it won't work. But that's NOT how apple stuff is supposed to work as far as I know or expect.

And then one gets to pages like this:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/ma...ssly-share-files-ios-10-macos-sierra-3500407/

Where they say:
How to use AirDrop: AirDrop between iPhone/Mac Requirements
AirDrop won’t work on all Macs and all iOS devices, so it may not be a feature you can take advantage of. AirDrop is (apparently) supported by the following Mac models:

Don't you just love the confidence of the phrase "AirDrop is (apparently) supported…"

Yup… maybe apparently.

Is that like "almost being pregnant" the school girls used to say…???







- Patrick
==========

 

[pm-r]

For the benefit of IngridH and to maybe give her an answer, I think I have this AirDrop thing and its compatibility sorted out a bit better.

Firstly it seems the name AirDrop uses different software/hardware depending on the device.

Macs had their own method and software for working and iDevices had their own but different versions. Don't ask me why Apple keeps using the same name for different software/hardware but that seems to be the confusion.

Then finally they created yet another different software/hardware version with the same AirDrop name that would allow "AirDrop" compatibility between both Macs, and compatible iDevices and the best summary I can find is here, and nowhere on the apple support site that I could find, so thanks to wikipedia, here it is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirDrop

Airdrop is working on all devices, except my iMac.

And here's the specific reason it's NOT working between those two devices:

"macOS and iOS requirements (transfer between a Mac and an iOS device)[edit]
To transfer files between a Mac and an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, the following minimum requirements have to be met11]

Running OS X Yosemite (10.10) or later4]

MacBook Air (Mid 2012) or later
MacBook Pro (Mid 2012) or later
iMac (Late 2012) or later
Mac Mini (Late 2012) or later
Mac Pro (Late 2013) or later
Running iOS 8 or later7]

iPhone: iPhone 5 or later
iPad: iPad (4th generation) or later
iPad Mini: iPad Mini (1st generation) or later
iPod Touch: iPod Touch (5th generation) or later
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have to be turned on for both Mac and iOS devices. (Both devices are not required to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.)

Now I finally know why my iMac and iPad 2 won't work properly with the AirDrop that comes with both of them.

Phew!!! I hope this makes sense and is correct!!!





- Patrick
==========

 

[RadDave]

For the benefit of IngridH and to maybe give her an answer, I think I have this AirDrop thing and its compatibility sorted out a bit better.

Now I finally know why my iMac and iPad 2 won't work properly with the AirDrop that comes with both of them.

OK - Patrick - that was my assumption from the start - my experience is that w/ newer Apple HW and the further the SW was updated, the better the chances that AirDrop will work between these devices, but still not perfect? - Dave

 

[Rod]

About a year ago this subject came up from another OP and I think I exhausted every possibility to get Airdrop to work between my iPhone 5s. Since then I have purchased a brand new MBPr and it still doesn't work.
So I gave up and found two good alternatives. Patrick has already mentioned Dropbox and although that works it's a bit slow and unnecessarily complicated what does work for us is a free little app called Filedrop available here; http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/File-Sharing/Filedrop-Team-filedrop.shtml and Infinit available here; https://infinit.io/download
I prefer Filedrop as it works inhouse much the same as Airdrop requiring Bluetooth and WiFi but it takes a little getting used to as there are no instructions but once setup it is a direct file transfer protocol which works like magic with all our devices.
PS Filedrop for iOS is available on the App Store.

 

[chscag]

Dropbox is not a good option with only 2 GB free. "OneDrive" from Microsoft is free and gives you 5 GB, even more to Office subscribers. There is also "Google Drive" which allows 14 GB of free storage.

 

[Rod]

This is true if "storage" is what you need but when you just want to transfer a few pictures or PDF documents without placing them into a cloud based service this is what Airdrop is for. I most recently sent a PDF of a visa and picture of my passport from my MBP to my iPhone using FileDrop. No online security risk and no duplication.

 

[IWT]

Just for those with older, non-compatible Macs which can't natively use AirDrop - and assuming you are bold enough to use Terminal - I found this article which might interest some:

http://lifehacker.com/enable-airdrop-on-older-unsupported-macs-1556180698

Ian

 

[pm-r]

Dropbox is not a good option with only 2 GB free. "OneDrive" from Microsoft is free and gives you 5 GB, even more to Office subscribers. There is also "Google Drive" which allows 14 GB of free storage.

Quite true regarding the limited free space provided by Dropbox and I ran into its limits a while ago when getting some Downton Abby series transferred for my wife's iPad 3 to use.

The "Google Drive" came to the rescue but the resulting resolution of the Downton Abby series I used was terrible in comparison to the same resolution Dropbox ones when played back.

Never did figure out why and haven't used it since, so maybe things have improved.





- Patrick
==========

 

[MacInWin]

Airdrop is, I believe, a direct transfer, that is, it does NOT go through your ISP. Dropbox does, both ways. So if you are on a limited data plan, you might want to take that into consideration.

 

[RadDave]

Airdrop is, I believe, a direct transfer, that is, it does NOT go through your ISP. Dropbox does, both ways. So if you are on a limited data plan, you might want to take that into consideration.

Agree w/ Jake - AirDrop requires both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to be on - the Wi-Fi network is peer-to-peer, so no need to be connected to your router - some more details HERE, including trouble-shooting tips. Dave

 

[MacInWin]

Actually, it's even worse if you have multiple devices. If you have, for example, an iPad, iPhone and a MBP and want to synchronize documents amongst them, then when you put that file in the Dropbox folder, it gets uploaded to Dropbox, then downloaded again to each of the other devices, so that you consume bandwidth four times overall. As I said, it's something to think about if you are on a limited connection.

 

[chscag]

Actually what Jake mentioned above also holds true for OneDrive and Google Drive. Here in the US most of our ISP plans are unlimited (to an extent) but subscribers who live outside the US for the most part have to contend with plans that are limited.