AirDrop not working between iPhone 13 and MacBook Air M1? Here's what to try
If you are ‘having trouble getting AirDrop to work between your iPhone 13 (iOS 18) and MacBook Air M1 (macOS Sequoia 15), there are a few simple things you can check before trying anything complicated.
Here is what I would try, step by step.
Check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
AirDrop needs both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, so start here.
On your iPhone: Go to Settings >> Wi-Fi and Settings >> Bluetooth, and make sure both are enabled.
On your Mac: Click Control Centre in the menu bar and check that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on.
Keep the two devices close together. They do need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Apple's guide: Use AirDrop to send items to nearby Apple devices - Apple Support (CA)
Check your AirDrop settings
Your devices might not be showing up because of their receiving settings.
On your iPhone:
Go to Settings >> General >> AirDrop.
Select Everyone for 10 Minutes.
On your Mac:
Open Finder and select AirDrop in the sidebar. If it's not there, choose Go >> AirDrop from the menu bar.
Set Allow me to be discovered by to Everyone, if available.
Try sending a photo again. Once everything works, you can switch back to Contacts Only for privacy.
Apple's guide: How to use AirDrop on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (CA)
Restart both devices
This simple step can often clear temporary connection issues.
Restart your iPhone and MacBook Air, turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on, and try AirDrop again.
Check your Mac's firewall
If the devices can see each other but the transfer won't go through, check your Mac's firewall settings.
- Open Apple menu >> System Settings >> Network >> Firewall.
- If the firewall is on, open its options.
- Check whether Block all incoming connections is enabled. If it is, turn that option off and test AirDrop again.
You generally don't need to disable the firewall completely.
Try sending a photo
Once you've checked the settings:
Open Photos on your iPhone and select a picture.
Tap Share >> AirDrop.
Select your MacBook Air and accept the transfer if prompted.
You can also try sending a small file from your Mac to your iPhone to see if the problem occurs in both directions.
Check for software updates
If AirDrop still isn't working, check whether updates are available.
iPhone: Settings >> General >> Software Update.
Mac: Apple menu >> System Settings >> General → Software Update.
Back up important data before installing updates.
Still having trouble?
You can also refer to Apple's official guides:
AirDrop on iPhone
AirDrop on Mac
