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MeliJln05
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

AirDrop fails between iPad Air M4 and iPhone 13 Pro Max with same Apple ID

Hi, I just got an iPad Air m4 and signed in with the same Apple ID account as my iPhone 13 promax. The airdrop between my devices isn’t working from the beginning. My iPad receives files from all the other iPhones, except mine. The name of the other device is shown as “my devices”, but when I click on it, it fails. I reset the network and location services, but it didn’t help. Even when I select “everyone for 10 minutes” in my iPad’s airdrop settings, its name isn’t shown as “People” in my iPhone. What should I do?

My iPadOs Version is 26.5 and iOS is 26.7.1.

Posted on Oct 27, 2026 1:53 PM

5 replies

Alancito
User level: Level 7 (31,566 points)

Oct 27, 2026 2:26 PM in response to MeliJln05

MeliJln05 ~ As your iPhone 13 Pro Max could be 5 years old, it's worth checking for a weak, aging battery (which can cause connectivity issues.) So...


Does your iPhone 13 Pro Max still have its original battery?


And what's the Maximum Capacity % here?...


Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging


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Alancito
User level: Level 7 (31,566 points)

Oct 27, 2026 2:50 PM in response to MeliJln05

MeliJln05 wrote: "Yes, it does. The maximum capacity is 82%."

That's probably the cause of the AirDrop failure. 82% is close to Apple's suggested level of around 80% for having the battery replaced. Plus, the original battery of an aging iPhone 13 Pro Max is due for replacement:


iPhone Battery Service


About genuine iPhone batteries


Repair Provider Verification


(Articles found by searching Apple's Knowledge Base.)


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Alancito
User level: Level 7 (31,566 points)

Oct 27, 2026 3:29 PM in response to MeliJln05

MeliJln05 wrote: "But I can transfer files from my iPhone to other iPhones. It only fails when transfering data to my iPad. If the battery was the problem, shouldn’t it fails every time?"

Perhaps iPhones can process weak AirDrop signals better than iPads. Anyway, whilst you await suggestions from others here, have that old battery replaced before you apply an iOS update — because if the battery fails during that, your iPhone may be 'bricked'.


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MeliJln05 Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 27, 2026 2:38 PM in response to Alancito

Yes, it does. The maximum capacity is 82%.

MeliJln05 Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 27, 2026 3:00 PM in response to Alancito

But I can transfer files from my iPhone to other iPhones. It only fails when transfering data to my iPad. If the battery was the problem, shouldn’t it fails every time?

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256384187