Anyone Have Airdrop Issue in Big Sur on M1 Mac?

[avefalco]

I recently got 2 different M1 MBA and I am having issue with airdrop. My iphone cannot find either macs to airdrop, but I am able to airdrop to my friend's iphone and mac. I have checked various pages in regards to airdrop fix but none works. I was wondering if anyone has the same issue?

 

[matrix07]

I don't have any issue with AirDrop.

 

[Bending Pixels]

None at all

 

[avefalco]

It is really weird. I have tried everything and everytime I restart, airdrop is automatically turned off. and my new mac is a new install too. I really don't know what to do. =(

 

[Saturn007]

At least under older operating systems, Air Drop comes up as OFF. You have to turn on both Bluetooth and WiFi — and then select Contacts or All. You may know that already, but in case not, thought I’d mention it.

If AD is set to Contacts Only, you need to create an address on the iPhone that matches your Mac's name (IIRC). (Or, vice-versa, if you are ADing the other direction.).)

Easiest trouble-shooting is to set all devices to Everyone. Can you Air Drop between your Macs?

Perhaps your new Macs don't have your iPhone in their contacts list. Should work with Everyone, though, unless all that's been changed under Big Sur.

 

[avefalco]

At least under older operating systems, Air Drop comes up as OFF. You have to turn on both Bluetooth and WiFi — and then select Contacts or All. You may know that already, but in case not, thought I’d mention it.

If AD is set to Contacts Only, you need to create an address on the iPhone that matches your Mac's name (IIRC). (Or, vice-versa, if you are ADing the other direction.).)

Easiest trouble-shooting is to set all devices to Everyone. Can you Air Drop between your Macs?

Perhaps your new Macs don't have your iPhone in their contacts list. Should work with Everyone, though, unless all that's been changed under Big Sur.

Thanks for the guide.

AD is to everyone, wifi bluetooth off and on, apple id signed out and in both iphone and mac, airdrop in finder set to everyone also, and restarted couple of times, but still no luck. safari isnt even syncing across devices, so i dont know what's going on, and what else i can try.

 

[Zazoh]

Do both devices have the same user ID? Not Apple ID. If so, that may be an issue.

Also, iPhone on latest version?

 

[avefalco]

Do both devices have the same user ID? Not Apple ID. If so, that may be an issue.

Also, iPhone on latest version?

Sorry I dont understand what do you mean by user ID? How can I check it? and yes everything is on the latest version (nothing beta either)

 

[Zazoh]

The Account you use to sign in to your MacBook when you first turn it on. I always use my first name. I was thinking you had two laptops with identical accounts, but may have read it wrong. Probably doesn’t matter. I’ve never used or set up AirDrop, and just tested and it worked fine. I’ve used for iPhone to iPhone before, but first time to my Mac and as soon as I opened the lid, it appeared on my iPhone from which I was dropping.

 

[Zazoh]

If you go to Apples FindMy app, are all your devices listed?

 

[avefalco]

The Account you use to sign in to your MacBook when you first turn it on. I always use my first name. I was thinking you had two laptops with identical accounts, but may have read it wrong. Probably doesn’t matter. I’ve never used or set up AirDrop, and just tested and it worked fine. I’ve used for iPhone to iPhone before, but first time to my Mac and as soon as I opened the lid, it appeared on my iPhone from which I was dropping.

yes that's what happens to my old intel mac, but ever since i switched to new m1 mac, the airdrop and sync across device stopped working.

If you go to Apples FindMy app, are all your devices listed?

yes both iphone and mac devices are listed and online.

 

[Zazoh]

yes both iphone and mac devices are listed and online.

Then it isn't an account issue, or privacy setting because the cloud can see them.

The only other thing I can think of is your local router is blocking something or Firewall is turned on - on the Mac? Apple | System Preferences | Security and Privacy | Firewall Tab. So if that is off, reboot the router?

 

[avefalco]

Then it isn't an account issue, or privacy setting because the cloud can see them.

The only other thing I can think of is your local router is blocking something or Firewall is turned on - on the Mac? Apple | System Preferences | Security and Privacy | Firewall Tab. So if that is off, reboot the router?

Just tried both firewall on and off. Tried at my friend's place with different router and internet, and using his phone, but still no luck. I can airdrop to my friend's phone and vice versa.

 

[avefalco]

Then it isn't an account issue, or privacy setting because the cloud can see them.

The only other thing I can think of is your local router is blocking something or Firewall is turned on - on the Mac? Apple | System Preferences | Security and Privacy | Firewall Tab. So if that is off, reboot the router?

ok I got some new progress. I created a new admin user and used the same iCloud ID and was able to see airdrop normally. so i was wondering if there's a way to fix this or i basically have to use a new account and move everything over?

 

[Saturn007]

Say, appreciate your gracious response when I was giving you information you already knew! Rare on the Internet.

Have you tried calling Apple tech support? I've found them very good and this is a perfect type of thing to ask them about. That would spare you the hassle of moving everything over!

Maybe there's an Air Drop pref file they'll recommend deleting... or another such simple fix!

 

[ThirteenXIII]

here's a crazy idea, can you install rosetta2 if you haven't already? my base mac mini M1 would not airdrop no matter what I did, I turned on airdrop from the menu bar control center, then also noticed in finder in the airdrop section it was off even though it was on in control center, I installed rosetta for an app and it started working..no idea if its related..but its been quirky with this M1.

another is I am trying an LG Ultrafine that Apple carries, no apple logo until the very last second and then it loads to the desktop.

 

[SaguaroSeven]

ok I got some new progress. I created a new admin user and used the same iCloud ID and was able to see airdrop normally. so i was wondering if there's a way to fix this or i basically have to use a new account and move everything over?

Did you get any further? On MBP now running 11.2, Airdrop does not seem to use my contacts for send/receive. Airdrop set to Everyone works, but Mac shows up as generic icon with computer name. Created another user account, logged in with Apple ID and same problem. No issues on other devices.

When I select "Contacts Only" I get this error in the Console:

Discoverable mode off: appleIDAccountState=No Identity eduModeEnabled=0

 

[delude]

I have an M1 MacBook Pro and have had issues with AirDrop over the past week too.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I just tested by sending from my M1 MBA to my iPad Pro using the contact option and it worked.

 

[SaguaroSeven]

I have an M1 MacBook Pro and have had issues with AirDrop over the past week too.

I would check you console.app and search for Airdrop. Then try changing the state of airdrop. You will see messages that may suggest the problem.

I solved my problemon 2-day old M1 MBP by erasing the boot drive and reinstalling Big Sur fresh on 11.2. My AirDrop problem seems to be related to other issues in my keychain and syncing my Apple ID. For example my photos library was missing 300+ photos and 200+ videos, but it said “up to date.” Everything is sorted out now.

I wonder whether there are others having keychain/iCloud issues on Big Sur? Technically my issues started on I think 11.1 which shipped with my Mac.

 

[tis]

I was having the same problem. I didn't have my computer logged in with my Apple ID. As soon as I logged in with my Apple ID, Airdrop started working perfectly. Check system preferences.

 

[k-hawinkler]

I had to disable the firewall on the receiving Mac temporarily for Airdrop to work.

 

[James_C]

I have not had any problems with Airdrop on my M1 MBA, sending and receiving files to a Intel iMac. Both are running Big Sur.

 

[Donga120]

Mine is incredibly slow, not sure if its phone, my wifi, or my mac, or all of them. All running latest betas

 

[Hteo]

Hi. Ive just fixed my Airdrop problem on my new M1 MacBook Pro. I had the same problem. My M1 Mac didn't appear in both my old Mac and iPad airdrop, but both my old Mac n iPad appear on my new M1. I did everything. I turn on bluetooth/wifi/open finder..etc but still no detect.
I think the problem was that I didn't use the iCloud? I click on the "Contacts only" on the airdrop option, it asked me to log in to iCloud so I did, and then my Airdrop works fine after that. so I honestly think it has to do with the iCloud. Hope this helps.?