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Why is AirDrop so Inconsistent?
- Thread starter Bryan Bowler
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Ok so you don't have the latest beta.
Originally my iOS devices could see each other perfectly, but couldn't see my mac and my mac couldnt see them.
I spent weeks troubleshooting, reinstalled a clean install of mavericks, yosemite, el cap, ios 8, ios 9. nothing worked.
Until I tried El Cap 10.11.1 beta 2.
Now it works perfectly! everytime!
Not saying this will work for everyone, but it made my MacBook Air 2013 i7 and my iPhone 6 work everytime!
My issue with Airdrop is that it is so slow.
I had never used it before, and was totally unfamiliar with it, other than its name, until the other day.
My daughter wanted me to transfer a rather large file to her MBP, so she suggested that we try using Airdrop.
Formerly, I have just given her my wi-fi network password, and we have transferred files between ourselves that way. However, I am now more concerned with the password falling into the wrong hands, even if by accident.
Thus we decided to go the Airdrop route.
Thanks, but no thanks. Even though her MBP sat only one foot away from my iMac, the transfer was going dismally slow.
I eventually just disconnected by USB backup drive from my iMac, and plugged it into her MBP. The transfer went A LOT quicker than Airdrop, once again proving that hard-wired connections STILL remain the best. I've known that for a long time. They are also the most secure.
I had never used it before, and was totally unfamiliar with it, other than its name, until the other day.
My daughter wanted me to transfer a rather large file to her MBP, so she suggested that we try using Airdrop.
Formerly, I have just given her my wi-fi network password, and we have transferred files between ourselves that way. However, I am now more concerned with the password falling into the wrong hands, even if by accident.
Thus we decided to go the Airdrop route.
Thanks, but no thanks. Even though her MBP sat only one foot away from my iMac, the transfer was going dismally slow.
I eventually just disconnected by USB backup drive from my iMac, and plugged it into her MBP. The transfer went A LOT quicker than Airdrop, once again proving that hard-wired connections STILL remain the best. I've known that for a long time. They are also the most secure.
Rumorzguy,
As you can see above, I had to transfer 39 photos to my wife's new iPad from her old Windows laptop. Firstly, I transferred these to a memory stick on the laptop and up loaded onto my Mac. That's when I hit the problem of the Airdrop. So after those previous attempts, I uploaded the photos to iCloud, saved them on my iPhone and Airdropped them from the phone to my wife pad. The actual transfer between phone and pad was less than a second.
As you can see above, I had to transfer 39 photos to my wife's new iPad from her old Windows laptop. Firstly, I transferred these to a memory stick on the laptop and up loaded onto my Mac. That's when I hit the problem of the Airdrop. So after those previous attempts, I uploaded the photos to iCloud, saved them on my iPhone and Airdropped them from the phone to my wife pad. The actual transfer between phone and pad was less than a second.
Old Goat, while you probably don't realize it, you are comparing apples to oranges. It is obvious to expect that transferring a small volume of data from your iPhone to her iPad is going to transpire very quickly. Even if those pics are high resolution images of say one or two MB each in size, yet still, the transfer will be rather quick.
In contrast, I stated that I had to transfer "a rather large file" to my daughter's MBP. I don't remember the exact size of the file now, being as I no longer have it, but it was a video file, probably in the 7 GB to 10 GB range. You cannot compare a file transfer of that size to 39 photos, and expect to get the same results insofar as transfer rates and transfer time are concerned.
This is in fact one of the gimmicks that a lot of ISP's like to use when they try to sell you on the fantastic broadband speeds that they supposedly offer.
They will suggest that you go to such-and-such a bandwidth speed test site, where the test will involve very small packets of data. Then, based on those very small transfers alone, and the speed results that you see on your screen -- which are extrapolated from those small data transfers -- you become convinced that you are getting a great deal, so you decide to upgrade your Internet connection and spend more money.
It is like some pollster polling 100 Americans -- or Brits, or whatever -- concerning their views regarding some particular issue. Maybe 30% of those people hold to one particular perspective. Yet despite the fact that 100 people do not make an entire nation, those pollsters will extrapolate, and turn around and announce that 30% of all Americans believe such-and-such a way, when it is not true. That amounts to very unscientific, intentional data manipulation, in order to purposely manipulate, influence and control the world view of the citizens.
Everyone knows that the LARGER the data sampling, the more accurate the results will be.
In a similar fashion, such broadband speed tests are not really real-world tests, because not only is the data sampling too small, but the ISP makes sure that they send you to the best site they can find, with the least amount of hops and bottlenecks, so that you will get the best transfer rates.
The truth is revealed AFTER you upgrade your Internet connection, and you start going to a lot of other more distant websites, which involve a lot more hops, perhaps more Internet congestion, etc. Suddenly that fantastic bandwidth that they promised you drops like a rock.
That is precisely why when discussing the bandwidth rates that they provide, ISP's always include the words "up to". In other words, they ALREADY know that you will rarely, if ever, see the advertised speed. Thus, they legally protect themselves with the words "up to".
Anyway, I am glad you are experiencing such nice speeds with Airdrop, but if you give it a real test with something much larger, perhaps you will better understand my point of view.
In contrast, I stated that I had to transfer "a rather large file" to my daughter's MBP. I don't remember the exact size of the file now, being as I no longer have it, but it was a video file, probably in the 7 GB to 10 GB range. You cannot compare a file transfer of that size to 39 photos, and expect to get the same results insofar as transfer rates and transfer time are concerned.
This is in fact one of the gimmicks that a lot of ISP's like to use when they try to sell you on the fantastic broadband speeds that they supposedly offer.
They will suggest that you go to such-and-such a bandwidth speed test site, where the test will involve very small packets of data. Then, based on those very small transfers alone, and the speed results that you see on your screen -- which are extrapolated from those small data transfers -- you become convinced that you are getting a great deal, so you decide to upgrade your Internet connection and spend more money.
It is like some pollster polling 100 Americans -- or Brits, or whatever -- concerning their views regarding some particular issue. Maybe 30% of those people hold to one particular perspective. Yet despite the fact that 100 people do not make an entire nation, those pollsters will extrapolate, and turn around and announce that 30% of all Americans believe such-and-such a way, when it is not true. That amounts to very unscientific, intentional data manipulation, in order to purposely manipulate, influence and control the world view of the citizens.
Everyone knows that the LARGER the data sampling, the more accurate the results will be.
In a similar fashion, such broadband speed tests are not really real-world tests, because not only is the data sampling too small, but the ISP makes sure that they send you to the best site they can find, with the least amount of hops and bottlenecks, so that you will get the best transfer rates.
The truth is revealed AFTER you upgrade your Internet connection, and you start going to a lot of other more distant websites, which involve a lot more hops, perhaps more Internet congestion, etc. Suddenly that fantastic bandwidth that they promised you drops like a rock.
That is precisely why when discussing the bandwidth rates that they provide, ISP's always include the words "up to". In other words, they ALREADY know that you will rarely, if ever, see the advertised speed. Thus, they legally protect themselves with the words "up to".
Anyway, I am glad you are experiencing such nice speeds with Airdrop, but if you give it a real test with something much larger, perhaps you will better understand my point of view.
Rumorzguy,
Yes, I understand that. I was just making a comment as regards to a message further up the page that the writer was experiencing a very slow transfer via Airdrop. I must admit that I was surprised by the speed of my transfer if it was only 39 photos.
Yes, I understand that. I was just making a comment as regards to a message further up the page that the writer was experiencing a very slow transfer via Airdrop. I must admit that I was surprised by the speed of my transfer if it was only 39 photos.
AirDrop is a piece of CRAP! It NEVER works when you need it, and Apple doesn't give you a method to "refresh" the links to the devices on the network. I have iPhone 5, iPad 3, 15" MBP 2013 and a 2015 AirPort Extreme router - all with the latest version of OS/iOS (Apr. 2016). When the crapy AirDrop works all devices "see" each other, so I know that my settings (that I checked 1000's times) are OK and I never touch those. However, most of the time crapy AirDrop only partially works and frequently the three devices only partially "see" each other (iPad sees Mac but not vice versa while the iPhone sees both or iPad sees the other two devices and the iPhone doesn't - just name a poor combination you can think of and I had it). The only way to enable crapy AirDrop to work in the case it doesn't is to restart all devices (including the router). Apple should rename this technology "AirCrap", this is far more appropriate.
My MacBook Pro is on OSX El Capitan 10.11.5 - I haven't see my iPhone on Airdrop all day, and I've reset, etc.
My iPhone is on iOS 9.3.2 - I haven't see my iPhone on Airdrop all day, resetting, etc.
We seem to be talking around the issue. While Airdrop is a great "idea", the practical application of it simply doesn't work... even if it does. What that means is that if it doesn't work for a certain percentage then we should accept that it doesn't work in general ...AND SO SHOULD APPLE!!
Apple should ALSO accept that it doesn't work in general. They made more money than any other company last year, even the oil companies. They're not dumb, they are working on it, but it simply isn't reliable enough to... get this... rely on.
Therefore... what is a work around? Let's move past the obvious (it doesn't work) and make this forum about work around solutions.
Right now the easiest way to get my photos from my phone is to literally email them to myself. That's terrible. Does anyone have a better solution. One person mentioned a USB stick. That would be ideal, but how is that even possible???
While Apple sort their (disastrous) AirDrop functionality out, what are people's solutions to get around it?
My iPhone is on iOS 9.3.2 - I haven't see my iPhone on Airdrop all day, resetting, etc.
We seem to be talking around the issue. While Airdrop is a great "idea", the practical application of it simply doesn't work... even if it does. What that means is that if it doesn't work for a certain percentage then we should accept that it doesn't work in general ...AND SO SHOULD APPLE!!
Apple should ALSO accept that it doesn't work in general. They made more money than any other company last year, even the oil companies. They're not dumb, they are working on it, but it simply isn't reliable enough to... get this... rely on.
Therefore... what is a work around? Let's move past the obvious (it doesn't work) and make this forum about work around solutions.
Right now the easiest way to get my photos from my phone is to literally email them to myself. That's terrible. Does anyone have a better solution. One person mentioned a USB stick. That would be ideal, but how is that even possible???
While Apple sort their (disastrous) AirDrop functionality out, what are people's solutions to get around it?
For that particular function I use iCloud Photo Library. It seems to update within seconds for me, longest has been about a minute or two.
Any other solutions other than iCloud Photo Sharing?
I don't want to pay a subscription fee for iCloud Library since my photos on my phone come to over 5GB.
I have an image on my iPhone that I want to get onto my MacBook Pro and I want to do it easily and for free.
Is that possible?
Emailing it to myself is not "easily". Using iCloud Photo Sharing is not "free". And Airdrop simply doesn't work.
(I just tried again today and with the latest iPhone and new model MacBook Pro with up-to-date iOS and OSX... still nothing).
Once again: An image on my iPhone to my MacBook Pro, easily and for free. Anyone?
(To pre-empt: removing enough of my photos to go under the 5gb limit is also not "easily").
I don't want to pay a subscription fee for iCloud Library since my photos on my phone come to over 5GB.
I have an image on my iPhone that I want to get onto my MacBook Pro and I want to do it easily and for free.
Is that possible?
Emailing it to myself is not "easily". Using iCloud Photo Sharing is not "free". And Airdrop simply doesn't work.
(I just tried again today and with the latest iPhone and new model MacBook Pro with up-to-date iOS and OSX... still nothing).
Once again: An image on my iPhone to my MacBook Pro, easily and for free. Anyone?
(To pre-empt: removing enough of my photos to go under the 5gb limit is also not "easily").
I now have largely no issues using Airdrop, since updating my hardware. However, my use case has also changed. I now need to transfer multiple photos in each transfer session from Mac to iPad and I use iCloud Drive for this. It is speedy, images appear on iCloud drive iPad app near instantly and has the added benefit of an online backup.
AirDrop works fine for my iPhone 6+ and 2011 MBP with replaced BT card. I often move multiple photos/videos between both devices w/o hassle.
David, that's wonderful, but I don't need this image backed up online, and I've already said I don't want to pay for a subscription to use iCloud sharing, which I would have to do in order to transfer a file like you've described.
I'm looking for an EASY and FREE method to transfer an image.
Any solutions?
[doublepost=1467680675][/doublepost]Hi Simon, I'm glad to hear Airdrop is working for you. I'm sure it works fine for several people, perhaps hundreds of people, but this thread is about solutions for people that Airdrop doesn't work for. My contribution is simply to get a work-around method that is free AND easy. So far I've not heard one. The closest I am able to get to by literally emailing an image to myself- which isn't an easy (straightforward) method. (And before you say it: iCloud sharing costs money to subscribe if you have over 5gb of photos, so that's also not free, OR, if I need to cull down my library below the 5gb threshold, not easy either).
I'm looking for an EASY and FREE method to transfer an image.
Any solutions?
[doublepost=1467680675][/doublepost]Hi Simon, I'm glad to hear Airdrop is working for you. I'm sure it works fine for several people, perhaps hundreds of people, but this thread is about solutions for people that Airdrop doesn't work for. My contribution is simply to get a work-around method that is free AND easy. So far I've not heard one. The closest I am able to get to by literally emailing an image to myself- which isn't an easy (straightforward) method. (And before you say it: iCloud sharing costs money to subscribe if you have over 5gb of photos, so that's also not free, OR, if I need to cull down my library below the 5gb threshold, not easy either).
Any other solutions other than iCloud Photo Sharing?
I don't want to pay a subscription fee for iCloud Library since my photos on my phone come to over 5GB.
I have an image on my iPhone that I want to get onto my MacBook Pro and I want to do it easily and for free.
Is that possible?
Emailing it to myself is not "easily". Using iCloud Photo Sharing is not "free". And Airdrop simply doesn't work.
(I just tried again today and with the latest iPhone and new model MacBook Pro with up-to-date iOS and OSX... still nothing).
Once again: An image on my iPhone to my MacBook Pro, easily and for free. Anyone?
(To pre-empt: removing enough of my photos to go under the 5gb limit is also not "easily").
"My Photo Stream" then....
Or go a non Apple route like Dropbox or other competing cloud storage methods. This way you could just transfer the pics you want not the entire library. My Photo Stream might be easier but there are plenty of options including lightning based transfers.
Two hours on the phone with a senior apple support guy trying to get Airdrop working between my MBPr and iPads. AirDrop used to work but stopped on my MBPr after the OS update before current one.
We did get it to work briefly just from iPad to MBPr ... And then once from MBPr to iPad. Then, it stopped working again and hasn't worked since.
Total waste of time, I've given up. I wish Apple would check that at least their own software works before harassing us to update to yet another too hasty revision.
We did get it to work briefly just from iPad to MBPr ... And then once from MBPr to iPad. Then, it stopped working again and hasn't worked since.
Total waste of time, I've given up. I wish Apple would check that at least their own software works before harassing us to update to yet another too hasty revision.
Easiest way - Plug your phone to your open Photos. Click "Import" tab on top, drag and drop. Not so easy getting stuff into your phone though if you're not iCloud synced.
Wireless Way - If you're just trying to transfer AN image, and have iCloud enabled but not iCloud paid storage, you can copy and paste that image into notes, and grab it from notes on your other device. Works both ways.
Wireless Way - If you're just trying to transfer AN image, and have iCloud enabled but not iCloud paid storage, you can copy and paste that image into notes, and grab it from notes on your other device. Works both ways.
Any other solutions other than iCloud Photo Sharing?
I don't want to pay a subscription fee for iCloud Library since my photos on my phone come to over 5GB.
I have an image on my iPhone that I want to get onto my MacBook Pro and I want to do it easily and for free.
Is that possible?
Emailing it to myself is not "easily". Using iCloud Photo Sharing is not "free". And Airdrop simply doesn't work.
(I just tried again today and with the latest iPhone and new model MacBook Pro with up-to-date iOS and OSX... still nothing).
Once again: An image on my iPhone to my MacBook Pro, easily and for free. Anyone?
(To pre-empt: removing enough of my photos to go under the 5gb limit is also not "easily").