• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

iPhoneGeeks

All About iPhone, iPad, iOS, and Apple Watch

  • Home
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Mac
  • Watch
  • Bug Fixes
  • Tips
  • How-To
  • Apps
You are here: Home / Troubleshooting / AirDrop Not Working on Big Sur? Fix it Here!

AirDrop Not Working on Big Sur? Fix it Here!

Last Updated On August 3, 2022 by iPhoneGeeks Staff

MacOS Big Sur

In this article, I will show you how to troubleshoot Airdrop not working on Mac Big Sur issues.

AirDrop not working on Big Sur

AirDrop lets you wirelessly beam almost anything from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to any other recent Apple device. It uses Bluetooth 4.x for power-efficient broadcast and discovery, and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi for swift transfer. The entire process isn’t just simple, it’s pretty secure… when it works. If you’re having AirDrop problems after installing macOS Big Sur though, it can be frustrating. Thankfully, there are a few things you can try to get it working! Below are six accurate solutions to fix the problem of AirDrop not working on Big Sur.

See also: Spotlight Search not Working on Big Sur? Fix

Fixes for the ‘AirDrop not working on macOS Big Sur’ Issue

Fix #1: Restart your Mac

Restart is the first solution you should try if you find airdrop not Working on Big Sur. This is particularly helpful if you have trouble sharing files from iPhone to Mac and vice versa.

To restart your Mac, click on the Apple logo from the top left corner and then select Restart.

Fix #2: Update your Mac

To update your Mac: Open System Preferences → Software Update → Update Now, if available.

Fix #3: Logout and Login – iCloud

There could be a problem with your iCloud login after updating your device to macOS Big Sur. To rule out this as a possible cause, log out of iCloud and log in again. If AirDrop works, that was the issue. If Big Sur AirDrop freeze, check the next solution.

Fix #4: Tap or Click Accept on the Receiving Device

This works both ways. Unless you hit the Accept button on the device receiving the file or photo, the transfer won’t happen and you might think it’s not working. The Accept button established the AirDrop connection, so check to ensure that’s not the issue.

Fix #5: Turn Off Messages and Log In Again

If the other device is not within the range or blocked by a concrete wall, AirDrop might not work in macOS Big Sur. But the problem is not with AirDrop. Make sure that the two devices are within the range – distance not greater than 30 feet (approximately 9 meters.) The closer the better.

Fix #6: Make Sure the macOS Big Sur Computer is ‘Awake’

If you’ve got ‘wake for network access’ enabled, then sleep mode won’t allow wireless communication. Ensure your Mac is awake and connected to Wi-Fi and has Bluetooth turned on. Also make sure the other device is not screen-locked.

Conclusion

These are the tested solutions to fix AirDrop not working on Big Sur issue. I hope one of the above solutions fixed the problem for you.

About iPhoneGeeks Staff

iPhoneGeeks Staff is a team of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Mac experts led by Moses Johnson. We're passionate about all things Apple!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. blankAdrienne I Brand says

    June 17, 2021 at 12:53 am

    These didn’t work for me. I figured it was a conflict with file transfer and security, so I started by turning off all of my Startup items and low-and-behold, my Airdrop file transferring worked again. @adrienneibrand | Creative Director, Long Island, New York

    Reply

Leave a CommentCancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Trending

iPhone 15 in blue is shown from the front and back.

16 Best iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Tips and Tricks to Try First

iPhone 15 in blue is shown from the front and back.

Can iPhone 15 Take Pictures Under Water? Here’s The Truth!

iPhone 15 Pro in black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium finishes.

Are the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro waterproof? What you should know

2-metre USB 2.0 cable connects your iPhone, iPad or iPod with Lightning connector to your computer’s USB-A port for syncing and charging.  

How to Charge Your iPhone Correctly: Unveiling The Best Practices

Three iPhone 14 Pro devices show the updated Phone, FaceTime, and Messages experiences in iOS 17.  

32 Useful iOS 17 Tips and Tricks You Should Know About

Apple Logo

Is Apple a Monopoly or Oligopoly? Let’s Find Out

Footer

Browse By Category

  • Home
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Mac
  • Watch
  • Apps
  • Tips
  • How-To

Contact Info

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Editorial Guide

Company

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Correction Policy
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Ownership Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Copyright

Search iPhoneGeeks

Stay in the loop!

Get new posts delivered straight to your inbox.

Disclaimer

This website is not owned by, is not licensed by nor is a subsidiary of Apple Inc. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Please follow this link to read the complete disclaimer.

© Copyright 2023 - iPhoneGeeks Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of materials found on this site, in any form, without explicit permission is prohibited.