Just read up on this at Apple.com. They say it only works iOS>iOS. It isn't supported iOS>Mac OS. The only time I would ever need to use it, and it doesn't work.
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I just want AirDrop to work!
- Thread starter viperGTS
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Just read up on this at Apple.com. They say it only works iOS>iOS. It isn't supported iOS>Mac OS. The only time I would ever need to use it, and it doesn't work.
Correct, not at the moment and I agree it would be very useful to transfer files from iPhone to Mac and vise versa. For some reason they use different technology. Hopefully on the next updates they would make it possible.
That's exactly why I posted what I posted
The fact that my phone can't be discovered led me to saying that...
iMessage drops the quality of videos. And Email has a size limit so emailing videos is not usually an option. Another problem with the normal methods is that if you are away from Wifi a video will chew through your data plan and if you aren't on 4G/LTE it will take forever.
Just tried testing AirDrop again with my sister's 5s. Before you ask, YES both phones had Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/AirDrop set to ON and EVERYONE and the screens were both on. I tried to share a photo with either phone and neither phone showed up to each other, I waited a good 30 seconds. I also reset network settings on my 5s, I really doubt that would help though.
Trip to the Apple Store perhaps?
Trip to the Apple Store perhaps?
I figured out that AirDrop works when it feels like working. It worked when iOS 7 first released but it hasn't worked for me since. It's annoying because I don't feel like sending a picture message to people who are across the room. I'd rather AirDrop. Now I did notice that it works on Mavericks and Mountain Lion for the computer, maybe that's a different process.
Airdrop is working fine over here too. Tried sending a slo mo video and couple of images to friends who are using an iPhone 5. Worked flawlessly and the speed was excellent too! Took about a second or two to transfer 2 photos and about 8-10 seconds to send an 8 second slo mo video.
Odd problem, especially after a restore.
My suggestion -
Have you tested that your phone's bluetooth is working properly and that it's able to connect to other devices? See if you're able to tether another device via bluetooth to your phone's data connection (if your carrier allows). If you can successfully tether (and received data) on an iPad or Macbook via your iPhone's data connection via bluetooth, then your AirDrop issue likely is an iOS 7 bug (which can be submitted to Apple). If you cannot successful tether data over BT from your phone to an iPad, etc., then it sounds to me like a faulty BT chip, in which case the phone should be replaced by Apple.
I was able to connect to my 4S over bluetooth just fine to transfer photos. That should be an equivalent, right?
So.... Any solutions guys? Or am I out of luck?
You probably already saw this already, but for those that have not:
Troubleshooting AirDrop
Verify that your iOS device supports AirDrop and is using iOS 7:
◾Ensure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on.
◾When using Contacts Only, if you aren't able to locate a nearby user, ensure that both of you are signed into an iCloud account.
◾If you still can't locate a nearby user using Contacts Only, consider setting AirDrop to Everyone.
Note: AirDrop for iOS supports only iOS 7 devices. You cannot use AirDrop on iOS to share with OS X, and OS X users can't use AirDrop to share with iOS devices.
FWIW, I would make sure that both iOS 7 devices are set up for Airdrop with the same settings above, particularly both Wifi and Bluetooth ON.
Like others, I am disappointed that Airdrop does not work between OSX and iOS devices. Hopefully it will in future updates.
Good luck and I hope you get it to work soon.
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iTunes
Better: Dropbox.
Certainly sounds like data (and not just hands-free audio) is being successfully transferred. So if both your phone and your wife's phone are signed in to iCloud and other settings are equally configured, and your AirDrop is set to exchange with everyone and still you get nothing, then I'm out of ideas.
I know it uses Bluetooth to advertise AirDrop to other iPhones, then uses BT to configure and establish an ad hoc wifi network between the two phones over which the actual payload is transferred. So if both phones are equally configured, and AirDrop works on one and not the other, then perhaps a trip to the Genius Bar for an exchange is warranted.
Thank you. I hope so too. :/ Although if others have been able to get AirDrop to work, please post here!
Lol, it's my old 4S, I don't have a wife, I'm only 18
But yes, photos are transferring just fine. However it doesn't use airdrop. AirDrop doesn't work on either my 5s or my sister's 5s though.
connect from what and how?
exactly, wifi direct needs to be built into the hardware of the idevice. 4S does not have this.
Do you see "AirDrop" or "AirPlay" on your 4S? They are not one and the same.Just tried testing AirDrop again with my sister's 5s. Before you ask, YES both phones had Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/AirDrop set to ON and EVERYONE and the screens were both on. I tried to share a photo with either phone and neither phone showed up to each other, I waited a good 30 seconds. I also reset network settings on my 5s, I really doubt that would help though.
Trip to the Apple Store perhaps?
Hoping won't make a 4S work, it does not have the required hardware inside.
Nope, not on 4S.
bluetooth does not equal AirDrop.
AirDrop uses low power bluetooth (built into BT4.0) to discover and securely connect devices, using a wifi direct connection to transfer data. The data transfer for AirDrop goes over this wifi direct connection which is much faster than just using bluetooth. You do not need to be on any wifi network, but both devices need to have wifi direct ability and bluetooth 4 (so both wifi and BT need to be turned on). Simply put the 4S does not have wifi direct hardware ability.
From footnote 5 here: http://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/
"AirDrop is available on iPhone 5 or later, iPad (4th generation), iPad mini, and iPod touch (5th generation) and requires an iCloud account."
connect from what and how?
exactly, wifi direct needs to be built into the hardware of the idevice. 4S does not have this.
Do you see "AirDrop" or "AirPlay" on your 4S? They are not one and the same.
Hoping won't make a 4S work, it does not have the required hardware inside.
Nope, not on 4S.
bluetooth does not equal AirDrop.
AirDrop uses low power bluetooth (built into BT4.0) to discover and securely connect devices, using a wifi direct connection to transfer data. The data transfer for AirDrop goes over this wifi direct connection which is much faster than just using bluetooth. You do not need to be on any wifi network, but both devices need to have wifi direct ability and bluetooth 4 (so both wifi and BT need to be turned on). Simply put the 4S does not have wifi direct hardware ability.
From footnote 5 here: http://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/
"AirDrop is available on iPhone 5 or later, iPad (4th generation), iPad mini, and iPod touch (5th generation) and requires an iCloud account."
I never mentioned that I'm trying to get AirDrop working on my 4S. I said I tried to get it working on my 5S. So I have a reason to "hope" that it works.
"Hoping won't make it work"... What do you take me for? learn to read next time.
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oh, sorry, my bad
I must have been reading someone else's comments because I thought for sure I was reading that someone couldn't get it to work then later saw they were using 4S.In any case, I've read about this often, some people say it only works when they are right next to each other, even though it should work as long as you are in bluetooth range. It is a new thing, and I'm sure they will eventually work out the issues/make it work more smoothly. One thing I have noticed with my iPhone 5 is that it likes to get a power cycle from time to time, seems to clear up connectivity issues, whether it be mapping via LTE out of town, or using wifi at home. If you have other devices interacting with your bluetooth, this could be making it more difficult for AirDrop, as I said, it is new. Also, if you are on a wifi network, try getting off of it, then AirDrop, if it works after dropping the wifi network, it's possible that network was somehow holding your devices "hostage" not letting them connect direct, or just perhaps "hogging" your wifi. Or, sometimes just giving the phones a power cycle and then try again may smooth things out.
I was having difficulty first time I used it and sent my contact info to the other person via iMessage (text), they added to their contacts, then I was able to AirDrop between us, but, that may have been with Contacts only mode, not sure.
Also notice the footnote states the device must have an iCloud account, so, be sure the others are not signed out of iCloud for some reason.
oh, sorry, my bad
In any case, I've read about this often, some people say it only works when they are right next to each other, even though it should work as long as you are in bluetooth range. It is a new thing, and I'm sure they will eventually work out the issues/make it work more smoothly. One thing I have noticed with my iPhone 5 is that it likes to get a power cycle from time to time, seems to clear up connectivity issues, whether it be mapping via LTE out of town, or using wifi at home. If you have other devices interacting with your bluetooth, this could be making it more difficult for AirDrop, as I said, it is new. Also, if you are on a wifi network, try getting off of it, then AirDrop, if it works after dropping the wifi network, it's possible that network was somehow holding your devices "hostage" not letting them connect direct, or just perhaps "hogging" your wifi. Or, sometimes just giving the phones a power cycle and then try again may smooth things out.
I was having difficulty first time I used it and sent my contact info to the other person via iMessage (text), they added to their contacts, then I was able to AirDrop between us, but, that may have been with Contacts only mode, not sure.
Also notice the footnote states the device must have an iCloud account, so, be sure the others are not signed out of iCloud for some reason.
I have tried literally every combination. I even reset network settings so that my phone wouldn't automatically connect to my home Wi-Fi network. Still could not AirDrop, my phone couldn't find others and I couldn't be found.
What's so frustrating about this is that AirDrop works PERFECTLY for others. Why not for me as well? It was advertised that 5s's got this feature, so why exactly isn't it working for me?
Who knows... I just hope it's some software issue and not a hardware one.
Don't worry about it, we all make mistakes sometimes
perhaps I came off as a little harsh...Hey, just tried AirDrop again, this time with two different iPhone 5's. My 5s could not discover, nor discover either of the 5's. The 5's themselves discovered each other perfectly. I even had all 3 phones next to each other, searching for recipients to AirDrop and the 5's found each other, but not my 5s!
I guess I'll exchange the phone in December, because hopefully by then all of ugly yellow/orange tinted iPhone's have been removed and replaced with crisp, good screen iPhone's (and working AirDrop!).
I guess I'll exchange the phone in December, because hopefully by then all of ugly yellow/orange tinted iPhone's have been removed and replaced with crisp, good screen iPhone's (and working AirDrop!).
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This may sound silly, or maybe you've already tried it, but, try signing out of your Apple ID (Settings>iTunes & App Store>, click on Apple ID, on pop-up click "Sign Out"), do a power cycle (not sleep mode), then come back here and sign in, try again.Hey, just tried AirDrop again, this time with two different iPhone 5's. My 5s could not discover, nor discover either of the 5's. The 5's themselves discovered each other perfectly. I even had all 3 phones next to each other, searching for recipients to AirDrop and the 5's found each other, but not my 5s!
I guess I'll exchange the phone in December, because hopefully by then all of ugly yellow/orange tinted iPhone's have been removed and replaced with crisp, good screen iPhone's (and working AirDrop!).
I also read again how Apple states AirDrop works, perhaps you do need to be on the same wifi network, not sure.
Have you sent the others your contact info? Try giving at least one person your contact info via text/imessage, have them add it to their contacts. I say this because, even though the other had my contact info already, this worked.
A shot in the dark: are you able to iMessage with them ok? If not, perhaps you need to turn iMessage off/on to reset the settings.
If nothing helps, a trip to the Apple store if you're close, perhaps there is some hardware issue with your 5s?