Some iPhone 14 Owners Unable to Use AirDrop With Contacts

[MacRumors]

AirDrop is not functioning as intended on some iPhone 14 models, according to numerous reports on the MacRumors forums and from MacRumors readers about the issue. When attempting to send a file from an iPhone 14 to the iPhone of a contact, affected users are not able to get the transfer to complete.

A file sent to a contact shows a "Waiting" message indefinitely, with the person on the other end not receiving a message to accept the AirDrop transfer. From MacRumors forum member Bexx:

Yes! Having the exact same issue. Tried to send my husband a photo earlier and it said it was connecting but his iPhone X did nothing. But if I enable "everyone" so he shows up as just anyone, it lets me send no problem. I can, however, Airdrop to my own devices. Just not contacts.

The problem appears to be with the iPhone 14 models rather than iOS 16, but it is possible that some people running iOS 16 could also be experiencing issues. At the current time, we've only heard reports from iPhone 14 owners.

As noted on the forums, there is a partial workaround that can be used. To send a file to a contact, AirDrop settings must be changed to "Everyone" rather than "Contacts." AirDrop settings can be accessed by opening up the Control Center and long pressing on the top left block. Tap on "AirDrop" and then choose the "Everyone" option.

Unfortunately, this workaround is not compatible with password sharing, as sending a password to another person requires both participants to have each other's contact information saved in the iPhone. From MacRumors reader Patrick:

Contacted Apple today through support as Airdrop not working between the two new 14 PM. They has me reset carrier settings change to everyone instead of contacts and finally got it to work. The odd thing is the normal airdrop person emoji I would use doesn't work, I have to be on "everyone" and then I can see my spouse's phone under "other". I tried sharing a password through Apple passwords and get a message stating the person isn't in my contacts. I assume iCloud contacts are not matching possibly?

Apple is aware of the issue, according to multiple readers who contacted Apple Support, so a fix is likely going to be coming in the near future.

Article Link: Some iPhone 14 Owners Unable to Use AirDrop With Contacts

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Airdrop is fun on airplanes.

 

[MrGimper]

No issue on 14 Pro Max to several contacts.

 

[Adithya007]

what a release apple!

 

[antiprotest]

This is only an issue if you have friends.

 

[tonie walker]

so much more for one more thing… also ios16 broke my home automation, until now still not working.

 

[KrisLord]

Tested my 14 pro to my daughters iPad and it’s working ok.

 

[F23]

what the hell is going on with all these issues from hardware to software

 

[cocky jeremy]

Airdrop is fun on airplanes.

Or amusement parks.

 

[iLoveMyApple]

I was having AirDrop issues yesterday at lunch with friends. They were trying to AirDrop me the menu because my 14 Pro Max wasn’t scanning the QR code menu but my name wouldn’t even pop up for them to send me anything. Tried everything and my phone still wasn’t appearing.

 

[stan1028]

The same happened to me. My contacts doesn’t seem to appear in the people that I know but under others instead.

 

[Radeon85]

iOS 16 is turning into an absolute disaster, what was the point of the betas again if it's released in this crap state.

 

[MrGimper]

what the hell is going on with all these issues from hardware to software

There is no "all these issues" .... Some people are affected, like with literally everything.

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

so much more for one more thing… also ios16 broke my home automation, until now still not working.

iOS 16 broke fast charging in my iPhone 13 Pro. Now it takes 1 hours and a half to get to 40%

 

[haruhiko]

This issue is not specific to iPhone 14… I’ve had multiple experience of stuck AirDrop transfers which required a reboot of both iPhone to work again.

 

[bigchrisfgb]

iOS 16 is turning into an absolute disaster, what was the point of the betas again if it's released in this crap state.

The problem is too many people have access to Beta’s who don’t actually report bugs and only want it so that they receive the new version of iOS before anyone else.

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

There is no "all these issues" .... Some people are affected, like with literally everything.

There is. Please stop minimizing this. iOS 16 is a mess. First it was the draining battery, now fast charge doesn’t even work. Then on my new iPhone I got a blank screen. The wifi couldn’t be connected so Apple had to release a quick fix. The cameras don’t work.

This is just bad across all places

 

[MobiusTech]

Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave. Tim Apple is to blame.

 

[ghostface147]

And the list keeps growing. Not the best release so far.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

And this is why you don't buy new phones at launch

 

[ponzicoinbro]

No issue on 14 Pro Max to several contacts.

Doubt it has to do with iOS 16 or this phone specifically.

Airdrop and direct Bluetooth transfers have always had intermittent problems going back since they were invented. Radio interference and all that jazz is difficult AF.

 

[MrGimper]

There is. Please stop minimizing this. iOS 16 is a mess. First it was the draining battery, now fast charge doesn’t even work. Then on my new iPhone I got a blank screen. The wifi couldn’t be connected so Apple had to release a quick fix. The cameras don’t work.

This is just bad across all places

Sorry you're experiencing a whole bunch of issues I, and nobody I know, are experiencing.

 

[arkitect]

The more I read about the 14 the happier I am with my strategy of never updating within the first 6 months after release.

 

[CarAnalogy]

This is not a new feature. I've had trouble AirDropping before. It (almost) always works sending to my own devices, but can be hit or miss with others.

 

[CarAnalogy]

The more I read about the 14 the happier I am with my strategy of never updating within the first 6 months after release.

I really should have held off. The new lockscreen is nice but the whole OS is buggy in a way I've never seen before.

They spent all their time on Dynamic Island and the rest of the OS is a buggy mess.

It seriously feels like Android, but without the freedom. Autocorrect has definitely been updated, and it's worse than ever. Siri spotlight suggestions are broken. Everything is just laggy and buggy.