I want to move a .mov file from my iMac running MacOS 10.13.6 to my iPad Mini 7 running iPadOS 26.7.1 Both have Bluetooth & WiFi turned on and both are on the WiFi network. AirDrop is active on both also. HOWEVER, the iMac doesn’t see the iPad but tells me to activate AirDrop in the Finder of the receiving device.
Any idea as to why AirDrop doesn’t work?
Recently I have encountered intermittent failures with Airdrop between Mac and iPad. Might be due to a recent OS update.
I got around the problem by emailing the files to myself!
If it is a bug I hope Apple fixes it soon.
Report it via feedback if you want it fixed.
Install Blip on both and use that instead.
Doesn’t work on MacOS 10.13.6
However, I might be able to temporarily use the MBA I use for my tax software.
Edit 1. Well that didn’t work. Copied the video over to the other Mac, installed Blip on both the Mac and the iPad, selected the video, entered my email address in Blip on the Mac, said it found me, then nothing happens.
Edit 2. AirDrop worked between the Mac and the iPad. I guess AirDrop doesn’t work in High Sierra very well.
I use Blip, but LocalSend has a lot of fans as an alternative.
Unfortunately, my wife and I have both experienced intermittent failures using AirDrop between our iPhones and our iMacs, both between our own devices as well as from mine to hers or vice versa.
Sometimes, just canceling and attempting to transfer again is enough to get it to work (proving it’s not a config issue). Other times, we just can’t be bothered to fiddle around and simply resort to email. It’s annoying — this is after all happening on recent hardware and using the current/patched OS versions. It sure would be nice if Apple could get it to work more reliably. But then again, I’m afraid that could be said of a lot of their software these days. AirDrop would otherwise be such a convenient feature.