How to Fix AirDrop Declined -The Best Solution 2023

AirDrop is among the most notable features of Apple devices that help you transfer data between two Apple devices. Most iOS users rely on this service every time they need to send files, but at times, AirDrop can be finicky for no obvious reason.

Lately, many users are reporting that they are experiencing the AirDrop declined error whenever they try to share files. This can be extremely annoying and needs a quick way out.

That's why this article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to fix AirDrop, not working issues. Stick to reading and find out.

Part 1: What is AirDrop and Why is My Mac Declining AirDrop?

AirDrop is a trademark feature of Apple that allows users to share files between iOS devices and Mac wirelessly. Consider it as an advanced version of Bluetooth that aims to make file transfer as easy and convenient as possible.

With this service, you can send documents, photos, videos, contact details, and other files between iPhone/iPad and Mac. All the latest iOS devices come with this feature pre-installed.

But despite its brilliance, AirDrop often shows issues during file transfer. Some of the common reasons of why AirDrop declined include, but not limited to:

1Minimum AirDrop Requirements

AirDrop won't work if your iOS devices are not compatible with AirDrop. Make sure your iPhone or iPad is running on iOS 7 or later while the Mac device has 2012 and later versions of macOS.

In addition, both devices should be placed close to each other. They don't have to be very close, but near enough to let AirDrop detect them.

2Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are Not Enabled

Make sure the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both devices. Note that AirDrop doesn't need Wi-Fi to transfer files, but Wi-Fi has to be turned on for AirDrop to work.

3Issue in Wi-Fi Network

In many cases, AirDrop doesn't work properly due to an error in Wi-Fi or network settings. The simplest way to troubleshoot this problem is by resetting the network settings on both your devices.

4Display Status

AirDrop requires an active display status on Mac and iOS devices to work properly. That is, your iPhone or Mac should not be asleep while you are trying to share files via AirDrop.

Part 2: Common Solutions to Fix the AirDrop Declined Issue

Implement the below solutions one by one until the issue gets fixed.

1Turn On Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

As mentioned earlier, AirDrop uses Bluetooth to establish a Wi-Fi connection between the devices that want to share and receive files. So, the first thing you should be doing is turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both your devices.

To enable Bluetooth on iPhone or Ipad, simply head to the Control Center or Settings and enable Bluetooth.

On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon on the menu bar and enable Bluetooth. Now, try to connect both devices.

If the issue persists, turn off Bluetooth on both devices for about 20-30 seconds, then enable it again.

If still your iPhone declined AirDrop, head to the next solution.

2Turn Off Personal Hotspot on iPhone

It may occur that you may have enabled a personal hotspot on iPhone which can be the reason why AirDrop declined.

Stating the obvious, you should turn off your personal hotspot. To do that, go to Settings > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot and turn it off.

If you're using the newer iPhone, go to the Control Center > long-press the Bluetooth icon, and tap the Mobile Hotspot icon to turn it on.

3Make Sure Your iPhone or iPad is Unlocked

Make sure your iPhone isn't locked or powered off when you're trying to send files from another iPhone or Mac. AirDrop fails to detect the device when it is in sleep mode or locked.

Similarly, the Mac shouldn't be in sleep mode. Simply, press any key on your Mac to wake it up.

4Restart Both Devices

A minor glitch or bug in either of your iOS device or Mac can be the culprit of why AirDrop declined. The quickest way to troubleshoot these errors is by restarting your iPhone and Mac.

After restarting, try to send the files again and hopefully, AirDrop will work fine. If not, continue reading.

5Disable Firewall on Your Mac

Sometimes, the antivirus installed on your Mac might interfere with the normal functioning of AirDrop, leading to all sorts of issues, including AirDrop declined on Mac.

What you need to do is limit the strictness of your Mac's firewall temporarily until you share the files. Here's how to do that:

Step 1. Hit the Apple icon in the menu bar and go to System Preferences... > Security & Privacy.

Step 2. You may have to enter the password to get going.

Step 3. In this step, be sure to uncheck the "Block all incoming connections" option. Also, check the box next to "Automatically allow built-in software to receive incoming connections."

Step 4. Hit Ok and try to use AirDrop again.

6Reset Network Settings

In many cases, a small bug in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or network settings can make AirDrop not work properly. To get rid of this, you need to reset the network settings on both devices.

Follow the below steps to do that:

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [Device] > Reset Network Settings.

On your Mac, head to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Network. Here, remove

Part 3: AirDroid Personal – A Perfect Alternative to AirDrop

AirDrop is an efficient service for sharing data between two Apple devices. But due to unexpected issues, it often shows, many users look for alternative options to improve the file transfer experience.

That's where AirDroid Personal becomes your ideal companion. This feature-rich program is a one-stop solution to share unlimited files between your Apple devices. It boasts of its super-fast speed, intuitive interface, and tons of additional features that AirDrop doesn't offer.

For one, it allows cross-platform data transfer. Now, you can easily transfer files between any two devices, including Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows. On top of that, it gives you the freedom to send data to multiple devices in one go.

In the below steps, we will learn how to transfer data between two iPhones using AirDroid Personal.

Step 1. Install AirDroid mobile app on both iPhones and log in with the same AirDroid account.

Step 2. Launch the app on the first iPhone, tap the Nearby tab, and choose your other iPhone.

Step 3. Once both phones are connected remotely, tap the Transfer icon and hit the paperclip icon > Files. Now, select the files you want to send.

Step 4. Hit the Send option to send data.

Final Remarks

That brings us to the end of this article. Hopefully, you are in a better position to understand why your AirDrop declined and how to fix it. Just implement the aforementioned tips one by one until your AirDrop is smooth sailing.

But if AirDrop is still not working or you want a better alternative to AirDrop, then get AirDroid Personal.

FAQs

Here are some important queries of users.

1. Why is my AirDrop declining?

Some of the common causes of AirDrop decline are:

2. Why does my Mac decline AirDrop?

AirDrop can face problems on Mac if: