AirDrop is an incredibly useful feature on iOS devices that allows you to quickly and easily share photos, videos, documents and more between Apple devices. However, sometimes AirDrop Not Working on iOS 17 properly after updating to the latest version of iOS.
If you recently updated to iOS 17 and are having issues using AirDrop, don’t worry – there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to get AirDrop working again. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the top solutions for fixing AirDrop problems on iOS 17.
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Troubleshooting Steps for Fixing AirDrop on iOS 17
Here are the best tips for getting AirDrop functioning again if you’re experiencing problems after updating to iOS 17:
Double Check AirDrop Settings
The first step is to open up your Settings app and ensure AirDrop is enabled. Go to Settings > General > AirDrop and confirm the following:
- AirDrop is toggled ON (green)
- The “Allow Me to be Discovered By” setting is configured correctly
- If you want to be able to AirDrop with everyone, choose “Everyone”
- If you only want to share via AirDrop with your contacts, select “Contacts Only”
If AirDrop was disabled or the discovery setting was configured incorrectly, changing these preferences may fix your issue.
Restart Your iPhone or iPad
A simple device restart can often resolve temporary software glitches that are preventing AirDrop from working properly.
To restart your iOS device, hold down the Side button and either Volume button at the same time until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your device. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo to turn your iPhone or iPad back on.
Once the reboot is complete, try using AirDrop again to see if the issue is resolved.
Update to the Latest iOS Version
Ensuring your iPhone or iPad is updated to the latest iOS version is always recommended, as Apple is constantly releasing bug fixes and improvements.
To check for an iOS update, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your device. If an update is available, tap “Download and Install” to upgrade to the newest version of iOS.
If your device was somehow not fully updated to iOS 17, installing the latest update may fix any AirDrop bugs.
Sign Out and Back Into iCloud
An iCloud issue could potentially be at the root of your AirDrop problems, so signing out and back in is worth trying.
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and tap “Sign Out”. Confirm that you want to sign out of iCloud. After signing out, go back into your iCloud settings and sign in again using your Apple ID and password.
Once you’ve signed back into iCloud, AirDrop may start working properly again.
Reset Network Settings
Resetting your network settings will clear any corrupted network-related settings that could be interfering with connections like AirDrop.
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Enter your passcode if prompted. This will reset your Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairs, cellular settings and other network preferences back to their defaults.
After your device reboots, try using AirDrop again. Resetting the network settings often resolves connectivity issues like AirDrop Not Working on iOS 17 properly.
Update iOS Devices You’re Trying to AirDrop With
If you’re trying to AirDrop between multiple iOS devices, make sure the device you’re sending to also has iOS updated to the latest version.
AirDrop requires both the sending and receiving devices to be running recent software versions. If the device you’re trying to send to is running an outdated iOS version, update that device and then try AirDrop again.
Move Closer to Other Device
AirDrop relies on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections. Try moving the two devices closer together, within 30 feet ideally. Clear any obstacles between the two devices as well.
If the devices were too far apart or objects were blocking the connection, reducing the distance between them may allow AirDrop to work again.
Turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Off and On
On each device, toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off and back on via Control Center. This refreshes the connections and can get AirDrop working again if there was a temporary software glitch.
Swipe down from the top right of the screen to open Control Center. Press and hold the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons to toggle them off. Then tap the icons again to turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on.
Now try re-initiating the AirDrop transfer.
Hard Reset iPhone or iPad
If nothing else has worked, performing a hard reset on your iOS device may resolve even the most stubborn AirDrop Not Working on iOS 17 issues.
To hard reset an iPhone 8 or later, press and quickly release the Volume Up button, press and quickly release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
For iPhone 7 or earlier, press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons at the same time until you see the Apple logo.
On iPad with Face ID, press and hold the Top button and either Volume button at the same time. For an iPad with a Home button, hold down the Home button and Top button simultaneously.
Keep holding the buttons until the Apple logo appears. This will force your device to restart, which often fixes AirDrop connection problems.
Contact Apple Support
If you still can’t get AirDrop working after trying all of the steps above, your last resort may be to contact Apple support. Explain the issue you’re experiencing and the troubleshooting you’ve done.
The Apple support team may be able to provide specialized troubleshooting tips or diagnose if the issue requires a repair. In some cases they can screen share with you to investigate the problem in real-time.
They can also run diagnostics and check if your hardware components like the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antennas are functioning properly. Let them know AirDrop was working before you updated to iOS 17, as that provides an important clue.
Why AirDrop May Stop Working After an iOS Update
AirDrop relies on both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections being active to function. It’s utilizing a combination of these two wireless technologies to detect nearby devices and transfer files between them.
That’s why sometimes significant iOS updates like iOS 17 can inadvertently cause issues with AirDrop if they make changes to the network stack or Bluetooth/Wi-Fi firmware on your device.
Here are some of the most common reasons an iOS update can break AirDrop:
- Buggy changes to the Wi-Fi driver or firmware that causes connectivity problems.
- Bluetooth issues caused by firmware or driver regressions.
- Incompatible network configuration changes that break communication between devices.
- Problems with Bonjour services broadcasting and discovering other devices.
- iCloud account issues preventing proper device pairing for AirDrop.
- General software bugs introduced that disrupt connections required for AirDrop to function.
Luckily, the troubleshooting steps outlined above can usually resolve these types of issues by resetting settings and connections, installing fresh updates, or removing corrupt settings files.
When to Use Each Troubleshooting Step
Wondering when you should try each of the troubleshooting tips mentioned in this guide? Here’s a quick rundown of what scenarios call for each solution:
- Check AirDrop settings – If you haven’t checked AirDrop since updating iOS, always verify the settings first.
- Restart devices – Try restarting if AirDrop stopped working immediately after an iOS update.
- Update iOS – Update software if certain devices are running older iOS versions.
- Sign out of iCloud – Attempt when AirDrop works inconsistently or only with certain contacts.
- Reset network settings – Fixes general wireless connection issues impacting AirDrop.
- Update other devices – Update if you can’t AirDrop between iOS and MacOS devices for example.
- Move devices closer – Can resolve spotty connections between remote devices.
- Toggle Wi-Fi/Bluetooth – Fix for connectivity problems like devices not discovering each other.
- Hard reset – Last resort when AirDrop is completely non-functional and other steps don’t work.
- Contact Apple – Seek support after exhausting all standard troubleshooting methods.
Following this sequence will ensure you methodically eliminate the most likely culprits first. Start with simpler fixes before moving onto more advanced troubleshooting.
Preventing AirDrop Issues in the Future
To help avoid AirDrop malfunctions after future iOS updates, here are some handy tips:
- Always update both devices to the latest iOS version as soon as possible. Don’t delay updates.
- Back up your devices regularly via iCloud or iTunes. This gives you the option to revert to a previous working backup.
- Double check AirDrop settings after every major iOS update. Toggle it off and back on.
- Monitor iOS release notes for mentions of AirDrop fixes. Updates may resolve your issue.
- Report any significant AirDrop bugs you encounter to Apple via their Feedback website.
- Consider turning off Automatic Updates if you rely heavily on AirDrop for work. Test updates first.
- Avoid using the iOS beta program on your primary devices used for AirDrop. Betas are less stable.
- If issues persist after multiple iOS updates, schedule a Genius Bar appointment for deeper troubleshooting help.
Following these best practices will minimize the chances you encounter AirDrop problems after iOS updates going forward.
Conclusion
Hopefully this guide gave you everything you need to get AirDrop working again if it stops functioning after updating to iOS 17. The key takeaways are:
- Verify AirDrop settings are correct after updating
- Restarting, resetting network settings, and toggling Wi-Fi/Bluetooth can clear up software glitches
- Always update both sending and receiving devices to the latest iOS versions
- Hardware issues may require contacting Apple support for diagnosis
- Prevent problems by promptly installing updates, testing betas, and backing up devices
With the troubleshooting steps provided above, you should be able to resolve most common AirDrop problems encountered on iOS 17. Just work through each solution methodically until you get AirDrop up and running again.
