If an AirDrop contact is missing, turn on Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, set Receiving to Everyone for 10 Minutes, and refresh Contacts or Apple ID.
Nothing kills a quick share like a missing AirDrop name. The good news: most cases come down to radios, visibility, or a small setting that flipped during an update. This guide walks you through fast checks, deeper fixes on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and a few reliable workarounds so your file, photo, or note reaches the right person on the first try.
AirDrop Name Not Appearing On iPhone: Quick Checks
Start with the basics. These take under a minute and solve a large share of issues. Keep both devices close (within a few meters) and awake. Stay off captive Wi-Fi or hotel networks while testing.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| You see no nearby devices | Radios off or Hotspot on | Enable Wi-Fi & Bluetooth; turn off Personal Hotspot |
| Only some people appear | Receiving set to Contacts Only | Switch to Everyone for 10 Minutes |
| One person’s phone never shows | Apple ID mismatch or old contact card | Add their Apple ID email/number to Contacts; save |
| Mac never appears for iPhone | AirDrop set to No One or firewall block | Set Allow me to be discovered by…; relax firewall |
| Prompt appears, transfer fails | Weak link or large file on flaky Wi-Fi | Move closer; retry; use iCloud Link or Messages |
Step-By-Step Fix On iPhone And iPad
Check Radios And Modes
Open Control Center. Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tiles are lit. If Airplane Mode is on, turn it off. If Personal Hotspot is active, disable it for the test. AirDrop discovery relies on Bluetooth for proximity and uses Wi-Fi for the transfer. Toggling both off and back on often clears a stale state.
Set Receiving To Everyone For 10 Minutes
Go to Settings > General > AirDrop. Change Receiving to Everyone for 10 Minutes. This bypasses contact matching and helps confirm the device is discoverable. After the share, you can move back to Contacts Only.
Make Sure The Share Sheet Points To The Right Device
From the app you’re sharing, tap the Share icon and wait a moment on the AirDrop row. If the target device shows a placeholder avatar or a generic device name, tap it anyway to trigger the prompt. If multiple names look similar, ask the receiver to open the AirDrop screen on their device; that pins their card at the top and reduces confusion.
Refresh The Contact Card
Open the person’s contact card on your phone. Add the phone number and the Apple ID email they use on the receiving device. Save. Reopen the Share sheet and look again. A stale card often blocks discovery under Contacts Only.
Sign-In Checks For iCloud
Both devices should be signed in to iCloud. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings and confirm your name shows at the top. If you see any banner asking to finish setting up, complete that first. Mismatched login states can cause odd visibility gaps.
Reboot And Reset Network States (Light Touch)
Power both devices off and back on. If the issue persists, open Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the i for your network, then tap Forget This Network and reconnect. Save deeper resets for last; the steps above fix most cases without wiping settings.
Fixes On Mac
Enable AirDrop Discovery
Open Finder and click AirDrop in the sidebar. At the bottom, set “Allow me to be discovered by” to Everyone or Contacts Only. If the window shows “AirDrop uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi,” click Turn On when prompted. Keep the window open while testing to keep the Mac discoverable.
Check Firewall Settings
Go to System Settings > Network > Firewall (or Security & Privacy on older macOS). If firewall is on, open Options and turn off “Block all incoming connections.” Leave stealth toggles off during the test. AirDrop uses well-known Apple services that need inbound allowance on the local link.
Use The Right Band And Distance
Keep both devices within a few meters. Stand away from metal racks, thick walls, or running microwaves. If your Wi-Fi uses multiple bands, staying on 5 GHz often gives steadier transfers nearby; long range may prefer 2.4 GHz. Either works once discovery triggers.
Rename The Mac For Easier Picks
Open System Settings > General > About and set a clear Name (like “Nora-MacBook”). The picker shows this label. Clear names cut down on wrong taps in busy rooms.
Match Software And Feature Behavior
Big releases can tweak AirDrop wording and prompts. On recent iOS and iPadOS, the visibility switch reads Everyone for 10 Minutes. On some older builds, you may see plain Everyone. The path to AirDrop settings moved around over the years, so the table below maps common routes you can check during a hand-off.
Official Guides For Reference
If you want Apple’s step lists, these pages are handy mid-troubleshoot reads:
Contact Details That Affect Discovery
When Receiving is set to Contacts Only, the sender must have a card that matches the receiver’s Apple ID phone or email. Two quick wins solve many “why can’t I see you” moments.
Add The Apple ID Email And Number
Ask which email and phone the receiver uses on that device. Edit their contact card to include both. Save. Reopen the Share sheet and wait a few seconds for discovery to refresh.
Turn Off Do Not Disturb During The Test
Silencing modes can hide prompts. On iPhone, open Control Center and tap the crescent icon to disable it while you send. On Mac, click Control Center and toggle it off. Turn it back on after the transfer if you like.
Interference And Range Tips
AirDrop does best when devices are close and awake. Crowded radio spaces can stall discovery. A few tweaks improve the odds:
- Stand within a couple of meters.
- Wake the screen on both devices and leave them unlocked.
- Move away from dense Wi-Fi gear or running microwaves.
- Disable VPN apps during the test if discovery fails repeatedly.
Where To Change AirDrop Settings Fast
Use this cheat sheet while coaching a friend over the phone or when you’re moving between devices. It lists the quickest screen to reach the discovery switch on each platform.
| Device | Setting | Path |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone / iPad | Receiving (Everyone for 10 Minutes) | Settings > General > AirDrop |
| iPhone / iPad | Radios | Control Center > Wi-Fi / Bluetooth |
| Mac | Discoverability | Finder > AirDrop > Allow me to be discovered by… |
| Mac | Firewall options | System Settings > Network > Firewall |
| Both | Name label | System/About screen > Name |
When You Still Can’t See Each Other
If discovery still fails after the checks above, try these targeted moves. They isolate quirks without heavy resets.
Test With Everyone For 10 Minutes On Both Devices
Turn the visibility switch to the open setting on both sides. If the card appears now, the contact-matching path is the blocker. Keep both Apple ID email and phone on the saved contact card for next time.
Share From Photos Using A Link
In Photos, pick the items, tap Share, then choose Copy iCloud Link. Send the link over Messages. This isn’t the same as AirDrop, but it gets large media across fast while you sort out the picker.
Use Messages For Nearby Shares
Tap the contact in Messages and send the item straight into the thread. For mixed devices or flaky rooms, this route is dependable and quick.
Try A Different Network
Some office or hotel setups block discovery. Step off guest Wi-Fi and test in a private space. Hotspot off, radios on, screens awake.
Small Mac-Specific Quirks
Old Finder Window State
Close all Finder windows, then open a fresh one and click AirDrop in the sidebar. That window keeps discovery alive. Leaving it open during the transfer helps.
Bluetooth Menu Reset
Click the Bluetooth menu and turn it off and on. Then toggle Wi-Fi off and on. Small state clears like this bring back the AirDrop card without touching deeper settings.
Privacy Tips While You Share
Leaving your device on open discovery all day can draw random prompts in crowded places. Switch to Contacts Only when you’re done, and keep your device name clear but not personal. On iPhone, the share prompt shows a preview of what you’re sending; double-check the item and the name before you tap Send.
Before You Try Again
Go down this quick list:
- Wi-Fi on, Bluetooth on, Hotspot off.
- Receiving set to Everyone for 10 Minutes.
- Both devices unlocked and within a couple of meters.
- Contact card saved with the Apple ID email and phone.
- On Mac, Finder > AirDrop window open and firewall not blocking all.
With these in place, discovery usually snaps back. If not, share with iCloud Link or Messages to keep work moving, then circle back to the tables above to target the blocker. Once the underlying setting is fixed, you can go right back to quick taps and instant shares.