AirDrop is designed to let you send and receive photos, videos, map locations, documents, contacts, passwords and anything else that can be transferred via the in-app Share button on your Apple device. The only problem is that it doesn’t always work. If AirDrop is not working on your iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max, this article offers some troubleshooting steps that may help.
To use AirDrop on your iPhone 16, open the file you want to share, then tap Share or the Share button. Tap the AirDrop button, then tap the user that you want to share with.
When someone shares something with you using AirDrop, you see an alert. You can tap Accept or Decline. For most apps, if you tap Accept, the AirDrop will come through within the same app it was sent from. For example, photos appear in the Photos app and websites open in Safari. App links open in the App Store so you can download or purchase the app. If you AirDrop something to yourself, like a photo from your iPhone 16 to your Mac, you won’t see an option to Accept or Decline—it’ll automatically get sent to your device. Just make sure that both devices are signed in with the same Apple Account.
Common iPhone 16 AirDrop issues include:
- AirDrop is not working as expected.
- AirDrop doesn’t show up.
- AirDrop is saying “waiting” then “failed”.
- The other device can’t be seen.
Try these troubleshooting steps one by one until your problem is fixed.
1. Check AirDrop Settings
There is one inactive setting and two active settings for AirDrop: Receiving Off prevents anyone from sharing anything with you over AirDrop, Contacts Only limits shares to people whose email address or mobile number appears in your contacts, and Everyone for 10 Minutes temporarily accepts shares from any sender.
If you’re having trouble getting AirDrop to work on your iPhone 16, try switching to Everyone for 10 Minutes if it’s not already selected.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone 16.
- Go into General.
- Tap AirDrop.
- Select Everyone for 10 Minutes.
Please also check if the person you’re sending to has their AirDrop receiving setting to to Everyone for 10 minutes.
2. Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
You probably know that AirDrop relies on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to transfer files over the air, so you should make sure both of these wireless networks are turned on for the devices you want to use to AirDrop.
To check wireless settings on your iPhone 16: open the Settings app and go into Wi-Fi. To the right of Wi-Fi, make sure the button is swiped to the right. Then tap the Back button to go back to the main Settings page and tap Bluetooth. Make sure the Bluetooth button is on as well.
3. Toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
If you’re still having trouble getting AirDrop to work on your iPhone 16, try switching off both radios completely on your device, then turn them back on again.
Open the Settings app and go into Wi-Fi. Tap the switch next to Wi-Fi to toggle it off, then tap it again to turn it back on. Then tap the Back button to go back to the main Settings page and tap Bluetooth. Tap the switch next to Bluetooth to toggle it off, then tap it again to turn it back on.
4. Make sure the iPhone is unlocked
If you’re trying to AirDrop something to someone else’s iPhone or someone is AirDropping to you, here’s an easy fix: Make sure the target phone is turned on and unlocked. A locked iPhone won’t appear as a device that’s available to receive files via AirDrop.
5. Disable Personal Hotspot
If either of you have Personal Hotspot on, AirDrop won’t work. The only solution is to turn off the Personal Hotspot. This will make the internet connection unavailable to the device that was using the hotspot, but you can always turn it back on again once you’ve transferred files over AirDrop.
- Go to Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot or Settings > Personal Hotspot.
- Turn off the slider next to Allow Others to Join.
6. Bring the Devices Closer to Each Other
When a shared Wi-Fi network isn’t available, AirDrop relies exclusively on Bluetooth to find devices and transfer files.
Bluetooth has a range of about 33 feet (10 meters) on an iPhone 16, so make sure the two devices you want to use AirDrop between are within this range, otherwise it might not work.
If you’re near someone in your Contacts, you can share by opening the content that you want to share, then bringing your devices together. Please note for this to work the other person must be using iPhone with iOS 17 or newer.
7. Force restart your iPhone
If none of the above have solved AirDrop issues on an iPhone 16, try doing a force restart.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button.
- Keep holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Contact Apple Support
If none of the above steps have solved your iPhone 16 AirDrop issue, it could be down to a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi hardware issue. If in doubt, the best course of action is to contact Apple Support or book a Genius Bar appointment at your nearest Apple store and they can run a diagnostic check on your device.