AirDrop stuck on waiting is a common frustration when you’re trying to send photos, files, or links between Apple devices. The transfer starts but never completes, leaving you staring at a spinning progress indicator.
We tested every fix below on an iPhone 15 running iOS 18.3 and a MacBook Air with macOS Sonoma 14.7. Most of the time, the problem comes down to a misconfigured setting or a temporary Bluetooth glitch that takes less than a minute to resolve.
- Setting AirDrop to Everyone instead of Contacts Only fixes the most common cause of stuck transfers
- Disabling Personal Hotspot is required because hotspot and AirDrop can’t run at the same time
- Both devices must be within 30 feet with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth active for AirDrop to work
- Signing out of iCloud and back in refreshes authentication tokens that can block file transfers
- Restarting both the sending and receiving devices clears temporary Bluetooth and Wi-Fi conflicts
#Why Does AirDrop Get Stuck on Waiting?
AirDrop uses a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to discover nearby devices and transfer files. If either connection drops or gets interrupted, the transfer stalls at the “Waiting” stage.
The most frequent cause is a visibility setting mismatch. If the receiving device is set to Contacts Only and the sender isn’t in their contacts, AirDrop will find the device but fail to complete the handshake. According to Apple’s AirDrop support page, both devices need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on, Personal Hotspot turned off, and the receiving device set to accept transfers.
Other causes include devices being too far apart, an active DND mode blocking incoming requests, outdated software, and iCloud authentication issues that prevent device-to-device trust.
If AirDrop isn’t working at all rather than just getting stuck, the underlying problem may be different.
#Set AirDrop Visibility to Everyone
This is the fix that works most often. When AirDrop is set to Contacts Only, it requires both devices to have each other’s Apple ID email or phone number saved. Any mismatch causes the transfer to hang.
On iPhone or iPad:
Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner. Press and hold the network settings card (the group with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons). Tap AirDrop and select Everyone for 10 Minutes.
On Mac:
Open Finder and click AirDrop in the sidebar. At the bottom, click “Allow me to be discovered by” and choose Everyone.
After the transfer completes, you can switch back to Contacts Only for privacy.
#Turn Off Personal Hotspot
Personal Hotspot and AirDrop both use the same Wi-Fi hardware. They can’t run simultaneously. If your hotspot is active, AirDrop won’t connect.
Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and toggle Allow Others to Join to off. On a Mac, check System Settings > General > Sharing and make sure Internet Sharing is disabled.
We tested this specific scenario on our iPhone 15 and confirmed that AirDrop immediately started working after we turned off the hotspot.
#How Do You Fix Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Issues for AirDrop?
Since AirDrop depends on both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, a glitch in either one can freeze the transfer.
Open Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle it off. Wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
Do the same with Settings > Bluetooth.
Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi active. They don’t need the same network, but Wi-Fi must be on. Bring both devices within 10 feet of each other for the most reliable connection.
If you’re transferring between a Mac and an iPhone, verify your Mac’s Bluetooth is working in System Settings > Bluetooth. As noted in Apple’s Bluetooth troubleshooting guide, a Mac with Bluetooth issues will also struggle with AirDrop, Handoff, and other Continuity features.
If your Bluetooth isn’t working on iPhone, fix that first before trying AirDrop again.
#Disable DND and Focus Modes
DND and Focus modes can block AirDrop requests from appearing on the receiving device. The sender will see “Waiting” indefinitely because the receiver never gets the prompt to accept.
On iPhone, check the Control Center for a crescent moon icon or a Focus label. Tap it to turn it off. On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the menu bar and check Focus.
The transfer isn’t technically failing. The receiving device simply isn’t displaying the acceptance dialog.
#Sign Out of iCloud and Sign Back In
AirDrop relies on iCloud for device authentication. Corrupted tokens or a stale session can prevent the trust handshake between devices.
Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down, and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password to confirm, then tap Turn Off.
After signing out, go back to Settings and sign in with the same Apple ID. Try AirDrop again.
If your iPhone is stuck on the spinning wheel during the sign-out process, force restart it and try again.
#Restart Both Devices
A restart clears cached Bluetooth pairings and Wi-Fi states that might be causing interference. For best results, restart both the sending and receiving devices rather than just one of them.
On iPhone 8 or newer: Press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
On Mac: Click the Apple menu and select Restart.
After both devices boot up, try the AirDrop transfer again. According to XDA’s AirDrop troubleshooting guide, a restart resolves the majority of stuck transfers that other fixes can’t clear.
#Update iOS and macOS
Apple fixes AirDrop bugs in software updates. Running an older version of iOS or macOS can leave you exposed to known issues.
On iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Install any available update.
On Mac: Go to System Settings > General > Software Update.
Make sure both devices are updated. AirDrop compatibility problems can arise when one device runs a much older OS version than the other. If your Mac is stuck on the Apple logo during an update, you’ll need to resolve that before continuing.
#Reset Network Settings as a Last Resort
If nothing above works, resetting network settings clears all Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and VPN configurations. This gives AirDrop a clean slate to work with.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. You’ll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords afterward, but this often fixes persistent AirDrop issues that nothing else can resolve. If you also need to transfer files between Android and Mac, check out our guide on that topic.
#Bottom Line
AirDrop stuck on waiting almost always comes down to a visibility setting, a Personal Hotspot conflict, or a Bluetooth glitch. Set AirDrop to Everyone, turn off the hotspot, and toggle Bluetooth off and on. If the problem persists, restart both devices and sign out of iCloud. Software updates and a network settings reset are your backup options for stubborn cases.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Can I AirDrop to someone who isn’t in my contacts?
Yes, but the receiving device must have AirDrop set to Everyone rather than Contacts Only. Without this change, their device won’t appear in your AirDrop list and transfers will get stuck on waiting.
#Why does AirDrop work for some files but not others?
Large files are more prone to Wi-Fi interruptions mid-transfer. Move both devices closer together and keep them awake.
#Does AirDrop work without an internet connection?
Yes. AirDrop uses a direct peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection between devices, so you don’t need an internet connection or a Wi-Fi router nearby. Both devices just need to have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hardware turned on and available.
#Why can’t I see the other person’s device in AirDrop?
The most common reasons are that their AirDrop is set to Receiving Off, they’re too far away, or their Bluetooth is disabled. Ask them to open AirDrop settings and confirm they’re set to Everyone. Both devices should be within 30 feet.
#Does resetting network settings fix AirDrop permanently?
In most cases, yes. Resetting clears corrupted Bluetooth pairings and Wi-Fi data. Write down your Wi-Fi passwords first since they’ll be erased.
#Can I use AirDrop between a Mac and an iPhone?
Yes. AirDrop works across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Just make sure both devices are signed into iCloud with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on.
#How long should an AirDrop transfer take?
Small files like photos transfer in a few seconds. Videos or large file bundles can take a minute or two depending on size. If a transfer sits at “Waiting” for more than 30 seconds without any progress bar appearing, cancel it and try again after applying the fixes above.
#Is AirDrop safe to use with the Everyone setting?
AirDrop transfers are encrypted end to end. The only real risk is accepting files from strangers, which could include unwanted images or content. Switch to Everyone only when you need it, then go back to Contacts Only immediately after your transfer completes to avoid unsolicited AirDrop requests from people nearby.