Is AirDrop not working on your iPhone 14 Pro Max? Fortunately, you don’t have to pull a lot of strings just to get it back going again. In this article, we will show you various tips you can use to fix the problem of AirDrop not working on iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Note: information in this article apply to iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Many iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max users have reported issues with their AirDrop. So, before we proceed further, know that you are not alone in your struggle.
We’ll walk you through some common AirDrop issues you may be facing with your iPhone 14 Pro Max and offer a series of solutions to help you out. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
AirDrop problems on iPhone 14 Pro Max
- AirDrop keeps saying it’s waiting
- AirDrop fails to save an item
- You cannot detect other AirDrop devices around you
- AirDrop cancels or declines transfers
- Slow transfers of files
- AirDrop is not showing up at all on your device
Top Ways to Fix AirDrop Not Working on iPhone 14 Pro Max
1. Update iOS
Before you go through any other troubleshooting steps for your iPhone 14 Pro Max AirDrop issues, make sure you’re using the latest version of iOS.
- Open your Settings and select General.
- Choose Software Update. You should notice an indicator next to the feature name if an update is available.
- Tap Download & Install and follow the prompts to update your iPhone.
After you install the update, check if AirDrop is working. If you do not have a software update available or the update did not fix your iPhone 14 Pro Max AirDrop problem, move on to the next solution.
2. AirDrop Not Working on iPhone 14 Pro Max? Make Sure You Are Discoverable
AirDrop has a few settings that control if others can see your iOS device. These settings can block devices from appearing, or only allow some individuals to be able to see you.
AirDrop uses three discovery settings:
Off: Your device is not seen by anyone on your local network.
Contacts Only: Only those people who are present in your Contacts app will be able to see your device in their AirDrop network.
Everyone: All devices that are nearby and have AirDrop enabled will be able to see your device.
If you’re having trouble getting AirDrop to work, try switching to Everyone if it’s not already selected.
- Open your Settings and select General.
- Select AirDrop.
- Choose Everyone.
3. Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are Enabled
AirDrop relies on both Bluetooth to detect devices within 30-feet and Wi-Fi to perform the actual data transfer. If either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is not turned on AirDrop will not function.
4. Make Sure Your iPhone Is Awake and Unlocked
Your iPhone needs to be awake to be visible to other AirDrop devices. AirDrop requests will appear as notifications on your lock screen when your device is locked. For best results, make sure your device is awake, unlocked, and ready to receive.
5. Disable Focus Mode
If Focus mode is enabled on your iPhone 14 Pro Max, you won’t be able to receive AirDrop requests. To disable Focus mode, go to Settings > Focus. You can also toggle the Focus icon in Control Center.
6. Disable Personal Hotspot
You cannot use AirDrop if you have a Personal Hotspot connected. To disable Personal Hotspot, follow these steps:
- Open your Settings and select Cellular.
- Toggle Off “Personal Hotspot.”
7. Receive Different File Types Separately
When you receive a file via AirDrop, it opens immediately in the relevant app. This sometimes causes issues if you try to send multiple filetypes in one transfer.
Split up your transfers by filetype before you send them via AirDrop to an iOS device and see if this solves the issue.
8. Toggle Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
To toggle Wi-Fi on iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open your Settings and select Wi-Fi.
- Tap the switch next to Wi-Fi to toggle it off, then tap it again to turn it back on.
To toggle Bluetooth on iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open your Settings and select Bluetooth.
- Tap the switch next to Bluetooth to toggle it off, then tap it again to turn it back on.
9. Restart Your iPhone
Assuming the above didn’t work, and because this is a hardware and software issue, it’s always worth switching both devices off and back on again, before attempting to use AirDrop again.
Switch off your devices and turn them on again.
- Open your Settings and select General.
- Tap Shut Down.
10. 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 modern iPhones, so make sure the your iPhone 14 Pro Max and the other device you want to use AirDrop between are within this range, otherwise it might not work
11. Hard Reset Your iPhone
If none of the above have solved AirDrop issues on an iPhone 14 Pro Max, try doing a hard reset.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears, then release the Side button.
During this process, you will see a slider to power off the iPhone. You’re going to want to ignore it and continue holding down the Side button until the screen goes black. At that point, the Apple logo will pop up, and after the restart is complete, the screen will activate once again.
12. Reset Network Settings
If none of the above have solved AirDrop issues on your iPhone 14 Pro Max, try resetting network settings. This resets all known Wi-Fi networks, and VPN, APN, and Cellular settings to their default values. You’ll have to reconnect to all of your Wi-Fi networks afterward.
- Go to your Settings and select General.
- Scroll to the bottom and pick Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Choose Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your password when prompted.
Your iPhone will restart once you do this. You can then check if AirDrop is working again.
13. AirDrop still not working on iPhone 14 Pro Max? Get help from Apple
If none of the above steps have solved your iPhone 14 Pro Max 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 check in to a Genius Bar at your nearest Apple store and they can run a diagnostic check on your device.
Fixed AirDrop not working on iPhone 14 Pro Max
AirDrop not working on your iPhone 14 Pro Max? Luckily, getting AirDrop working properly doesn’t have to be a hair-pulling event. These tips can get you back to sharing photos, web pages, and just about any kind of data between your iPhone 14 Pro Max and other Apple Devices.