AirDrop Not Working On iPhone 8? Here's The Fix!

David Lynch

NOVEMBER 1, 2017

AirDrop won't work on your iPhone 8 and you're not sure why. Without AirDrop, sharing files between your iOS devices is a bit more difficult. In this article, I'll explain what to do when AirDrop is not working on your iPhone so you can fix the problem for good!

How To Set Up AirDrop On Your iPhone

Before you can use AirDrop on your iPhone, it needs to be set up properly. To do this, open Control Center by swiping up from below the bottom of your iPhone's display.

Next, press and hold the box in the upper left-hand corner on Control Center. Then, tap the AirDrop icon and select Contacts Only or Everyone. If you tap Receiving Off, your iPhone won't be able to receive files via AirDrop.

You'll know AirDrop is on when the icon is blue, and you'll be able to tell who you can AirDrop with by looking at the listing below AirDrop in Control Center.

How To Use AirDrop On Your iPhone 8

Now that AirDrop is set up on your iPhone, let's briefly walk through how to use it. First, find the file on your iPhone that you'd like to share. I'll use a photo to demonstrate.

Look for the Share button (which looks like a square with an arrow pointing up out of it) and tap it. In the Photos app, the Share button will usually be in the lower left-hand corner of the display.

Next, you'll see a list of the people you can AirDrop your file to in the sharing menu. Tap on the device you'd like to AirDrop your file to.

Once your file has been sent, you'll see the word Sent below the device name in the sharing menu.

If AirDrop is not working on your iPhone 8 even after you've turned it on, follow the steps below to diagnose and fix the root cause of the problem!

Make Sure Your Apple Devices Are Within Range Of Each Other

In order to use features like Handoff or AirDrop, your Apple devices need to be within range of each other. Often times, these features will make use of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections, which might not work if your device or devices are too far away.

Hold your Apple devices right next to each other when using a feature like Handoff and AirDrop.

Typically, about 25-30 feet is the maximum distance your devices can be apart from each other and still interact wirelessly.

DFU Restore Your iPhone

A DFU restore has the potential to fix software problems by completely erasing the code which may be causing your problem. The code is rewritten as if your iPhone is brand new, so the software problem may get solved.

Think of it like a house that has cracks in the foundation. Rather than try and fix the cracks, we are building an entirely new foundation.

If you can, back up your iPhone before completing a DFU restore. Any time you do a restore, it erases everything from your iPhone. However, after the restore is completed, you restore all your backed up data back onto your iPhone.

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)

When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.

Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.

Repair Your iPhone With Puls

Puls is a "we come to you" iPhone repair service that will meet you at your home, office, or Starbucks to repair your iPhone in as little as 30 minutes. Every Puls repair is backed by a lifetime warranty and their prices tend to be a lot less than Apple's.

Puls repairs broken iPhone screens, batteries, speakers, cameras, charging ports, and more. The only drawback at this point is that Puls isn't available everywhere (they're mostly in major US cities).

Believe It Or Not, I'm Walking On Air(Drop)!

AirDrop is working on your iPhone and you can start sharing files between all of your Apple devices again. Next time AirDrop is not working on your iPhone 8, you'll know exactly how to fix the problem! Thanks for reading and feel free to leave any other questions you have about AirDrop in the comments section below.