How to Fix AirDrop notification not showing on Mac or iPhone

AirDrop is one of the highlighted features of Apple’s ecosystem, as it lets you share photos, files, and videos across Apple peripherals effortlessly. Unfortunately, there are times when users don’t receive AirDrop notifications while using it. It could be due to the outdated OS, a bug in the firmware, etc. If that’s what you are experiencing on your Apple device, here are the solutions you must give a try.

What to do no airdrop accept/decline notification?

Below are seven ways to fix not seeing airdrop acceptance notifications on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. 

Solution #1. Restart iPhone & Mac

The first and foremost solution you must try out is restarting your iPhone or Mac. That’s because there could be a minor bug causing an AirDrop notification not showing issue. Here’s how. 

Restart iPhone with Face ID: Press either the Volume Button and Side Button together. Drag the Power Off Slider to turn off your iPhone. Wait a while, then press and hold the Side Key to enable your iPhone back. 

Restart iPhone with Home Button: Press and hold the Side Button. Drag the Power Off Slider to turn off your iPhone. Wait a while, then press and hold the Side Key to turn your iPhone back on. 

Restart Mac: Click on the Apple Logo. From the prompted menu, select Restart… > Restart.

Solution #2. Restart AirDrop

Unlike restarting your device, you must try restarting AirDrop on both receiver and sender devices. Here’s how you can do it. 

For iPhone users: Swipe down from the left top to bottom to access the Control Center. Please tap on the AirDrop Icon to turn it off. Wait a while, and re-tap on the AirDrop Icon to enable it.

For Mac users: Click on the Control Center located at the top right corner of Mac. Select the AirDrop Icon to disable it. Then, click on AirDrop Icon to enable it again.

Solution #3. Turn off Bluetooth & Wi-Fi 

When you are using AirDrop and the receiving device doesn’t show a pop-up accept/decline notification, in this scenario, the solution you must give a try is turning off Bluetooth & Wi-Fi on your respective device. 

For iPhone users: Swipe down from the top of the screen to access control center. In the Control Center, tap on Bluetooth & Wi-Fi to disable them. Wait for a while and re-enable Bluetooth & Wi-Fi. 

For Mac users: Click on the Control Center next to the date & time. In the control center, click on Bluetooth & Wi-Fi to disable them. Wait for a while and re-enable Bluetooth & Wi-Fi.   

Solution #4. Update OS

Apple frequently releases OS updates that are designed to resolve the issue. So, if there is no AirDrop acceptance notification on your device, then it could be due to a pending OS update. To check for pending updates, follow the steps below.

For iPhone users,

1. Go to Settings App on your iPhone. 
2. Search and select General.
3. Tap Software Update.
4. Let your iPhone check for updates. If available, tap on Download & Install. 

That’s It!

For Mac users,    

1. Go to Apple Menu on your Mac.
2. Select System Settings…
3. Click on General from the left panel.
4. On the right side, select Software Update.
5. Now, let your Mac check for updates. If available, click Download Now.

Solution #5. Disable AirDrop Restrictions

If AirDrop is not working and there is no accept/decline notification, you must check whether AirDrop Restriction is turned off. 

For iPhone users,

1. Go to the Settings App on your iPhone.
2. Search and select Screen Time.
3. Go to Content & Privacy Restrictions.
4. Tap Allowed Apps.
5. Turn off the toggle next to AirDrop.

For Mac users, 

1. Go to the Apple Logo.
2. Select System Settings…
3. Click on Screen Time from the left pane.
4. Choose Content & Privacy. 
5. Go to App Restrictions. 
6. Click on the toggle next to the Allow AirDrop to disable.

That’s It!

Solution #6. Disable the personal hotspot on your iPhone

AirDrop and Personal Hotspot use both Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, so you can’t use them simultaneously. To disable personal hotspot, go to Settings app on your iPhone. Select Personal Hotspot to turn off that feature, then try using AirDrop and check whether you receive AirDrop Notification. If not, move forward to the following solution.

Solution #7. Contact the Apple Support Team

If none of the above-mentioned solutions worked for you, you must try contacting the Apple Support Team. Tell them what you’re currently going through, and accordingly, they will offer you a solution.

Final Thought!

These were the tested solutions to fix AirDrop notifications not showing on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If none of the solutions worked for you and AirDrop is not working still continuous, you should read our article on fix AirDrop not working. Further, if you have relatable queries, please drop them in the comment box below.