How to Fix Airdrop Stuck on Waiting iPhone/iPad/Mac [Updated]

AirDrop is one such ad hoc service that makes it easy for iOS users to share files. Thanks to AirDrop, users can quickly share and transfer photos, videos, contacts, music and other data.

However, this is not a perfect feature and sometimes crashes, for example, AirDrop stuck on waiting on iPhone /Mac/iPad, AirDrop not working on iPhone in iOS 18/17/16. Why AirDrop gets stuck on waiting and how to fix this problem? After reading this article, you will find the answer.

Why does AirDrop say waiting?

Let's first look at some of the reasons why does AirDrop says waiting on iPhone/iPad/Mac.

♦Software glitches: A glitch software error on your device will prevent AirDrop from working properly and stuck on waiting.
♦iOS update: Update to the latest version may bring some bugs that conflict with AirDrop. Some users have reported that AirDrop not working after updating to iOS 17/18.
♦Wrong settings: Maybe the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth is not turned on, personal Hotspot is not turned off, which may cause AirDrop not working and stuck on waiting.

How to fix AirDrop stuck on waiting iPhone/Mac

Now, keep reading to try the following solutions one by one or pick the suitable way you like until your problem is resolved.

1#. Turn on AirDrop restriction

AirDrop restriction is turned off might be a reason for AirDrop stuck on waiting then failed, you need to enable it.

Go to the Settings app > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps, then turn on the toggle of AirDrop.

2#. Check related settings

As we mentioned before, some wrong settings can cause AirDrop just says waiting. Therefore, it is necessary to check all settings related to AirDrop. Follow the tips below.

Tip 1. Re-enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

AirDrop requires a Wi-Fi connection and Bluetooth to work properly. Try disabling and re-enabling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both Mac and iPhone/iPad. Wait a few seconds and restart the AirDrop.

► Note: Make sure your two devices are nearby and within the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth range (30 feet, preferably closer).

Tip 2. Check three discovery settings.

There are three levels for AirDrop: Receiving Off, Contacts Only, and Everyone. If you are trying to AirDrop from iPhone to Mac but stuck on waiting, it is suggested that you choose Everyone on both MacOS and iOS.

☛ Contacts Only: You will only be able to send and receive files from people in your contacts.
☛ Everyone: You can share with everyone.

Tip 3. Check personal Hotspot to turn it off.

AirDrop may stuck on waiting when Personal Hotspot is enabled on iPhone/iPad. You need to turn it off from the Control Center.

Tip 4. Disable Do Not Disturb.

If the Do Not Disturb Mode is enabled on your Mac or iPhone device. AirDrop may not work well. So, you need to turn off the DND Mode.

On iPhone or iPad, turn off it on the Control Center.

On Mac, go to the Notifications icon in the top-right corner, turn off the DND Mode.

3#. Reset network working

If you have problems with Wi-Fi connection, you can reset network settings to connect your device for AirDropping. Just go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

4#. Log out and back into iCloud

Signing in and back into iCloud can refresh your account to avoid account-related errors that could cause 'AirDrop keeps saying waiting'.

Step 1. Open Settings > click [your name] > tap Sign Out.

Step 2. Enter your Apple ID password to confirm and tap Turn Off.

Step 3. Go back to Settings to Sign in with your iCloud account. 

5#. Force reboot iPhone/restart the device

It is possible that your device gets stuck on and cause AirDrop waiting iPhone to Mac, so just restart your iPhone or Mac.

For iPhone 6 and earlier: Press the Sleep/Wake button and Home button until the Apple logo appears.
For iPhone 7 and Plus: Press the Sleep/Wake button and Volume Down button until the Apple logo appears.
For iPhone 8/X and later: Press the both Volume Up and Volume Down buttons together, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

For Mac: Click on the Apple menu in the upper left corner of the screen, and choose the Restart option.

6#. Update the system

Sometimes software updates occasionally cause troubles, but sometimes can fix them. You can try to update MacOS or iOS version.

For iOS: Go to Settings  > General  > Software Update, and check if a new version of iOS is available.

For MacOS: Click the Apple icon > System Preferences or About This Mac > Software Update > Update Now.

Bonus Tip: Best Alternative to AirDrop for transferring files

Sharing files using AirDrop requires many complex preparations and steps, and you'll find that AirDrop doesn't work well as expected and AirDrop waiting issue may occur. Especially if you’re transferring large amounts of data at once, AirDrop cannot meet your need of AirDropping multiple photos, messages, contacts, and more files.

Here we recommend AOMEI FoneBackup as the best alternative to AirDrop. 

Features and advantages of this tool:

Stable and fast transfer: Unlike AirDrop showing waiting to stuck, AOMEI FoneBackup can transfer data at a higher speed between iPhone/iPad and computer via USB connection.
Preview and selective data: You can preview and select the specific items you want during the transfer.
No data loss: You won't lose the original data when transferring files in batch.
 Reliable and safety transmission: The offline transfer can protect the data safety without the risks of data leak.
Simple operation interface: The transfer process can be completed with just a few clicks.

Now, download AOMEI FoneBackup on your computer to transfer data by clicking the icon below.

Step 1. Run AOMEI FoneBackup, connect your iPhone/iPad to the computer with USB, click Phone Transfer and go to iPhone to PC.

Step 2. Click the “+” icon to choose the files you want to transfer, and click OK.

Step 3. Click Start Transfer > Select a storage path on the Transfer Settings and click the Transfer button to start.

By the way, AOMEI FoneBackup not only supports you to transfer only photos or selectively transfer other type of files. If you want to transfer everything from one iPhone to another iPhone, with AOMEI FoneBackup, you can perform it with one click!

Conclusion

Hope this article can help you solve the AirDrop stuck on waiting issue when you share files between different devices. If not, you can ask Apple Support for help. If your AirDrop waiting too long, or you need to share large files, it is suggested to try AOMEI FoneBackup. In addition to selecttively transfer data, it can also help you transfer iPhone to iPhone with one click, and you can create a full iPhone backupto better manage iOS device files.

If this guide helps you, please share it with more people.