AirDrop Not Working on iPhone X After iOS 12 Update? Try These Fixes

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AirDrop is one of the easiest ways to wirelessly share files between Apple devices, but it can stop working out of nowhere — especially after an iOS update. If AirDrop suddenly won’t send or receive files on your iPhone X after installing iOS 12, here’s how to get it working again.

1. Restart Your iPhone X

Sometimes AirDrop just needs a fresh start.

To soft reset:

  • Press and hold the Side button + Volume Up or Down until Slide to power off appears.
  • Slide to shut it down.
  • After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.

Or do a force restart:

  1. Quickly press and release Volume Up.
  2. Quickly press and release Volume Down.
  3. Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

This won’t erase anything — it just refreshes the system.

2. Toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Off and Back On

AirDrop needs both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be active.

  • Go to Settings > Wi-Fi → toggle off, then back on.
  • Go to Settings > Bluetooth → toggle off, then back on.

You can also do this quickly from Control Center by tapping the icons.

3. Try Airplane Mode Trick

Airplane Mode refreshes your wireless radios and often clears up issues with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

  • Go to Settings > Airplane Mode → turn it on.
  • Wait a few seconds, then restart your iPhone.
  • Turn Airplane Mode back off.

Now test AirDrop again.

4. Sign Out and Back In to iCloud

If your iCloud session got disrupted during the update, re-signing in may fix AirDrop.

  1. Go to Settings > tap your Apple ID banner at the top.
  2. Tap Sign Out at the bottom.
  3. Restart your iPhone.
  4. Sign back in with your Apple ID and password.

Then try AirDrop again.

5. Reset Network Settings

Corrupted network settings can stop AirDrop from working right.

  1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
  2. Tap Reset Network Settings.
  3. Enter your passcode and confirm.

Your phone will reboot. Then reconnect to Wi-Fi, enable Bluetooth, and test AirDrop.

Bonus: Update Your Apps

If AirDrop fails only with certain apps (like Photos or Contacts), those apps might need an update.

  1. Open the App Store.
  2. Tap your profile icon or go to the Updates tab.
  3. Tap Update All or update individual apps.

Restart your phone after updating to apply the changes.

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