When enabled, “NameDrop” works flawlessly. To share your contact information with anyone, simply hold your iPhone next to another iPhone, tap the Share button, and you’re done! But while this new add-on often works as planned, it occasionally misbehaves and fails to activate. If you’re experiencing this issue, try these top hacks and tricks to fix iOS 17 NameDrop not working on your iPhone.
How to Fix iOS 17 NameDrop Issues
#1. You Should Update Your iPhone
Outdated software might cause a variety of problems, including issues with NameDrop on your iPhone. Follow these steps to guarantee your device is running the most recent version of iOS 17 and perhaps fix iOS 17 NameDrop not working issues:
- Navigate to the “Settings” menu on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and select “General”.
- Choose “Software Update”
- Tap “Download and Install” if an update is available.
To finish the update, follow the on-screen instructions. Once the update has been installed, your device will restart.
iOS upgrades often feature bug fixes and enhancements that can fix software issues, such as iOS 17 NameDrop not working.
#2. Reboot your iPhone
Minor software issues, including those impacting NameDrop, are frequently resolved by a simple restart.
To restart your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Hold down the power button (found on your iPhone’s side or top) until the “slide to power off” slider shows on the screen.
- Slide the slider to turn your iPhone off.
- After your iPhone has been turned off entirely, press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears. When you let go of the button, your iPhone will restart.
Check to see if NameDrop works again after the restart.
This technique can fix temporary program issues.
#3. Examine the AirDrop Settings
Follow these steps to confirm that your AirDrop settings are correctly configured for NameDrop:
- Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and select “General”.
- Choose “AirDrop”
- Choose “Contacts Only” or “Everyone” according to your preferences.
Please keep in mind that “Contacts Only” restricts sharing to your contacts, whereas “Everyone” allows sharing with any nearby Apple device.
#4. Reset your Network Settings
Network difficulties can hamper NameDrop’s operation. If you think that network troubles are causing the problem, you can reset your network settings as follows:
- Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and select “General”.
- “Reset” should be selected.
- “Reset Network Settings” should be selected.
Keep in mind that this will clear all network settings, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. You’ll need to reconfigure your network connections after rebooting.
#4. Correctly Execute the Namedrop Gesture
This is possibly the most prevalent reason NameDrop does not work on iPhones running iOS 17. The NameDrop function needs you to bring the upper sections of two iPhones together to share contact cards via AirDrop. It operates by utilizing the NFC chips on iPhones located at the top of the iPhone.
To resolve this, ensure that both iPhones’ topmost parts (where the earpiece and front camera are visible) touch each other, or place both iPhones together or one on top of the other.
#5. Enable the Bringing Devices Together Option
When the NameDrop feature was originally announced, many iPhone owners were concerned about the security of their data. It was thought that anyone could take your contact information by bringing their iPhone close to yours.
To address consumers’ concerns, Apple added an extra degree of security to the NameDrop feature and offered a choice in the AirDrop settings to allow or restrict contact sharing by bringing two iPhones close together. If NameDrop isn’t working on your iPhone, it’s possible that you mistakenly turned off the Bringing Devices Together feature. Here’s how you can find out:
- Tap the AirDrop settings tab in your iPhone’s General section of the Settings app.
- If it isn’t already turned on, tap the Bringing Devices Together toggle.
- iPhone AirDrop settings
#6. Toggle Bluetooth and WiFi
NameDrop, like many other iPhone functions, depends on Bluetooth and WiFi to function effectively. As a result, the NameDrop functionality may fail due to insufficient Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity on both the sender’s and receiver’s iPhones. In this scenario, you can turn off and on Bluetooth and WiFi on both iPhones before attempting to use the NameDrop feature again.
#7. Toggle Airplane Mode On/Off
If the NameDrop experiences a brief lapse, the Airplane Mode method may be able to resolve the problem.
- Swipe down from the screen’s upper-right corner to get the Control Center -> tap on the airplane mode icon to toggle it on or off.
- Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone to display the Control Center, then tap the airplane mode symbol to enable or disable it.
#8. Switch ON/OFF Bluetooth
Because Bluetooth is essential to the smooth operation of NameDrop, consider disabling or enabling this critical component.
- Go to your iPhone’s Settings app -> Bluetooth and toggle the toggle off/on.
#9. Disable/Enable NameDrop
Turning off and on the NameDrop has worked for some users. As a result, we will implement this tried-and-true solution as well.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings -> General -> AirDrop -> deactivate the toggle next to Bringing Devices Together.
- Restart your iPhone, then go to the AirDrop settings and enable the toggle next to Bringing Devices Together.
- Turn on the toggle next to Bringing Devices Together by tapping on AirDrop.
#10. Disable VPN
If you’re using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your iPhone, make sure it’s turned off because it could be interfering with NameDrop’s functionality.
- Go to Settings -> VPN on your iPhone and switch off the VPN option.
#11. Turn off Lockdown Mode
When you select Lockdown Mode, iOS automatically restricts apps, websites, and many other essential features for increased security. If this feature has been enabled (intentionally or unintentionally), make sure to disable it.
- Open the Settings app on your iOS device, go to Privacy & Security, then Lockdown Mode, and turn it off.
#12. Confirm that the Contacts App is not Restricted
Screen Time lets you disable contact sharing. If you’ve implemented this restriction, make sure it’s turned off.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings -> Screen Time -> Content & Privacy Restrictions -> Turn on the Content Restrictions toggle.
- Now, go to Contacts and select Allow Changes.
#13. Ensure that Bluetooth sharing is not Disabled
If Bluetooth sharing is disabled on your iOS device, it may prevent “NameDrop” from working properly.
- Open the Settings app on your iOS device and navigate to Screen Time -> Content & Privacy Restrictions -> Content Restrictions -> Bluetooth -> Allow Changes.
#14. Turn off Low Power Mode
Though “Low Power Mode” becomes necessary when your iPhone is nearly dying, it has long been responsible for slowing numerous critical features, including 5G, to conserve as much energy as possible.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings -> Battery -> turn off the toggle next to Low Power Mode.
#15. Hard Restart
When encountering a strange or unexpected problem, I always try the force restart method. As a result, I can attest to the force reset’s usefulness.
- First, press the volume up button on your iPhone to hard reset it. Following that, you must quickly press and release the volume down button.
- Then, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
#16. Sign Out of Apple ID and Sign Back In
Many times, signing out of your Apple ID and signing back in can help you troubleshoot a persistent iOS issue.
Navigate to your iPhone’s Settings app -> your profile -> Sign out and confirm your decision.
Sign in to your account next.
#17. Reset to Factory Settings Your Apple iPhone
Factory reset is one of those methods that is said to be quite effective due to its capacity to fix the most annoying issues, including NameDrop. The disadvantage of this option is that it erases all custom settings (but not your data), including your Home Screen layout and Wi-Fi password, and forces you to start from scratch. That’s probably why so few people want to do it.
Go to your iPhone’s Settings app -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset All Settings and confirm your choice.
Reset All Options
#18. Contact Apple Support
If none of the preceding actions cure your NameDrop problem, you should contact Apple Support for specific assistance. Apple’s support team can provide troubleshooting techniques suited to your iPhone model and software version, assisting you in identifying and resolving the issue.
You can contact Apple Support using this link or visit an Apple Store in your region if one is nearby. Their knowledge and experience might be crucial in resolving chronic issues with iOS 17 NameDrop not working issues.
How do you activate NameDrop on an iPhone?
You do not need to configure your iPhone’s settings, but you must update your software to iOS 17 to use NameDrop on your iPhone. You will be unable to use the feature if your device does not support iOS 17.
Is NameDrop compatible with iOS 16?
No. NameDrop is a feature included in iOS 17. If you wish to use the feature, you must update to iOS 17.
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