Airdrop over ethernet without wifi card - Orico bta-403

[pastrychef]

Is there any way to have the airdrop working in this scenario?

None that I'm aware of.

 

[jaymonkey]

I'm using a USB dongle (Orico BTA-403), it works great but the airdrop doesn't work.

@machadov,

Airdrop uses Bluetooth to make the initial handshake between two Apple devices, it will then use WiFi (or Ethernet) to actually transfer the data, other Apple exclusive features such as AirPlay and SideCar also use this method.

The problem is that you are using a non-native Bluetooth solution. The only way to make Apple exclusive Bluetooth functions work on MacOS is to have a natively supported Bluetooth device. These are always based on Broadcom chipsets and are always flagged as being "Internal" devices.

If you use a regular Bluetooth USB dongle (even one that uses a Broadcom chipset) then basic Bluetooth functions such as a keyboard, mouse and even Audio will work fine as these use industry standard BT protocols but Apple exclusive Bluetooth features such as Airdrop, Continuity, HandOff, AirPlay, Sidecar ... will not work as these use Apple exclusive protocols that are only supported on native Apple Bluetooth devices.

If you need these features then you must replace the internal WiFi/BT combo card in your laptop with a supported Broadcom one.

See this guide for more info :-

Broadcom WiFi/Bluetooth [Guide]

Broadcom WiFi/Bluetooth [Guide] WiFi and Bluetooth working out of box on macOS with Apple branded Broadcom BCM94360. Enables specific half mini and M.2 BCM94352 on macOS with methods described below. Credit: RehabMan This thread does not support: macOS/Continuity Atheros/Qualcomm...

www.tonymacx86.com

Cheers
Jay