AirDrop not showing in Finder sidebar is a common issue on macOS Sequoia. Many users report that it disappears or cannot be added under Favorites. This small but annoying glitch is affecting many users after updating to Apple’s latest OS — but the good news is, there are a few working solutions that can bring it back.
In this post, we’ll walk you through a couple of effective methods, including restarting Finder and using Terminal commands to reset AirDrop settings.
🛠️ Why Is AirDrop Missing from the Finder Sidebar?
AirDrop is supposed to show up in the Finder sidebar under the Favorites section by default. But with macOS Sequoia, Finder’s sidebar behavior can occasionally bug out, preventing you from adding or keeping AirDrop there. This can happen due to:
- Finder cache issues
- Sidebar preference glitches
- System bugs after macOS updates
✅ Method 1: Restart Finder to Restore AirDrop (Quick Fix)
Sometimes, here’s how to fix AirDrop not showing in Finder sidebar: a simple restart of the Finder is enough to bring AirDrop back into the sidebar.
🔄 Option A: Restart Finder via Terminal
- Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities).
- Type the following command:
killall FinderHit Enter. Finder will refresh.
After this, try opening Finder again and check if AirDrop appears or can be added to Favorites.
🍏 Option B: Force Quit Finder via Apple Menu
Don’t like using Terminal? No worries.
- Click the Apple logo on the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select Force Quit.
- In the list, choose Finder and click Relaunch.
This will force Finder to restart — the same result as using Terminal, but with a user-friendly interface.
✅ Method 2: Disable and Re-enable AirDrop via Terminal (Persistent Fix)
If restarting Finder doesn’t help consistently, try resetting the AirDrop feature itself.
🧑💻 Steps:
- Open Terminal.
- Disable AirDrop temporarily:
defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser DisableAirDrop -bool YES- Now, re-enable AirDrop:
defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser DisableAirDrop -bool NO- Finally, restart Finder:
killall FinderOnce Finder restarts, check the Go menu > AirDrop or press Command + Shift + R. If you see it there, try dragging the AirDrop icon into the sidebar manually.
🖱️ Bonus Tip: Manually Drag AirDrop to Sidebar
If AirDrop opens from the Go menu but doesn’t stay in the sidebar:
- Go to Finder > Go > AirDrop.
- When the AirDrop window opens, click and drag the AirDrop icon from the title bar into the Favorites section of the sidebar.
This trick often works when auto-placement fails.
If nothing works:
- Log out and log back into your user account.
- Reboot your Mac completely.
- Try creating a new user account to see if the problem is user-specific.
- Check for updates via System Settings > General > Software Update, as Apple frequently pushes bug fixes.
🧩 Final Thoughts
While not being able to add AirDrop to your Finder sidebar might seem like a minor issue, it disrupts your workflow — especially if you frequently transfer files across Apple devices.
The methods above, especially restarting Finder and resetting AirDrop via Terminal, have helped many users fix the issue. Give them a try, and you’ll likely have AirDrop back in your sidebar in no time.
💬 Have another fix that worked for you? Let us know in the comments below!
SEO Keywords Covered Naturally:
- AirDrop not showing macOS Sequoia
- How to add AirDrop to Finder sidebar
- Restart Finder Mac
- AirDrop missing from Finder
- macOS Sequoia Finder sidebar fix
- Force Quit Finder Apple logo
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is AirDrop not showing in Finder sidebar after update?
A: It’s likely due to system or sidebar preference bugs introduced in macOS Sequoia.
Q: Will restarting Finder permanently fix the issue?
A: It often works temporarily. For a more lasting solution, use Terminal commands to reset AirDrop settings.