Cannot add AirDrop to Finder sidebar in Sequoia

Clean install of Sequoia 15.1, and immediately the issues started as described in the original poster. Only thing that corrects it a force quit of Finder. Also a desktop and & dock system setting that I turned on always turns off on a reboot and requires me to reset it.

I had the exact same issue but for me once I rebooted it was OK.

Restart finder and problem Solved!

Fixed with 15.3 OS update.

VirusBarrier Scanner_Helper (App Store - installed 2024-03-05)

        Modern Login Item

        /Applications/VirusBarrier Scanner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/VirusBarrier Scanner_Helper.app

Once this type of software is installed.

You can spend hours or days hunting down all the bits and pieces of this software and never really get it all off the computer 

➡️ Start Over from Scratch  ⬅️

For Apple Silicon computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

For Apple Intel computers >>   Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac followed by How to reinstall macOS

Always make a Time Machine Backup  before  proceeding 

If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate everything back.

This will probably Re-Introduce ( Intego VirusBarrier ) back into the Operating System 

I have this same issue since upgrading to Sequoia on M1 MacBook Pro 14. Airdrop disappears from the Finder sidebar, when re-adding it immediately disappears again.

Force quitting Finder can resolve the issue but it seems to come back later, even after restarting.

I just got a new Mac Mini M4 pro. with 15.1 OS. I now have the same issue. Force quitting Finder lets me put Airdrop back but at the next startup(boot) it goes away. I submitted a bug report to Apple.

I had the same problem - the solution - turn completely off all you Apple devises: iPhone, tablet, imac or

whatever Mac devise you own then restart your Mac Mini M4 now you will be able to add airdrop to finder setting,

restart all you Mac devises.

Hope this help.

Same - MacBook Pro, brand new, 16" M4 48 MB ram....

The shutdown all other Macs, iPhones, iPads, etc... does not work.

Only thing that works is to Force kill Finder, add in sidebar.

However, this is never persistent over a restart or shutdown/reboot.

My Mac-mini with an M2 never does/ never has experienced this bug.

Hi, I fixed this issue by doing:

1. Delete finder .plist file as mentioned above.
2. Force quit Finder.
3. Open preference of Finder and add many other items like My Mac, Music... Add at least 4 items.
4. Force quit Finder or reboot Mac.
5. After rebooting, Airdrop should be there as normal, then you can uncheck unnecessary items, just leave what you want.
6. Airdrop should stay in sidebar.

Hope this helps.

Stop Looking, just fallow these steps:

1. First, disable AirDrop using:

 defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser DisableAirDrop -bool YES

1. Then, re-enable AirDrop using:

 defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser DisableAirDrop -bool NO

1. Restart Finder:

 killall Finder

Found here

Hi,

I reported this issue to Apple back in January 2025. After extensive testing, I found that it only occurs when FileVault is enabled.

If you disable FileVault and restart the Mac, the problem goes away.

Let me know—I've tested this on more than 20 Macs.

See if you reduce your "favorites" down to 6, then force quit Finder, restart the computer, and then add Airdrop back. Does it still go away?

Please report bug to Apple. The more that report the bug the better chance to be addressed:

Feedback - macOS - Apple