iPad not Sending AirDrop After Update to iPadOS 26.2

I too am experiencing similar difficulties with AirDrop subsequent to updating to iOS/iPadOS 26.2. You (we) may have encountered a bug...

I have one iPad (iPad #1 using AppleID #1) that is unable to AirDrop to one other iPad (iPad #2 using AppleID #2). However iPad #1 can still receive AirDrop from iPad #2 without issue - and similarly can freely AirDrop between iPad #1 and iPhone #1 (using AppleID #1) and iPhone #2 (using AppleID #2). iPad #2 has no such issues with unidirectional AirDrop between these users or associated devices. All devices are using the same WiFi network.

• iPad #1 (AppleID #1) >>> iPad #2 (AppleID #2) ❌
• iPad #1 (AppleID #1) <<< iPad #2 (AppleID #2) ✅

• iPad #1 (AppleID #1) >>> iPhone #1 (AppleID #1) ✅
• iPad #1 (AppleID #1) <<< iPhone #1 (AppleID #1) ✅

Should your problem remain unresolved - and you have a consistent and repeatable issue - you should submit a Bug Report via Apple's Product Feedback portal:

Feedback - Apple

When submitting your Bug Report, please ensure that you include details of your iPad model and installed version of iPadOS within the body-text of your report along with details of the problem. Do not rely upon the pick-list - as this rarely includes the current version of iPadOS.

Every Bug Report counts. Unless reports are submitted (with adequate detail), Apple may not assign resources to investigate and correct the issue.

In addition [i.e., not as a substitute] to submitting a Bug Report, you might also consider seeking assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page; you can initiate and manage your support cases from Apple devices using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

I am getting this exact same behavior on a 2018 Mac mini running macOS Sequoia 15.7.3 when attempting to send to an iPhone 16 Pro Max running iOS 26.2. Behavior started after installing 26.2 on the phone.

Both devices are logged into the same AppleID. "Contacts Only" is set on both devices. Initiating an AirDrop from the Mac, I get the dialog box that shows my iPhone, but clicking on it goes into "waiting" for approximately 1–2 minutes, then goes "Failed." Initiating an AirDrop from my phone to the Mac goes immediately, and completes as normal.

This may sounds crazy but some people had similar issue with bcc-ing themselves in Tahoe Mail. Check YOUR contact card. Made sure it does not show you as blocked. Also see if you have a duplicate contact card.

I had Airdrop issues with an iMac running Mojave after upgrading my M4 Pro Macbook Pro to 26.2. I had to temporarily turn on "Everyone" to successfully Airdrop files from the old iMac to the Macbook Pro.

I don't have, and cannot install, Tahoe, so that's off the table; in addition, I don't use Apple's first-party mail client in any case, so unless there is something weird with just receiving a BCC from one's self to one's self, that doesn't seem like a reasonable solution. I don't have any idea what you mean check my contact card for being blocked; if you mean looking in Settings->Privacy & Security->Blocked Contacts, then no, none of my information is listed in the Blocked Contacts list. Just on the off chance that something weird exists with the BCC method you mentioned, I did try it from my Mac using my normal mail client, and nothing changed afterward.

I did check for duplicate cards, and sure enough there is a duplicate card there with my AppleID profile picture and my AppleID email, but no other information. I merged it with my contact card, and nothing changed. I know for a fact that contact was not present before upgrading to iOS 26 originally, and if it was added by Apple during a different iOS upgrade (probably 26.2, I would guess, since AirDrop worked in iOS 26.1 and macOS 15.7.2) then that's a different bug (related, likely, and might be root cause here).

Turning on "Everyone for 10 minutes" works, but is a terrible workaround, as it creates the problem that "Contacts Only" should be solving. I've reported it through the Feedback link (though, going to the Mac-specific link rather than iPad), and I also reported it through the Feedback Assistant since there I can also upload sysdiagnose and other files.

You could try using the app Local Send if Airdrop is not working on a iPad, iPhone or Mac. I had a problem after the latest update on my Mac's but last weekend I decided to do a full install on 26.2 on both of my Mac's. It seemed to fix what ever was broken in 26.2.

To use Local Send you need it open on both devices. It doesn't use Bluetooth.