Michal Ždanský Moving files between iPad/iPhone and Mac/PC has never been a fairy tale. Apple does not support Mass Storage in iOS, and thanks to the not-so-ideally resolved file system, working with files can be hell. That's why we've written down several ways to transfer files between devices.
iTunes
The first option is to move files from applications using iTunes. If the application supports transfers, you can save files from it to your computer or send files to your iOS device. You can do this either through the file selection dialog or by drag & drop.
- Select the connected device in the left panel and among the tabs at the top Application.
- Scroll down until you see File sharing. Select the application you want to work with from the menu.
- Use the dialog or the drag & drop method to move files as you wish.
One common method for transferring files without the need for a cable connection is to send them to your own email. If you email a file from your computer, it can then be opened in any app in iOS.
- Hold your finger on the attachment in the mail client, a context menu will appear.
- Tap on the menu Open in: … and then select the application in which you want to open the file.
Most iOS applications that work with files also allow them to be sent by e-mail, so you can apply the procedure in reverse as well.
Wi-Fi
Applications focused mainly on working with files, such as Goodreader, ReaddleDocs or iFiles and usually allow file transfer via a Wi-Fi network. Once you turn on the transfer, the app creates a custom URL that you need to type into your computer's browser. You will be taken to a simple web interface where you can upload or download files. The only condition is that the device must be on the same network, however, if there is none, you can create an Ad-Hoc on your computer.
dropbox
dropbox is a popular service that lets you sync files between computers via the cloud. It is available for most platforms and integrates directly into the system on the computer - a new folder appears that automatically synchronizes with the cloud storage. It is enough to put the file in this folder (or its subfolder) and in a moment it will appear in the cloud. From there, you can open it either through the official iOS client, which can open files in another app, or use other apps with Dropbox integration that allow for more detailed management, such as moving files to Dropbox. These include the aforementioned GoodReader, ReaddleDocs, and more.
Special hardware
Although you can't officially connect classic flash drives or external drives to iOS devices, there are some special devices that can work with iPhone or iPad. Is part of them Wi-Drive, which connects to the computer via USB, then communicates with the iOS device via Wi-Fi. The drive contains its own Wi-Fi transmitter, so it is necessary to connect the device to the network created by Wi-Drive. Then you can move the files through a special application.
Works similarly iFlashDrive however, it can do without Wi-Fi. It has a classic USB on one side, and a 30-pin connector on the other, which can be used to connect directly to an iOS device. However, like Wi-Drive, it needs a special application that can view the files or open them in another application.
Do you use any other method to transfer data from computer to iPhone/iPad and vice versa? Share it in the discussion.
Do you also have a problem to solve? Do you need advice or perhaps find the right application? Do not hesitate to contact us via the form in the section Counseling, next time we will answer your question.
Great article, exactly the information I needed, thanks!
I recommend iFiles. Enables connection to the cloud, web servers, to a PC. The files can then be further edited, (opened) in individual applications...
I connect the USB adapter to the iPad and the iPhone to it, just like to the computer.
It only works on images and videos.
And then what program do you use for copying?
And what do you want to copy where?
The iPanDisk application is also good, with which you move files between PC and iOS via a network virtual disk. A folder called Hallo will be created in it, into which you copy the files and you can then manage them via PC or application. The application also has a wifi sharing function, which was described in the article.
I'm a layman, so I don't know where to find the URL in GoodReader?
I use the Sugarsync service and that is something gentlemen. It works great and I always have up-to-date files on all computers and ios devices. It's similar to Dropbox, but much more sophisticated. I can't praise it enough.
Totally agree / I've tried everything, but SugarSync is the best for my needs
Great article, I'm new to the iPad, so thank you for all the articles, not just this one, thanks again.
SSH to the mac via wifi
And is there an app that will show my iPod/iPhone as an external drive? I'm a beginner so sorry if this is a stupid question.
The whole iPhone hard. After connecting to the PC, only the folders from the photo/camera or via iTunes to the application folders, otherwise what you describe only with some application with its own folder structure via wifi.
http://code.google.com/p/t-pot/
this is a plugin for total commander and there you will also see unwanted…..
I am looking for the easiest way to transfer video files recorded by the camera from iPhone to iPad. I have a 4S and recently bought a new iPad. As long as I didn't have an iPad, everything was clear. I also edited and exported what I shot on the 4S. But now, of course, it's more convenient for me to edit videos on the iPad that I shot, for example, in nature (using an iPhone, of course). I find it very inconvenient to connect the iPhone to iTunes, then upload several videos to the PC, and then move them to the iPad and then edit them. I believe there is an easier way. I used "Splice" for editing, later I bought iMovie, I thought it would be somehow contrived, but I didn't come up with anything. Can anyone advise? Dropbox is useless for this - I don't want to sync large FullHD videos with the net (I don't even have such a large Dropbox.
The Photo Transfer application is excellent for this, which transfers photos and videos between devices both via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
I think that the Camera connection kit is the best for that, rather than laboriously charging it via wifi. That's how I do it and satisfaction. But I don't know if the iPhone behaves like a camera when connected to USB. Should. Otherwise, I usually transfer it to the SD card.
Because this article was probably created thanks to me, but I didn't have time to provide additional materials, so I will at least mention an application that I recently discovered that met my requirements for transferring files between PC folders and is beautifully fast. It's called FileBrowser. You can record there and back and it's not that expensive. Unfortunately, it can't stream video very smoothly, but other applications can do that and it's mainly intended for working with files, not streaming (hopefully it will fine tune it even if I don't need it). It can handle music.
I have been using iFlashDrive successfully for about three quarters of a year and can recommend it. In some cases, it is a unique device where no other method of data transfer can be used.
A bit expensive for a flash drive from which you can't run anything, but if someone absolutely needs to transfer files all the time and doesn't have internet……….?
Yeah, sometimes it's the only way, so any price will justify it. E.g. when you need to distribute documents to a colleague via e-mail or Dropbox from a separate computer without internet and wifi (and without iTunes) and the only available internet is on a mobile phone - an iPhone. At home today, most active users already have internet on a computer (and Wi-Fi, or iTunes on the computer), so it would be an expensive upgrade there, but it is something else in the work environment, the Internet is only available where it is needed, Wi-Fi files on laptops and iTunes is definitely not SW for work, so it is not available. I myself can confirm that there are maybe 90% of such computers in my work environment, therefore, if necessary, I will almost exclusively carry out the distribution of the document - with iFlashDrive it's a piece of cake.
If it is a necessity and, moreover, work, there is nothing to discuss.
And a wifi hotspot? I turn it on in the iphone and I can connect the PC and send it right?
I recommend re-reading the previous post. ;-)
I don't know people like you, but I use the "phone drive" application via wifi when connecting iphone4 ipad3. It's great, I can sort everything into folders, it's intuitive and just great. Read a lot of files, videos and pictures, etc. And as for photos, you can also use this, but I prefer to use photostream. I don't have to touch anything and since I'm on wifi, I have all the new photos on my iPad or iPhone... ;)
I have a lot of photos on my PC and I would like to transfer some of them to my iPad. There's a bargain, I'll prove it
and process. But if the selected folders are marked for me, I will select the folder, let it synchronize and ok
it will transfer. But as soon as I select another one, the previous one is deleted. Please advise how it can be done so that they remain. More. I-Tunes supports music and video, but it struggles with photos
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