Nowadays, the iPad is getting thinner with a bigger screen and is becoming a Mac substitute for many users. When using iPad for work or for fun, you must need to transfer files from Mac to iPad at some point.
This guide will show you all possible ways to move files between Mac and iPad. All files, including music, photos, contacts, movies, TV shows, PDF, Word/Excel documents, etc. can be transferred. Just select a method that works best for you.
Transfer Files from Mac to iPad Using iTunes
Using iTunes is a classic way to transfer files between Mac and iPad, although iTunes is killed in the latest macOS Catalina 10.15. (Check how to sync iPhone/iPad to Mac on macOS Catalina)
Tip: The 64-bit version is installed by default unless Office detects you already have a 32-bit version of Office (or a stand-alone Office app such as Project or Visio) installed.In this case, the 32-bit version of Office will be installed instead. To change from a 32-bit version to a 64-bit version or vice versa, you need to uninstall Office first (including any stand-alone Office apps you. How to find downloads on your Mac in a web browser If the browser where you downloaded a file is still open, you can pull up the download right then and there. In Google Chrome, click the three. Download.hqx to desktop using Internet Explorer. Copy the file to a PC formatted floppy and read it on the Mac using. Either PC Exchange or Apple File Exchange. Copy the file to a Mac disk using Transmac and read it on the Mac as. You would any Mac disk. Copy the file from the floppy to the Mac hard drive. Click the desktop, choose View Sort By, then choose an option. If you want to control the placement of your files on the desktop, keep Sort By set to none. You can still arrange files neatly when desired—just click the desktop, choose View Clean Up By, then choose how you’d like to arrange the files. See Align and resize icons. To change the specified location where downloaded files are stored — for example, if you’d like to save them directly to the desktop or scan them automatically with an antivirus application — follow these steps: Choose Safari→Preferences or press cmd+, (comma). Click the General tab, and then click the Save Downloaded Files To pop-up menu.
If you haven't updated your Mac to the newest macOS 10.15, you can still use iTunes on your Mac to transfer files to iPad.
Sync media files from Mac to iPad
To transfer photo, music, video files from Mac to iPad, you have to sync your iPad with the iTunes library on your Mac, which may delete some existing files on your iPad.
Step 1: Run iTunes on Mac and plug your iPad into Mac. (What to do when iTunes won't recognize your iPad?)
Step 2: Select your iPad in iTunes. Click Music, Photos, Movies or TV Shows and click Sync button on the bottom.
Icewind dale enhanced edition wiki. Share documents from Mac to iPad
File Sharing on iTunes enables apps like Pages, Keynote to share files between Mac and iPad. To transfer documents from Mac to iPad:
- Click File Sharing on iTunes;
- All your iPad apps that support File Sharing will show up;
- Select an app and click Add to add files from Mac to iPad.
How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad without iTunes
Syncing iPad to iTunes library on Mac could wipe some existing files on Mac. That's why many people would like to import files to iPad from Mac without iTunes.
FonePaw iOS Transfer can replace iTunes for iPad files transfer. As a matter of fact, transferring files with the FonePaw tool is much more convenient than iTunes. It won't overwrite the existing files on your iPad and it supports files transfer from iPad back to Mac, too. Moreover, files transfer between iPhone and iPad, iPad and iPod Touch is also possible with FonePaw iOS Transfer.
iPad Pro, iPad Air 3/2, iPad mini 4/3, iPad 2 and any other iPad models are all supported.
Step 1: Connect iPad to Mac
After launching FonePaw iOS Transfer on your MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac or Mac Pro, get you iPad connected to Mac using a USB cable. After detected, your iPad will be shown up in the home window of the program.
Step 2: Move Files from Mac to iPad
Select a category in the left column. For example, select Videos, which will load all video files on your iPad. Click 'Add'. In the pop-up file browser window, navigate to the folder on your Mac where you save video files you want to transfer. Then, click 'Open' to copy movies to your iPad.
Kerbal space program 1.3 mac download. Further reading:
How to Put Movies on iPad from Mac
How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad Wirelessly
How To Download A File In Mac
If you don't have a USB cable on hand right now, you can also transfer files from Mac to iPad wirelessly without USB cables. That's to use AirDrop to share the files between Mac and iPad.
Although AirDrop comes to handy when transferring one or several files at a time, it is not reliable if you need to move a large number of files between iPad and Mac. You're recommended to use a USB cable if there are numerous files on your Mac to transfer to iPad.
Step 1: Make sure that AirDrop is enabled on both your iPad and Mac.
Step 2: On your MacBook or iMac, open the file, such as a photo, you want to send to iPad. Tap the Share button.
Step 3: When AirDrop displays the name of your iPad, tap the device to receive the files from Mac.
The Mac file will then be transferred to iPad wirelessly.
Store your Desktop and Documents folder in iCloud Drive and access them on all your devices. That means you can start a document on your Desktop, then work on it later from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and on iCloud.com. Everything automatically stays up to date everywhere.
How To Download A File To Mac Desktop Version
Before you begin
- Update your Mac to the latest version of macOS and your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.
- Make sure that you’re signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices.
- Set up iCloud on all of your devices and turn on iCloud Drive.
Turn on Desktop and Documents
Turn on Desktop and Documents on every Mac that you want to use with iCloud Drive.
- From your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud. On macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
- Make sure that iCloud Drive is turned on.
- Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
- Choose Desktop & Documents Folders.
- Click Done.
In the Finder, you'll see your Desktop and Documents folder in the iCloud section of your sidebar. If you add a second Mac Desktop, you'll find those files in the Desktop folder in iCloud Drive. A folder is created with the same name as your second Mac.
Access your Desktop and Documents files on another device
When you add your Desktop and Documents to iCloud Drive, all of your files move to iCloud and any new files you create are automatically stored in iCloud too. Then you can find your files on all of your devices.
If you want to store your files in iCloud Drive and another cloud storage service, you can keep copies of your files in both, but you can't keep folders from a third-party cloud service in iCloud Drive. You can keep your other cloud service folders in a different place on your Mac, like the home folder.
Your files upload to iCloud each time your device connects to the Internet. Depending on your Internet speed, the time it takes for you to see your files on your other devices might vary.
On your Mac
You can find the files on your Desktop and in your Documents folder in the Finder under iCloud. You can also search for the titles with Spotlight.
You can organize and combine folders from multiple Macs when you turn on Desktop and Documents on those computers too. After you turn on Desktop and Documents on a second Mac, you'll find its files in folders with the same name as your second Mac inside your original Desktop and Documents folders. Then you can combine your files manually, but iCloud doesn’t automatically merge the files in case you want to keep them separate. Any edits you make are seamlessly updated in iCloud Drive. There’s no need to manage your folders and files again on your other devices.
On your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
With the Files app on iOS 11 or later, it's easy to access and edit your files directly from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
When you find the file you need in the Files app, you can use it in any compatible app to edit it.
If you're using iOS 9 or iOS 10, you can access your files in the iCloud Drive app.
On iCloud.com
iCloud.com lets you access your Desktop and Documents folder from your iPad or another computer browser. All of your files are easy to find, organize, and download directly from iCloud Drive. You can even drag files into the Desktop and Documents folders, and then find them later on your Mac.
- Sign in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID.
- Go to iCloud Drive.
- Double-click the Desktop or Documents folder.
If you want to use the file or make edits, just click and download it to your iPad or computer. When you're done making edits, upload the file to iCloud Drive to see the latest version everywhere.
Store your files in iCloud and save space on your device
The files that you keep in iCloud Drive use your iCloud storage. And as long as you have enough space in iCloud and on your device, you can store as many files as you like.
If you need more space on your device, iCloud Drive can help. On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud. On macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud. Turn on Optimize Mac Storage. Then your Mac keeps all of your recent files on your computer, but keeps your older ones only in iCloud, ready for you to download when you need them again. If you want to free up more space on your Mac, follow these steps. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can search and browse files from all of your devices and download them only as you need them.
You can also free up space on your device and in iCloud Drive when you delete files. Then go to your Recently Deleted folder in the Files app or on iCloud.com and delete the files there. Before you delete anything, make sure that you back up the files that you still want. When you use iCloud Drive and delete a file on one device, it deletes on your other devices too. iCloud removes the files from every device that you're signed in to with the same Apple ID.
Turn off Desktop and Documents
When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.
![How to make downloads go to desktop How to make downloads go to desktop](/uploads/1/3/3/2/133297648/106969614.jpg)
- From your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud. On macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
- Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
- Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
- Click Done.
If you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud, you have the option to keep a local copy of your files that are in iCloud Drive. Whether you decide to keep a local copy or not, a new Desktop and Documents folder is created in your home folder. If you choose to keep a local copy, your files in iCloud Drive are copied to a folder called iCloud Drive (Archive) in your home folder. Then you have the option to move any files that were in your iCloud Desktop and Documents, back to your new local Desktop and Documents.
Learn more
- Here's what else you can do with iCloud Drive.
- Use the Files app to access your files on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
- Get help with iCloud Drive.
- Upgrade your iCloud storage.