Use the Finder to share files between your Mac and your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

With macOS Catalina or later, you can use the Finder to share files between your iOS and iPadOS devices and your Mac.

If you’re using macOS Mojave or earlier or a Windows PC, use iTunes on your Mac or use Apple Devices on your Windows PC.

Other ways to share

Find out about other ways you can share files between your Mac and your devices. These features work wirelessly.

iCloud Drive lets you access all of your documents securely from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC. No matter which device you're using, you'll always have the most up-to-date documents when and where you need them.

With Handoff, you can start a document, email or message on one device and pick up where you left off on another device. Handoff works with Apple apps such as Mail, Safari, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, Contacts, Pages, Numbers and Keynote. It also works with some third-party apps.

AirDrop lets you instantly share your photos, videos, documents and more with other Apple devices that are nearby.

What you'll need in order to use the Finder to share files

See the iOS and iPadOS apps that can share files with your Mac

  1. Open a Finder window.

  2. Connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your computer with a USB cable.

  3. Select your device in the Finder. Find out what to do if your computer doesn’t recognise your device.

  4. Click the Files tab to see a list of apps that can share files.  If you can't see a Files section, then your device doesn't have any apps that can share files.

  5. Click the triangle next to an app to see the files that you can share.

    Finder window with iPhone selected in sidebar displaying the Files tab on the iPhone.

Copy from your Mac to your device

  1. Select the files you want to copy. Select only files that work with the app. Check the app's user guide to see which ones work.

  2. Drag the files to the app on your device. The Finder will copy the files to your device.

Copy from your device to your Mac

  1. Select the files you want to copy.

  2. Drag the files to a folder on your computer. The Finder will copy the files to your computer.

Open shared files

On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, use the app that you chose in the Files tab to open files you've shared from your computer.

Depending on the file type, some apps can't open files in other apps or locations. You can see the list of files in the Files tab of the Finder when your device is connected to your computer.

Back up shared files

When iCloud or your computer backs up your device, it backs up your shared files as well.

If you delete an app with shared files from your iOS or iPadOS device, those shared files will also be deleted from your device and your iCloud or computer backup. To avoid losing shared files, copy the files to your computer before deleting the app from your device.

Delete shared files from your device

  1. Open a Finder window on your Mac.

  2. Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable.

  3. Select your device in the Finder. Find out what to do if your computer doesn’t recognise your device.

  4. Select the app from the list in the Files section.

  5. In the Documents list, select the file you want to delete, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.

  6. When the Finder asks you to confirm, click Delete.

There may be other ways to delete files from an app. See the app's user guide to find out more.

Published Date: