Sync content or transfer files between your iPad and computer with the Finder or iTunes
With a USB or USB-C cable, you can connect your iPad to a computer with a USB port to do the following:
Sync supported content like movies and podcasts.
Transfer files used by iPad apps that support file sharing.
Depending on your computer, you use either the Finder or iTunes on your computer to sync content and transfer files.
Sync supported content
Syncing with the Finder or iTunes keeps supported content up to date between your iPad and computer. For example, when you add a movie to your iPad, you can sync so that the movie also appears on your computer. After you set up syncing between your devices with a cable, you can set them up to sync wirelessly and automatically whenever they’re connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
You can sync content like music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, photos, contacts, and calendars.
To sync content with your Mac (macOS 10.15 or later): See Sync content between your Mac and iPhone or iPad in the macOS User Guide.
To sync content with your Windows PC or Mac (macOS 10.14 or earlier): See the Apple Support article Use iTunes to sync your iPhone or iPad with your computer.
Transfer files for supported apps
You can transfer files by copying them from one device to the other. For example, you can copy a Pages document created on your iPad to view or modify on your computer. Only files for iPad apps that support file sharing can be transferred using with the Finder or iTunes. After you connect your iPad and computer, you can see which of your apps support file sharing.
Note: Files you transfer with the Finder or iTunes are not synced.
To transfer files with your Mac (macOS 10.15 or later): See the Apple Support article Use the Finder to share files between your Mac and your iPhone or iPad.
To transfer files with your Windows PC or Mac (macOS 10.14 or earlier): See the Apple Support article Use iTunes to share files between your computer and your iOS or iPadOS device.
If the files you want to share between your iPad and computer aren’t supported by syncing or transferring with the Finder or iTunes, see Transfer files between your iPad and your computer for other options.