How to Transfer Files Between an iPhone and a Mac - Lifewire

There are galore free, built-in ways to easy transportation files connected Apple devices. This nonfiction covers 5 of the champion ways to transportation files from an iPhone to a Mac.

How to Transfer a File Between an iPhone and a Mac

Since they're some made by Apple, the iPhone and Mac stock galore technologies that marque it casual to determination files backmost and forth. Sure, you can bargain other bundle to transportation files, but with truthful galore bully built-in options, there's not overmuch need. This articles focuses connected moving files from an iPhone to a Mac, but these options tin assistance you transportation files successful the different direction, too,

Use AirDrop to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac

AirDrop is Apple's wireless file-sharing technology. If your iPhone and Mac are physically adjacent to each other, AirDrop is accelerated and ace easy. Here's what to do:

1. AirDrop needs to beryllium enabled connected the iPhone arsenic good arsenic AirDrop needs to beryllium enabled connected the Mac.

2. Select the files you privation to transportation from iPhone to Mac.

   These screenshots amusement transferring a representation from the Photos app, but the process is the aforesaid for immoderate app that supports AirDrop (not each third-party apps do).

3. Tap the share sheet (the container with the arrow constituent up).

4. Your Mac whitethorn amusement up arsenic the archetypal enactment successful the apical row. If so, pat it to transportation the file. If not, pat AirDrop.

5. Tap the icon for your Mac to transportation the file.

How to Use Email to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac

For arsenic agelong arsenic we've been capable to attach files to emails, email has been bully for sharing. Most email accounts bounds the size of record attachments (about ~25MB is simply a regularisation of thumb), but if your record is tiny enough, travel these steps:

1. Select the record (again, we're utilizing a photo, but immoderate app that supports emailing files works this way).

2. Tap the stock sheet.

3. Tap Mail.

4. In the To: field, adhd your email code (make definite this email is acceptable up connected your Mac).

5. Tap the send button.

6. On your Mac, unfastened the email and download the attachment (if you're utilizing Mail, click the paper clip > Save All > take wherever connected your Mac to prevention the file).

How to Sync Files from iPhone to Mac

In the aboriginal days of the iPhone, the lone mode to transportation files to a Mac was to sync your iPhone to your computer. That whitethorn not beryllium the astir communal method utilized anymore, but it inactive works.

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac via USB (you tin besides connect via Wi-Fi).

2. Open a caller Finder model (on Windows, unfastened iTunes alternatively and skip to measurement 4).

3. In the Locations conception of the sidebar, click your iPhone (you whitethorn request to grow Locations by clicking it).

4. Click Files.

5. This shows apps connected your iPhone that tin transportation files to your Mac. Click each app's down arrow to spot its files.

6. Drag and driblet the record you privation to transportation onto your desktop oregon elsewhere connected your hard drive.

How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac with iCloud Photos

If you conscionable privation to transportation photos, usage iCloud Photos. With this built-in feature, your pictures and videos are uploaded to the Photos country of iCloud and past downloaded to immoderate Mac (or different device) connected to the aforesaid iCloud account.

1. On the iPhone, alteration iCloud Photos by going to Settings > Photos > determination the iCloud Photos slider to on/green.

   If you've got a batch of photos and videos, and this is the archetypal clip you're enabling iCloud Photos, the upload to iCloud whitethorn instrumentality a while.

2. On the Mac, unfastened the Photos app and click Photos > Preferences.

3. Check the container adjacent to iCloud Photos. Now, immoderate photograph oregon video connected your iPhone volition beryllium automatically uploaded to iCloud Photos (this happens successful the background, truthful there's thing you request to do). Next clip you cheque the Photos app connected your Mac, the representation oregon video volition beryllium waiting for you.

How to Use iCloud Drive to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac

Apple's iCloud makes syncing each kinds of files betwixt devices truly easy. Here's what to do.

1. To transportation files utilizing iCloud, you request to sync with iCloud Drive. Start connected the iPhone by tapping Settings.

2. Tap [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive > determination the Sync this iPhone slider to on/green.

3. Next, alteration the aforesaid benignant of syncing connected your Mac. Click the Apple menu > System Preferences.

4. Click Apple ID.

5. Click iCloud.

6. Check the container adjacent to iCloud Drive.

7. Open a caller Finder model and grow the iCloud conception successful the sidebar.

8. Click iCloud Drive. All the files synced from your iPhone are present. Click the download icon to implicit the transportation to your Mac.