How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad? 6 Ways for You

iPad makes it easy to edit your documents at work or during a class, view photos or videos during your leisure time. When you need to transfer files from Mac to iPad, iTunes may be the first solution that comes to your mind. However, you may encounter some problems while using iTunes, for example, only transfer limited file types or data on devices will be wiped out. In order to help you get files from Mac to your iPad easily, this article shows you 6 methods on how to transfer files from Mac to iPad.

Part 1: How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad without iTunes
Part 2: How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad with iTunes
Part 3: How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad Wirelessly
3.1 How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad using AirDrop
3.2 How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad using iCloud Drive
3.3 How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad with Google Drive
3.4 How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad using Dropbox

Part 1: How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad without iTunes

If you want to transfer files from Mac to iPad without iTunes, a third-party tool called Coolmuster iOS Assistant is your best option. You can transfer files like contacts, calendars, bookmarks, books and even iTunes backup files from Mac to iPad. You can also transfer a wide range of files from iPad to Mac freely. It is an ideal iTunes alternative with an intuitive interface. You can easily manage your iOS data with the help of Coolmuster iOS Assistant with a few clicks.

Key features of Coolmuster iOS Assistant:

* Transfer files like contacts, calendars, books, bookmarks and many more from the Mac to iPad.

* Export contacts, messages, notes, calendars, bookmarks, music, videos, photos, books, apps, etc. from iPad to Mac.

* Support transfer contacts to Mac in CSV, VCF and XML formats and save SMS to Mac CSV, HTML, TXT and DB formats.

* Manage/backup/restore/import/delete iTunes backup files as you want.

* Support iOS 16 & Compatible with all iPad/iPhone/iPod models like iPad Pro, iPad 4, iPad air, iPad mini with Retina display, iPad mini, iPad with Retina display, The New iPad, iPad 2, iPad.

Download Coolmuster iOS Assistant for Mac and start to transfer files from Mac to iPad:

Tip: If you are using a Windows PC, download the Windows version and follow this guide to transfer files from PC to iPad without iTunes.

Here's how to transfer files from Mac to iPad without iTunes:

Step 1: Getting start

Download and run the Coolmuster iOS Assistant on your Mac and connect your iPad to Mac with a suitable USB cable.

Step 2: Get your iPad detected

Follow the instructions on the screen, hit the "Trust" option on your iPad. Once your iPad is detected by the program, you will see the main interface as below:

Step 3: Transfer files from Mac to iPad

Click the "Import" button on the top of the interface and select the required files from your Mac and transfer them to your iPad.

See Also:

The Easiest Way to Sync iPad with Mac Computer

6 Easy Ways to Transfer Files From Mac to iPhone

Part 2: How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad with iTunes

To make sure that you can sync files smoothly, you should check if your iTunes on your Mac is the latest version (Go to the App Store on your Mac > click "Updates").

Here we will show you two ways to transfer files from Mac to iPad via iTunes:

Using the "Sync" feature:

Step 1: Connect your iPad to Mac via a USB cable. Open iTunes on your Mac if it doesn't open automatically.

Step 2: Click the device icon on the top-left of the interface.

Step 3: Select the file type such as Music, Movies, TV Shows, Photos, etc. on the left menu as you want. Here we select "Photos" as an example.

Step 4: Click the "Sync Photos" checkbox on the right then click "Apply" to confirm.

Using the "File Sharing" feature:

With File Sharing on iTunes, you can transfer files between your Mac and apps that support file sharing on your iPad.

Follow the steps below to transfer files from Mac to iPad:

Step 1: Open iTunes on your Mac.

Step 2: Connect your iPad to Mac with a USB cable and click the device icon in iTunes.

Step 3: Click "File Sharing" in the left sidebar, you will see the file-sharing apps are displayed under the "Apps" section. Select the app that you want to use to transfer files to iPad, for example, Keynote.

Step 4: Click "Add" in the "Documents" list and select the desired file from your Mac.

Step 5: Open the Keynote app on your iPad and you will see the file transferred from your Mac.

Part 3: How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad Wirelessly

Transferring files from Mac wirelessly is very convenient but it may not as quickly as using a USB cable. It mainly depends on your Wi-Fi condition and the file size. In this part, we will introduce 4 ways for you to transfer files from Mac to iPad wirelessly.

3.1 How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad using AirDrop

AirDrop is a handy tool for transferring files between Apple devices. To use this method, please ensure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your device are on.

Below are the detailed steps:

Step 1: Enable AirDrop both on your iPad and your Mac.

- On your iPad, open the Control Center and tap "AirDrop Receiving", then select "Everyone" or "Contacts Only".

- On your Mac, open the "Finder" window and select "AirDrop". Set up allow me to be discovered by "Contacts Only" or "Everyone".

Step 2: Select the specific file on your Mac, then click the "Share" icon to transfer to your iPad.

Step 3: On your iPad, tap the name of your Mac to receive the files transferred from Mac.

3.2 How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad using iCloud Drive

You can use iCloud to backup your iOS data and access the data across devices or from the iCloud. com. It can also be used to copy files from Mac to iPad wirelessly.

Here' how:

Step 1: On your iPad, go to "Settings" > "iCloud" > enable "iCloud Drive".

Step 2: On your Mac, go to the "System Preferences" > "iCloud" > turn on "iCloud Drive".

Step 3: Open the iCloud Drive folder on your Mac, then drag and drop the files that you want to move to iPad to the iCloud Drive folder.

Step 4: Open the "iCloud Drive" app on your iPad, now you can check the files that transferred from your Mac.

3.3 How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad with Google Drive

Google Drive which provides 15 GB free storage space is a popular cloud service among users. If you want to transfer files like videos from Mac to iPad without iTunes, you can use Google Drive.

- Step 1: On your Mac, visit the Google Drive website, log in to it with your Google account.

- Step 2: Click the "Add" icon located on the top left, and select "File upload", then select the videos that you want to transfer to iPad from Mac.

- Step 3: On your iPad, download the Google Drive app and log in to it with your Google account.

- Step 4: Now you can get the files from Mac on the Google Drive app.

3.4 How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPad using Dropbox

Many people will use the Dropbox app to store their files or share files with others. It can be a good solution to transfer files from Mac to iPad.

Here' how:

Step 1: Download Dropbox both on your Mac and iPad and create your Dropbox account.

Step 2: On your Mac, go to the Dropbox folder and drag and drop the files you need to transfer to your iPad.

Step 3: Open Dropbox app on your iPad and you will see the files synced from your Mac.

Summary

If you want to transfer files from Mac to iPad wirelessly, you can choose AirDrop or some cloud services like iCloud, Google Drive or Dropbox. When it comes to how to transfer files from Mac to iPad with a USB cable, Coolmuster iOS Assistant is here for you. It is easier to use compared to iTunes and will not wipe your data on your device while transferring.

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