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iPhone User Guide

Transfer files between your iPhone and other devices

There are multiple ways to transfer photos, videos, and other files between your iPhone and other devices like an iPad, Mac, or Windows device. You can transfer files wirelessly with features like AirDrop or apps like Mail and Messages, or you can connect your iPhone to a computer or an external storage device with a cable, and then transfer or sync files.

You can also use iCloud to store your files, photos, videos, and more, and keep everything up to date on all your devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account.

Important: Transferring, sharing, or syncing may be restricted for some types of data, such as files saved in an app’s proprietary format, files saved in older software versions, and files protected by copyrights.

Transfer files from your iPhone wirelessly

To quickly share a photo, file, or other item from your iPhone to a nearby Apple device, you can use AirDrop. See Use AirDrop to send items to nearby Apple devices.

You can also transfer files from your iPhone to another device by sending the file as an attachment in the Mail or Messages app.

Transfer files by connecting your iPhone with a cable

You can connect your iPhone to your Mac or Windows device with a cable to transfer files to your computer, an external storage device, or a file server. When you transfer files to your Mac or Windows device, you can use the Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, depending on the model and operating system of your computer.

Note: Only files from iPhone apps that support file sharing can be transferred.

Sync your iPhone with other devices

You can also connect your iPhone to your Mac or Windows device to sync supported content. For example, when you add a movie to your iPhone, you can sync so that the movie also appears on your computer. You can sync content like music, movies, TV shows, and more.

When you sync files to your Mac or Windows device, you can use the Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, depending on the model and operating system of your computer.

Automatically keep your files in sync with iCloud

You can store your files, photos, videos, and more in iCloud so you can access them and keep them synced on all your devices as well as supported web browsers. Any change you make to a file on a device that’s signed in to your Apple Account appears on all devices that are signed in to the same Apple Account. For more information, see How iCloud keeps information up to date across all your devices in the iCloud User Guide.

To get started, see Set up iCloud on all your devices in the iCloud User Guide.

Note: OS X 10.10 (or later) or Windows 7 (or later) are required. You must be signed in to the same Apple Account on both your iPhone and your computer, as well as any supported web browsers you might be using. See the Apple Support article System requirements for iCloud.

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