Use iTunes to share files between your computer and your iPhone or iPad

You can copy files between your computer and apps on your iPhone or iPad using File Sharing.

Before you begin

If you’re using macOS Catalina or later, use the Finder to share files between your computer and your iPhone or iPad. If you’re using Windows 10 or later, use Apple Devices to share files between your Windows computer and your iPhone or iPad.

Instead of File Sharing, consider using iCloud Drive, Handoff or AirDrop to keep your documents up to date across all of your devices.

iCloud Drive lets you securely access all of your documents 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 from another device. Handoff works with Apple apps such as Mail, Safari, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, Contacts, Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Some third-party apps are also compatible.

AirDrop helps you share photos, videos, websites, locations and more with other nearby Apple devices.

What you need for File Sharing

Find out which of your iOS and iPadOS apps can share files with your computer

  1. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC.

  2. Connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your computer using the USB cable that came with your device.

  3. Click your device in iTunes. Get help if you can’t find it.

    iTunes menu bar, iPhone icon selected.

  4. In the left-hand sidebar, click File Sharing.

    File Sharing selected opens list of apps available for File Sharing.

  5. Select an app to see which files are available for sharing in that app on your device.  If you can't see a File Sharing section, your device has no file-sharing apps.

    Keynote app selected, Keynote Documents list appears.

Copy files from your computer to your iOS or iPadOS app

  1. In iTunes, select the app from the list in the File Sharing section.

  2. Drag and drop files from a folder or window onto the Documents list to copy them to your device. You can also click Add in the Documents list in iTunes, find the file or files you want to copy from your computer, and then click Add. iTunes copies these files to the app on your device. Only choose files that will work with the app. Check the app's user guide to find out which types of files will work.

    Dropping dragged file into Keynote Documents.

Copy files from an iOS or iPadOS app to your computer

  1. In iTunes, select the app from the list in the File Sharing section.

  2. Drag and drop files from the Documents list to a folder or window on your computer to copy them to your computer. You can also select the file or files that you want to copy to your computer from the Documents list and click “Save” then find the folder on your computer to which you want to copy the files and click Save.

    Red notification bubble indicating one Keynote Document selected to save.

Open shared files

On your iOS device, you can open the files from your computer with the app that you chose for File Sharing.

You can't access these files from other apps or locations on your device. You can find the list of files in the File Sharing section of iTunes when your device is connected to your computer.

Back up shared files

When iCloud (or iTunes) backs up your device, it backs up your shared files as well.

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

Delete a shared file from your iOS device

To delete a file you copied to an iOS or iPadOS app using File Sharing, follow these steps:

  1. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC.

  2. Connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your computer using the USB cable that came with your device.

  3. Select your device in iTunes. Get help if you can’t find it.

  4. Select the app from the list in the File Sharing section.

  5. Select the file that you want to delete in the Documents list, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.

  6. When iTunes asks you to confirm, click Delete.

    Select Delete button in iTunes to confirm you want to delete the selected document.

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

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