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Transferring files from a Mac to an iPad

My wife has been using a 2016 12" MacBook for years, the Jony Ive one port special. She's loved it, the size, the weight, everything (well maybe not the one port). It's time to move to a newer system. None of the current Mac laptops come close to the form factor and lightness of the MacBook. She's been reluctant to go to an iPad, because she really wants to use macOS not iOS or a variant, but she's going to bite the bullet and make the leap between platforms.


So the question is how do you transfer files from a Mac to an iPad. I don't mean sync; I mean copying files from the Mac to the iPad, documents, images, video, music. Not concerned about Photos and Music so much that's cloud based, but everything else that's filled the system of a 500 GB drive. Ideally I'd like to go from a Time Machine or CCC drive to the iPad.


How do you do this? The only threads I can find on this are really dated. Any guidance would be really appreciated.


Thanks very much.

Posted on Oct 18, 2022 1:04 PM

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Posted on Oct 18, 2022 5:30 PM

The transfer as shown in the link I posted works both ways. iPad to Mac and Mac to iPad.


Yes, you can connect an external hard drive to the iPad and transfer files that way too.

Link-> Connect external devices or servers with Files on iPad - Apple Support


You can use a hub or an adapter for that.

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Oct 18, 2022 5:30 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

The transfer as shown in the link I posted works both ways. iPad to Mac and Mac to iPad.


Yes, you can connect an external hard drive to the iPad and transfer files that way too.

Link-> Connect external devices or servers with Files on iPad - Apple Support


You can use a hub or an adapter for that.

Oct 18, 2022 1:21 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Short answer: Not easily.


Long answer: You can use AirDrop to transfer files one by one.

Or you can use iTunes / Finder to copy files into an app on the iPad that supports said files. Link-> Use the Finder to share files between your Mac and your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch - Apple Support


Beyond that, there's really no expectation of transferring 500GB of files onto an iPad so no real easy or direct way of accomplishing that easily or quickly.


Unless she's familiar with the iPad already it will be a major change between macOS and iPadOS and how it handles files.

There is no central Finder like there is with macOS. So all files must live inside an app. The Files App provides a file manager interface similar to Finder but not exactly the same and may not have access to files in all Apps unless said apps expose them to it.


Honestly, if she's used to a Mac, I would look into a MacBook Air. While not as compact and light as the 12" MacBook, its the closest thing to it currently.


The iPad as much as Apple touts it, is still not a Mac replacement. It can do a lot of things. But if you expect a similar experience to a Mac you will be disappointed. It will have a steep learning curve.

Oct 18, 2022 1:15 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I can't help with Music but for Photos and documents, I would use iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive, not just for the transfer but on an ongoing basis.


I'm say "I would" in the sentence above in the loosest sense as I use both an iPad and a Mac and I could survive with the iPad but not without the Mac. Wishing her luck and hoping it works for her.

Oct 18, 2022 1:31 PM in response to Phil0124

Thank you very much Phil. She might have second thoughts.


Her thinking is that she's very used to iOS, having been using an iPhone since the beginning, so she's hoping the transition wouldn't be too painful.


Thanks for the link. It doesn't look as if it's something Apple really supports. The only talk for moving file over hardwire is from iPad to Mac. There isn't any hard dive connection? You can't copy files on and off a connected hard drive to an iPad using the Thunderbolt port? Can you connect a hub to it? I haven't used an iPad in years.


Thanks again.



Oct 18, 2022 8:09 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I'd seriously consider Phil's suggestion of a Macbook Air. I have one and an iPad Pro and 9th gen iPad.

The iPad Pro has a Brydge keyboard/magnetic case.


an iPad is NOT a Mac. I love the iPads for browsing, reading, and especially hooking it up to my TV to watch foreign content via their TV channel apps, but when I want to actually do something (my financials, writing letters, or whatever), I use my Macs. It drives me crazy that I cannot manipulate the file on the iPad as easily as I can on the Mac.


Aside from that, I have some problems with still semi numb fingers from my stroke (which is apparently staying at the current state it's in) and I keep accidentally hitting some area on the iPad or its on screen keyboard (because I can't feel it and don't know I am doing it) and my 3 paragraph long email or post here will disappear. So I do not care for the one finger on screen tapping like a 5 year old. It works much better with a real keyboard.


Why don't you have your wife just look at a Macbook Air at the store - take the old Macbook along to compare side by side.


FWIW, when I hit post, I realized I had magically lost a paragraph of my answer.....

Transferring files from a Mac to an iPad

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