shochatd

Q: How do I transfer selected files to a friend's iPad?

I have a friend who has an iPad (and no computer). She is taking a French class and has a couple of CDs for that class. She would like to be able to access this content on her iPad. I can rip the CDs to audio files, but do not know how to get them onto an iPad (that is NOT my own). I assume I can import the files into my iTunes library, but what is the next step? I do NOT want to:

1. Sync her iPad to my iTunes library

2. Erase what is currently on her iPad

3. Transfer more than the specific files from HER CDs

With more and more people choosing to dispense with desktop/laptop computers altogether and use only an iPad, this does not seem like an odd requirement. I assume that one must go through iTunes to do this (which is why I'm posting here), but would welcome a more direct solution.

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Mar 30, 2016 2:14 PM

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Q: How do I transfer selected files to a friend's iPad?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Rysz,Helpful

    Rysz Rysz Mar 30, 2016 3:33 PM in response to shochatd
    Level 7 (20,274 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 30, 2016 3:33 PM in response to shochatd

    You can email the files to her, or put them on a cloud service (iCloud, Dropbox and many other) and give her permission to access and download them.

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Mar 30, 2016 2:24 PM in response to shochatd
    Level 7 (26,946 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 30, 2016 2:24 PM in response to shochatd

    Yes, you'll need iTunes, but no, you do not want to sync.  Syncing will replace any media in her Music App on her iPad with whatever is in your iTunes library.


    You could always attempt to Manually manage the audio files, but there's a great risk of deleting her media files in her Music App while doing this.

     

    The easiest option is to get another Media Player on to her iPad that can receive the audio files without syncing.

     

    Moli Player is a good option.

     

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moliplayer-free-movie-music/id488691300?mt=8

     

    With a Media Player App installed. You can use iTunes File sharing Option to upload the ripped music files. If you used iTunes to rip them, and they were added to your library, you will need to go find them in the iTunes Media folder.

     

    Otherwise, just use the file browser from iTunes File Sharing to browse for them, and add them to the device.

     

    About File Sharing on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch  - Apple Support

    1. Select the app in the list in the file-sharing section in iTunes.
    2. Drag and drop files from a folder or window onto the Documents list to copy them to the app on your device.
    3. Or click Add, find the file or files you want to copy from your computer, and then click Choose. iTunes will copy these files to the app on your device. Choose only files that will work with the app. Check the app's user guide to learn which kinds of files will work.
  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Mar 30, 2016 3:34 PM in response to shochatd
    Level 9 (53,675 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 30, 2016 3:34 PM in response to shochatd

    E-mail the files to her or drag them to a flash drive so she can add them to her own iTunes library and sync them with her things.

  • by shochatd,

    shochatd shochatd Mar 30, 2016 3:35 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 30, 2016 3:35 PM in response to Limnos

    How do I connect the flash drive to the iPad (imagining a male-to-male USB situation).

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Mar 30, 2016 3:38 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 7 (26,946 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 30, 2016 3:38 PM in response to Limnos

    Limnos wrote:

     

    E-mail the files to her or drag them to a flash drive so she can add them to her own iTunes library and sync them with her things.


    Uhm:

    I have a friend who has an iPad (and no computer).  

     

    @shochatd

    And, no you can't really connect a flash drive to a iPad like you can to a computer.

  • by Rysz,

    Rysz Rysz Mar 30, 2016 3:39 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 7 (20,274 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 30, 2016 3:39 PM in response to Limnos

    OP stated that the friend has no computer, so this option is not available to them.

  • by shochatd,

    shochatd shochatd Mar 30, 2016 5:42 PM in response to Rysz
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 30, 2016 5:42 PM in response to Rysz

    I thought I would test the mail option with my wife's iPhone 5. I sent her an E-mail with an attached audio file. Then when I looked at it in her Inbox, I could see the attachment. When I did this with the gmail app and tapped the icon, it said "saving to drive". When I used the standard Mail app, it said "tap to download", which I did. But either way, when I run the Music app, there is no sign of this file. It's pretty easy to see that there's nothing there since my wife basically doesn't do Music at all on her iPhone. How do I access the file (and listen to it)? I realize this is now off-topic for this forum, so perhaps I should restart in a different one.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Mar 30, 2016 6:05 PM in response to shochatd
    Level 9 (53,675 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 30, 2016 6:05 PM in response to shochatd

    That's why an earlier poster was mentioning using a third party app. I suspect the Music app only plays files synced to the device and you will have to use another media player to play other files.

  • by shochatd,

    shochatd shochatd Mar 30, 2016 6:16 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 30, 2016 6:16 PM in response to Limnos

    There is a nice summary of how difficult what I want to do actually is here: http://ios.wonderhowto.com/how-to/put-music-your-iphone-without-using-itunes-014 7391/

    I think the "play directly from dropbox" option may be the best answer for my friend.