How to Transfer Files from iPad to Laptop or PC (Easy Tutorial), by YourSixStudios on YouTube. 3 min 34 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 34 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Connect your iPad to the PC with a Lightning or USB-C cable. Tap Trust This Computer on the iPad and enter your passcode when asked.
Open File Explorer on Windows and click your iPad under This PC. Open Internal Storage, then the DCIM folder to see photos and videos.
Select the files you want and copy them, then paste them into a folder on your PC. Wait for the copy to finish before unplugging.
On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Finder and select your iPad under Locations. Choose the Files tab and drag files to your Mac.
For app documents, install or update iTunes on Windows and connect the iPad by USB or Wi-Fi. Click the iPad icon in iTunes.
Open File Sharing, pick the app, select its files and click Save to. Choose a folder on your computer to copy them.
To back up the whole iPad, go to the Summary tab in iTunes and click Back Up Now. Keep the cable connected until it finishes.
For wireless transfer, open Settings on the iPad, tap your name, then iCloud, and turn on iCloud Drive or iCloud Photos.
On a PC, sign in at iCloud.com or install iCloud for Windows and download the files. On a Mac, open iCloud Drive in Finder.
For large files, install Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive on the iPad, upload the files, then sign in on your laptop and download them.
Tips and common mistakes
Use a cable for big video files, since wireless uploads can be slow and iCloud free storage is only 5GB.
Keep the iPad unlocked and on the same Wi-Fi network when using iTunes over Wi-Fi.
Copy files rather than moving them so the originals stay on the iPad until you check the transfer.
Eject the iPad safely in File Explorer or Finder before pulling out the cable.
Questions
Why does my PC not show my iPad in File Explorer?
Tap Trust This Computer on the iPad and enter your passcode. If it still does not appear, try another cable or USB port and the screen.
Can I transfer files without a cable?
Yes. Use iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos or a cloud app like Google Drive or Dropbox, then download the files on your laptop.
Where are my iPad photos stored on a Windows PC?
They appear in the DCIM folder inside Internal Storage when you open the iPad in File Explorer.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
