There are many different ways for iPad users to transfer files from Mac to iPad. For example, users can take advantage of iTunes or Email to finish the task. However, as is know, iTunes can only transfer purchased files like music, movies, photos, and other media files. Contacts, text messages, and other files are not included. What's more, you can sync one data type at a time. And Many email services have a size limitation of 20-30 MB. So it is not practical if users have a lot of files to transfer.

Of course, there are other ways like using iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and more. They are either too complex to operate or too few transferrable data type. Are there any easy ways to transfer files from Mac to iPad with ease? Of course, the post will introduce users two quick and easy ways. If you are interested, check it out.

Part 1: Using AirDrop to Transfer File from Mac to iPad

Before making use of AirDrop to transfer files from Mac to iPad, you need to know what AirDrop is. AirDrop is an excellent way to share content between two Macs or a Mac and iPhone, or Mac and iPad, in the same vicinity, because it works even if the Macs and iOS devices aren’t connected to the same network. This is because AirDrop creates a quick AdHoc network between the devices, giving you the go-ahead to share files. The AirDrop network is set up when you connect to AirDrop. With AirDrop, you can wirelessly send photos, videos, websites, locations, and more to a nearby iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac.

Make sure that both devices can use AirDrop before you transfer file from Mac to iPad:

1. On Mac computers, choose "Go" from the menu bar in the Finder. If the "Go" menu includes AirDrop, that Mac can use AirDrop.

2. On iPad, open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. If AirDrop is in Control Center, that iPad can use AirDrop.
AirDrop

This is how it works:

1. On your Mac open a Finder window and select AirDrop. Choose to be seen by Everyone, or only those in your Contacts. To raise your chances of your Mac seeing your devices and vice versa we suggest that you choose to be seen by everyone.

2.Open Control Center and turn on AirDrop on your iPad. You should see the iPad in the AirDrop window on your Mac and the Mac should show up AirDrop on your iPad.

3. You can now drop and drag videos onto the icon representing the iPad.Tap "Accept" on your iPad to open the file.

AirDrop system requirements:

To send items to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or to receive items from those devices, you need a 2012 or later Mac model with OS X Yosemite or later, excluding the Mac Pro (Mid 2012).

To send items to another Mac, you need:

  • MacBook Pro (Late 2008) or later, excluding the MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008)
  • MacBook Air (Late 2010) or later
  • MacBook (Late 2008) or later, excluding the white MacBook (Late 2008)
  • iMac (Early 2009) or later
  • Mac Mini (Mid 2010) or later
  • Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)
  • Part 2: Using Leawo iTransfer to Copy File from Mac to iPad

    Users are also able to use the third-party iPad transfer for Mac program to transfer files from Mac to iPad. Among all the data transfer programs for iOS devices, Leawo iTransfer for Mac is regarded as one of the best. The program is used for transferring files among iOS devices, iTunes and computers without the sync of iTunes, and it allows users to transfer apps, music, movies, TV shows, ringtones, ebooks, photos and Camera Roll with ease. Setting transferring music to iPad as an example, the following guidance will show you how to copy file from Mac to iPad with Leawo iTransfer for Mac. You are allowed to free download the software to have a try, note that the trial version has limited transfer times.

    Tips: Leawo iTransfer only works with iTunes installed on your PC.

    Step 1. Run Leawo iTransfer and connect iPhone to computer with USB cable. The software will recognize your iPhone.

    Step 2. Click the name of iPhone and choose Music in the left sidebar. The iPhone music will display in the right part of software window.

    Step 3. Drag and drop the music from Mac computer to the software window, or click the Add button at the top middle to add music from Mac computer.

    Note:

    1. Leawo iTransfer works with all modes of iPhone/iPad/iPod, including the latest iPhone SE, iPhone 6S/6S Plus. And it is fully compatible with iOS 9.3 and Mac OS X 10.6 or later.

    2. Excepting transferring files from Mac to iPad, Leawo iTransfer also supports to transfer files to Mac with ease.

    Part 3: Using iTunes to Transfer File from Mac to iPad

    As known to all, iTunes is the center management tool for Apple users to purchase movies, music and others on iTunes Store, play back purchased media files, manage iOS data and files, etc. As the official solution provided by Apple, iTunes could also help you transfer files from Mac to iPad, iPhone and iPod devices. With iTunes, you could transfer files from Mac to iPad device in 2 different ways: iTunes Sync and File Sharing.

    Section 1: Transfer file from Mac to iPad via iTunes Sync

    iTunes Sync feature helps you sync all items on iTunes Store from your Mac computer to your iPad. Check the below steps to learn how to transfer files from Mac to iPad via iTunes Sync feature (here we take transferring photos from Mac to iPad as an example):

    1. Connect your iPad to your Mac with a USB cable and run iTunes if it doesn't open automatically.
    2. Tap on the iPad icon on iTunes and choose “Photos” tab under the “Settings”.
    3. Click the checkbox right before the “Sync Photos” option and choose one option from the drop-down menu of “Copy Photos from” to choose source photo. You could choose to sync all photos and albums, selected albums, videos, etc.

    itunes-sync-photos-05

    4. After setting photos source, click “Sync” button to start to import photos from Mac to iPad.
    5. When the sync is done, disconnect your iPad with computer.

    In this way, you are able to transfer most data and files from Mac to iPad in batch.

    Section 2: Transfer file from Mac to iPad via File Sharing

    You can share files between your Mac and iPad via Apps that support file sharing. To check whether an app supports this feature, go to see the documentation of it. The below steps would show you how to transfer file from Mac to iPad via File Sharing feature

    1. Connect your iPad to your Mac.
    2. Click the iPad icon on iTunes and choose "File Sharing" option under the Settings.
    3. Select the app you want to transfer a file to from the list on the left.
    4. Click "Add" button, choose the file you want to transfer from Mac to iPad and click "Add" again.

    It should be noted that the File Sharing feature requires an app that supports file sharing.

    Part 4: Using Email to Transfer Small File from Mac to iPad

    If you are going to transfer only several small files from Mac to iPad, for example, some photos or a single video, you could try to transfer it from Mac to iPad via email. It’s totally free for you to transfer files from Mac computer to iPad tablets via email. You only need to remember that the receipt email address should be your own email.

    Check the below steps to learn how to transfer small file from Mac to iPad via email. We take Gmail for example.

    1. Open the browser and then log in Gmail.
    2. Create a new mail by clicking the "COMPOSE" option.
    3. Enter the receiver address and complete the topic. You could input your own email address as receipt.
    4. Click the "Attach files" icon to choose file(s) as attachment.

    email-file-from-mac-to-iphone-07

    5. Click the “Send” button to send out the email to the receipt.
    6. On your iPad, connect it to the Internet and then log in your email account to receive the mail you just sent out.
    7. Tap the attached file to open it. You could then save the file to your iPad.

    It should be noted that transferring files from Mac to iPad via email is only applicable to small file size since most email servers have limitation on the entire email size.

    All these above solutions could help you transfer files from Mac to iPad devices. And they all have their pros and cons. But you could obviously see that Leawo iTransfer is much better.