File and data transfer from/to iPhone or iPad is difficult, such as data transfer from iOS to computer, computer to iOS or from iOS device to iOS device. iTunes sync is problematic and has been discontinued. Today, we will recommend you several third-party data transfer software apps that are free, wireless and easy to use. You do not need the USB data cable, or a cloud hosting service, like iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, in the middle. You can simply connect up both devices to the same wi-fi network, then run a free app to download files from iPhone to PC/Mac or upload files from computer to iPhone over Wi-Fi. From this tutorial you will learn how to easily exchange files and documents between two iPhone, two iPad or between iPhone and iPad. Firstly, this guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions for sharing files between an iPhone and an iPad using FileMaster. Additionally, we will suggest various other free apps and solutions that serve the same purpose. Each of these apps comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you should choose the one that best fits your needs.
FileMaster is a free file manager app with secure data protection, powerful file transfer through Wi-fi, Bluetooth and many other features. Download this app from the App Store before we use it to share files between iPhone and iPad over Wi-Fi.
Method 1. Share Files between iPhone and iPad via WiFi
Run the file manager app on both iOS devices you like to share data between. In this demo, we will pick up a music file on iPhone and send it to iPad over wi-fi using this file manager app. Browse to any folders within the FileMaster app, long press to select it and get the file options, choose Send to >> WiFi. If your file is not in this app yet, you can easily import photos and videos from Camera Roll or Photo Album on iPhone and iPad. You can also use the Share feature to load many other files types from other apps, such as the Files, Voice Memos, into the FileMaster app. To transfer files between iPhone and iPad, you can choose Wi-fi, Bluetooth or Email.
All these three ways can help you exchange between iOS devices wirelessly. Wi-Fi is recommended as the first option, it is stable and fast. It is because this file manager app will connect up your devices in the local network, so the wi-fi transfer actually happens in the same local network. Bluetooth on iPhone and iPad is an alternative solution, use it when there is not wi-fi network available. Email transfer requires you to have email account configured on your iPhone or iPad.
In this demo, we will choose Wi-Fi transfer. After that your iPhone will search for other devices which also have this FileMaster app installed and running. Choose the iPhone or iPad you like to send your files to, then press Send button.
Now the target iPhone or iPad will get a notification above the file sending from your iPhone. Once the recipient confirmed to receive or save your files, you can see it in the Transfer Tasks screen like below. In this demo, we have selected a MP3 song on iPhone and sent it to iPad through Wi-Fi using this app. It is the same to send other files, such as videos, movies, documents (txt, doc, pdf, epub, ppt, docx, xslx, …)
On the receiving iOS device, the files will be saved to a selected folder in the FileMaster app by default. If you like you can save the photos and videos received to your Camera Roll or photo album, open other files with other compatible apps on your iPhone or iPad.
Method 2. Share files between iPhone and iPad via web
FileMaster has a built-in feature, called Wi-Fi Transfer, that can turn our iPhone or iPad into a file server, so you can connect other devices or computers to your iPhone or iPad to upload or download files between them.
In this demo, we will use FileMaster on iPhone to show you how it can create a file server on iPhone so you can connect iPad or other devices to the file server to copy files between them.
Run the file manager app on iPhone, tap on the More button in the bottom-right corner and choose WiFi Transfer from the pop-up menu, see below screenshot.
Touch the toggle to turn it on, and get the iPhone file wireless transfer address.
Connect your iPad, other device or computers, such as Android phone, Windows PC, Mac, to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. Then launch the web browser on iPad to access the above Wi-Fi file transfer address displayed in FileMaster on iPhone, you will then get access to the files and folders saved in the file manager app on iPhone right from iPad. You can directly download files from iPhone to iPad or upload files from iPad to iPhone using the Safari or any other web browser on your iPad.
More free apps to transfer files to another iPhone or iPad
There are many third-party apps available on the App Store that allow you to transfer files between an iPhone and iPad. Except FileMaster, here are more popular file sharing apps for iPhone and iPad:
Send Anywhere
A popular file transfer app that allows you to send files of any type and size directly between devices without any internet connection.
SHAREit
A file transfer app that allows you to share files with other devices over Wi-Fi, and it works across different platforms like iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac.
Documents
a powerful file manager and document viewer for iOS that allows you to access and manage files on your device and in the cloud. It also comes with the file transfer utility over Wi-Fi named Nearby file share.
Follow these steps to share files using Documents Nearby file share:
- Install and open the Documents app on both iPhone and iPad;
- Choose a file or folder to be shared from My Files tab.
- Tap on Menu (… icon) below the file or folder name to bring up the menu, then tap Nearby, tap the name of a nearby user to share the selected files or folder.