How to transfer large files fast offline from iPhone, iPad to MacOS devices and vice versa
Transferring files from iPhone, iPad to MacOS devices and vice versa has always been easy with iCloud Drive, Airdrop and Universal Clipboard. Or with the help of cloud storage like iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive,…
However, this only applies to text and small files of less than tens of megabytes. For files with gigabytes of data, the process is very slow, and for cloud storage, it can cost you money for the huge amount of storage space it requires.
Luckily, you can do it offline.
You can transfer files offline fast from iPhone, iPad to MacOS devices and vice versa using a cable. Just follow these steps:
1. Connect iPhone, iPad to MacOS devices using a lightning to USB cable → press Trust to trust the MacOS device
2. Ensure that iPhone, iPad has an app that acts as a file manager to help you create a folder accessible on both iPhone, iPad and MacOS devices where the transferred files will be stored.
In this article, we choose 1LimX app https://apps.apple.com/us/app/1limx/id1615037409 to help achieve that folder.
This folder is located on iPhone, iPad storage, you can view it in the Files app. On MacOS devices when iPhone, iPad connected to MacOS devices with a cable, you can access the folder using the Finder app.
Install the app on iPhone, iPad → connect to MacOS devices with a lighting to USB cable → open Finder app → in Locations section select iPhone, iPad device → select Files tab
3. Transferring files
a. Transferring files from MacOS devices to iPhone, iPad
Make sure iPhone, iPad and MacOS devices are connected through a cable → Now drag the large file to be transferred to 1LimX folder → wait for transferring process, it’ll be faster than other online methods.
b. Transferring files from iPhone, iPad to MacOS devices
Make sure iPhone, iPad and MacOS devices are connected through a cable → Open Files app → Go to Browse screen → Go to On My iPhone → If you don’t see 1LimX folder, switch to MacOS device and drag a sample file (small text, image, … file) like the video above.
With 1LimX folder visible, you can send copy, save file to this folder. Now on MacOS device, Open Finder → Go to iPhone, iPad location (like the video above) → select Files tab → click the arrow next to 1LimX icon, the files will appear → drag wanted file to your wanted folder on MacOS → wait for transferring process.