How to Transfer Files from PC to iPhone with 3 Easy Methods

Although you are a big fan of iPhones, it is not a crime to use a Windows PC instead of Mac. But there are various ways Apple has been punishing the PC users for many years. The problem is that iOS is a closed platform; so, users are able to send data to other iOS devices freely but those who are using the Windows PC face a lot of issues. But as a responsible company, Apple provides a way to transfer files outside of iOS. The answer they came up with is iTunes. It is a reliable and one of the oldest apps ever created and almost all users are acquainted with it. Fortunately, for PC users who are trying to transfer files from PC to iPhone, can do it with other apps also. They can use Dropbox or Google Drive for file transfer and also go for other third-party apps as well. So, in this article, we have come up with the best ways to get your job done effectively and quickly.

Part 1: How to Transfer Files from PC to iPhone with iTunes

iTunes is considered as one of the most efficient ways to transfer files between devices, but is it really that efficient? When you are troubled with how to transfer files from PC to iPhone, you will definitely look for the simplest but trustworthy medium. iTunes is able to transfer music files, photos, videos movies etc from Windows to iPhones or other iOS devices or if you want to get other files on your iPhone you have to create backup files using iTunes. Now, let’s see how to copy files from PC to iPhone using iTunes,

1. Download and install iTunes for PC. Try to get the latest version of iTunes on your computer.

2. Now, connect your iPhone to your PC and click on the “Device” option.

3. Then navigate to the left panel under Summary and choose any one of the file types for file sharing like Music, Movies, Photos, and Books etc

4. Now, just click on “Sync…” and select the files you want to transfer.

5. Then click Done.

The required file will be transferred and it will be saved in a specified location on your iPhone. This is the oldest way to transfer files from PC to iPhone. Unfortunately, iTunes is not performing to the user’s expectations these days, and there are a few drawbacks of using iTunes. They are mentioned below:

• First of all, the PC version of iTunes is really slow, you will get frustrated.
• It has lost its efficiency due to the fact that it is old and there are no significant upgrades given. Thus it now loses or corrupts files during transfer.
• It is very difficult to transfer music files with iTunes. Only supports purchased music.
• If you are using iTunes, you can only connect to one library at a time.
• If you transfer any data through iTunes to your iPhone, all of the similar existing data on your iPhone will be deleted.
• Several bugs and crashes reported.

It is unfortunate what happened to iTunes. The bug problem and all the cons have rendered the app unusable. So, it will be wise for the users to look for other sustainable replacements.

Part 2: How to Transfer Files from PC to iPhone without iTunes

As stated earlier iTunes is giving users a lot of trouble, this is the reason why users are transferring files from PC to iPhone without iTunes. Frankly, the app is not reliable anymore, the mishap has been going on for a long time but users kept thinking that Apple will fix it. But now the situation has escalated and Apple is not even concerned about this. So, now users are looking for even better replacements, like Google Drive or a stellar third-party app like Tenorshare iCareFone.

Way 1: Transfer Files to iPhone using iCareFone

The software market is filled with numerous apps which are able to transfer files from PC to iPhone with ease. Some of them are developed by Apple or Apple certified companies and some are developed by completely independent companies. Tenorshare iCareFone is also developed by an independent company and it is one of the best data transfer apps on the market. This app supports both Mac and Windows OS and supports all kinds of files, starting from Camera Roll photos, third-party images, app data, videos, music, ringtones, PDF, contacts, messages & attachments, books(either in epub or pdf), etc. You can mostly transfer all kinds of files with Tenorshare iCareFone. Here’s how to use it:

1. Download and install Tenorshare iCareFone on your PC.

2. Get a USB cable and connect the iPhone X/8/8 Plus/7/6/6s/5 and your computer.

3. After iCareFone detects the iPhone, navigate to “Manage” on top menu bar.

4. On the next panel, various type data categories will be visible to you.

5. Select the one you wish to transfer and then click on “Import” button.

6. The file transfer will start immediately.

Now you know how to transfer data from PC to iPhone using Tenorshare iCareFone. We recommend using Tenorshare iCareFone as your official data transfer app. You won’t be disappointed!

Advantages of Tenorshare iCareFone:

• User-friendly interface.
• Support to a wide range of files like videos, music, photos to email, books, contacts etc from iTunes library or your computer.
• Lightning fast transfer capability.
• One-click operation.
• Selective and bulk transfer without data loss.
• Preview options available.
• 2-way data transfer between iOS devices and computer.
• No storage limitations
• No Apple ID logins needed.
• No Wi-Fi needed.

Way 2: Sync Files to iPhone using Google Drive

Today, there are a variety of cloud storage options available on the market and Google Drive can be considered as one of the versatile options out there. The purpose of Google Drive is similar to other cloud storage services, and that is to expand your storage capabilities. But it operates in a different way altogether. And the important part is that you can transfer files from PC to your iPhone with Google Drive cloud service. You can sync a lot of files and file types using Google Drive like images, videos, audio, texts, archives, Adobe files, Excel files, PowerPoint files, Word files and even XML. Here’s how to use it:

Upload method:

1. Go to drive.google.com from your computer.

2. Tap the “New” button and choose the option to upload files or folders.

3. After uploading you can see the files on your Drive account immediately.

Backup and Sync method:

1. Download and install Google Drive on your PC.

2. Login with required credentials.

3. On your PC, you will now find a «Google Drive» folder.

4. Now, just drag and drop files or folders into this and everything will be synced to your Drive account.

Now in case you have a Dropbox account and you are wondering if you can get access to Dropbox files on your iPhone, then you can easily download files onto your iPhone. This is how to do it:

1. Install Dropbox app from App store and run the app.

2. From the Home Screen, sign-in with the Dropbox account credentials.

3. Go to Personal, a window will be opened that contains all of your saved files. Now, select the required files, go to the three dots, tap export and simply save to device.

As you can see, this is a very unconventional method to synchronize files from PC to your iPhone but it is very effective. So, stop thinking about how to transfer files from PC to iPhone without iTunes and sync the files using these two exceptional cloud services.

Conclusion

So, basically, when it comes to file transfer from PC to iPhone, you have two ways. Either you have to do it with iTunes or without iTunes. If you still want to use iTunes, it is up to you. For the moment the app is not performing well but if we talk about iTunes alternatives, then we have given you two of the best choices. The first one is Tenorshare iCareFone, an independent app designed to conveniently transfer data with efficiency. The second one is Google Drive, a type of cloud service by Google, which works effectively as a medium for data transfer. Out of all these, we highly recommend you to go for Tenorshare iCareFone software as it is the best and most importantly the most effective here.

Updated on 2019-07-25 / Update for iOS File Transfer

Use iTunes to share files between your computer and your iOS or iPadOS device

You can copy files between your computer and apps on your iOS or iPadOS device using File Sharing.

Before you begin

Instead of File Sharing, consider using iCloud Drive, Handoff, or AirDrop to keep your documents up to date across all of your devices.

iCloud Drive lets you securely access all of your documents from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. No matter which device you’re using, you’ll always have the most up to date documents when and where you need them.

With Handoff, you can start a document, email, or message on one device and pick up where you left off from another device. Handoff works with Apple apps such as Mail, Safari, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, Contacts, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Some third-party apps are also compatible.

AirDrop helps you share photos, videos, websites, locations, and more with other nearby Apple devices.

What you need for File Sharing

• The latest version of iTunes.
• The latest version of macOS or an up-to-date version of Windows 7 or later.
• An iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.
• An iOS or iPadOS app that works with File Sharing.

See which of your iOS and iPadOS apps can share files with your computer

1. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC.
2. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer using the USB cable that came with your device.
3. Click your device in iTunes. Get help if you can’t find it.
   
4. In the left sidebar, click File Sharing.
   
5. Select an app to see which files are available for sharing in that app on your device. If you don’t see a File Sharing section, your device has no file-sharing apps.
   

Copy files from your computer to your iOS or iPadOS app

1. In iTunes, select the app from the list in the File Sharing section.
2. Drag and drop files from a folder or window onto the Documents list to copy them to your device.
   You can also click Add in the Documents list in iTunes, find the file or files you want to copy from your computer, and then click Add. iTunes copies 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.
   

Copy files from an iOS or iPadOS app to your computer

1. In iTunes, select the app from the list in the File Sharing section.
2. Drag and drop files from the Documents list to a folder or window on your computer to copy them to your computer.
   You can also select the file or files that you want to copy to your computer from the Documents list and click «Save» then find the folder on your computer to which you want to copy the files and click Save.
   

Open shared files

On your iOS device, you can open the files from your computer with the app that you chose for File Sharing.

You can’t access these files from other apps or locations on your device. You can see the list of files in the File Sharing section of iTunes when your device is connected to your computer.

Back up shared files

When iCloud (or iTunes) backs up your device, it backs up your shared files as well.

If you delete an app with shared files from your iOS device, you also delete those shared files from your device and your iCloud or iTunes backup. To avoid losing shared files, copy the files to your computer before deleting the app from your iOS device.

Delete a shared file from your iOS device

To delete a file you copied to an iOS or iPadOS app using File Sharing, follow these steps:

1. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC.
2. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer using the USB cable that came with your device.
3. Select your device in iTunes. Get help if you can’t find it.
4. Select the app from the list in the File Sharing section.
5. Select the file that you want to delete in the Documents list, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.
6. When iTunes asks you to confirm, click Delete.
   

There might be other ways to delete files from an app. Read your app’s user guide to find out more.