Many users ask the question: where do AirDrop photos go on a Mac or iPhone? Find out where these files go in our useful guide.

AirDrop From iPhone to Mac The AirDrop feature is in-built and readily available on many popular apps like Photos. This makes it really easy to transfer Photos. Mar 03, 2017  If you’re a big user of the AirDrop feature on iOS and macOS, you probably know that when sending files from a mobile device to your Mac, they’re automatically saved to the  Downloads folder. Whilst this is a logical place for them to go, it is non-configurable and lumps them in with your Mail attachments and Safari downloads. Instant shared photos. Just remember to set AirDrop back to. To turn on 'back up and sync,' which automatically saves photos and videos you take on your phone to your Google Photos library when.

Airdrop From Iphone To Mac

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Jan 17, 2020  Where Do AirDrop Photos Go on Mac/iPhone. We’ll start by answering the question where do AirDrop photos go on a Mac and iPhone. Thankfully both the Mac OS and iOS file systems are fairly intuitive, so you won’t have too much trouble finding them. Learn how to Airdrop photos on an iPhone with our tutorial. It features step by step instructions with screenshots to help you. About AirDrop. Introduced in Mac OS X Lion and iOS 7, AirDrop uses a low-latency, high-speed peer-to-peer protocol to transfer data over the air. It works between nearby devices over Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi so both must be switched on on your Mac, iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. May 20, 2019  Apple’s Photo app for Mac has a problem with importing/exporting video files. More specifically, imported videos may have an incorrect date (timestamp) if those videos were previously exported from another Photos library.

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Apple first introduced the AirDrop feature to devices running iOS 7 and Mac OS X Lion. It has been available on every subsequent OS and is one of the system’s most useful features. By using either the wireless or Bluetooth connection of your Apple device, you can transfer photos and files to and from other Apple devices with the feature. It’s a really simple process, yet it’s not uncommon to encounter Apple users who don’t know about it.

One of the main benefits of AirDrop is the fact it’s hassle-free. Both the sender and the receiver have to turn on their device’s AirDrop functionality, and the sender must select the files they wish to transfer. Both users will then be prompted to accept the interaction, and then the file transfer begins. In this guide, we will tell you where do AirDrop photos or files go and how to find them on your Mac or iPhone. We’ll also examine why using AnyTrans for iOS can be an effective alternative for transferring files.

Part 1. Where Do AirDrop Photos Go on Mac/iPhone
Part 2. Where Do AirDrop Files Go on My Mac/iPhone
Part 3. Transfer Files Between iPhone and Mac via an AirDrop Alternative Tool

Where Do AirDrop Photos Go on Mac/iPhone

We’ll start by answering the question where do AirDrop photos go on a Mac and iPhone. Thankfully both the Mac OS and iOS file systems are fairly intuitive, so you won’t have too much trouble finding them. Once you know where AirDrop files go on iPhone, you can easily transfer them to your Mac.

If you’re new to Apple devices, you may not know how to activate AirDrop. It differs slightly for each device, and you can find details on each below:

On a Mac: To turn on AirDrop you can either use the ⇧ Shift+⌘ Cmd+R keys, or go through the menus by using Go -> AirDrop. Once it’s turned on, you’ll be able to determine whether you appear to just contacts or to everyone. You can also see a list of nearby users who you can send files to and receive files from. You need to keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on during the transferring process.

On an iPhone: Most iPhones don’t have the service turned on by default, so you’ll have to activate it first. To do this, you simply need to swipe up on your screen and press the networks setting AirDrop icon. On the iPhone X you must swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen. From here you will be prompted to select who you want to be able to connect with, only contacts or everyone.

Airdrop To Mac Photos Library

Airdrop To Mac Photos Library Manager

Once the transfer is complete, you may now be asking where do AirDrop photos go? The answer is again different for each device.

Where Do AirDrop Photos Go on a Mac

By default, photos and other files transferred over AirDrop are stored in the Downloads folder. You can navigate to this through the Finder by navigating to ‘Go’ -> ‘Downloads, or through the Dock of the Mac OS. Either way, clicking on the Downloads folder will allow you to find where AirDrop photos go on your Mac.

Image Credit: Apple.Com

If you’ve updated your iPhone to iOS 11 and saving photos in the new image format HEIC, you may meet such a problem that many users recently reported that is Can’t Import HEIC Photos to Mac. If you’re in this case, you can try out free HEIC-to-JPG converter to change these photos to JPG format and upload again.

Where Do AirDrop Photos Go on iPhone

By default, files that are shared via AirDrop on iOS open automatically in the app that they were sent from. So for example, photos open in the photo app. This means that you can easily find your photos once they have been transferred – you just need to open the iPhone photos app.

Where Do AirDrop Files Go on My Mac/iPhone

Quite often you’ll want to transfer files that aren’t photos between your Apple devices. These may include contacts, eBooks, Word documents, and other such files. You can also use AirDrop for this purpose.

Where Do AirDrop Files go on my Mac

Thankfully this is the same for both photos and other files; you can find them all in the Downloads folder.

Where Do AirDrop Files go on iPhone

As we mentioned above, iOS automatically opens files in the app that they were sent from. If you don’t have the app installed on your iPhone, you will be directed to the app store to download it. If you do have the app, you can find the files saved with the rest of the ones for that app.

Bonus Tip: Transfer Files Between iPhone and Mac via an AirDrop Alternative Tool

Although AirDrop is incredibly useful, there are some limitations with the software. For example, you can only transfer one file type at a time, and it can sometimes be a slow process if you’re dealing with large files. AnyTrans for iOS is an alternative tool that you can use to manage all of your data and seamlessly transfer it between your iPhone and Mac. It’s simple to set up, has a user-friendly interface, and is quick to transfer data.

How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac via AnyTrans for iOS

It’s simple to transfer your files from your iPhone to Mac using AnyTrans. We’ve outlined the simple steps you need to take in order to use it:

Step 1. You can download the AnyTrans for iOS on your Mac. Once the simple install is complete, you can connect your iPhone to your Mac via USB.

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Step 2. When you launch the program, the AnyTrans interface will show you a variety of options and categories for you to manage on your Apple devices. You can transfer various types of file from here, including photos, and contacts, as well as other files that are not supported by AirDrop. You can also preview the files you intend to transfer by navigating to them in the relevant category, for example, choose Music.

Tap on Device Manager and Choose Music

Step 3. It couldn’t be simpler to send files to your Mac. All you need to do is to choose the files you want to transfer and press the ‘Send to Mac’ button to begin.

Step 4. When transferring finished, check the files on your Mac.

View Files on Mac

How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPhone Via AnyTrans for iOS

Airdrop

The process for moving data from your Mac to your iPhone is equally simple. See the steps below to find out how.
Step 1. Download and install AnyTrans for iOS and open to the main interface screen.

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Step 2. Follow the step 2 as the above part. We will take Music as an example. Choose Audio > Music.

Click Add Button

Step 3. To transfer music to your iPhone from Mac, click the ‘Add’ Button When you click on the ‘add’ button, your file browser will open. From here you can select the items you wish to send to your iPhone, and you then click open. It couldn’t be simpler.

Step 4. Select an app or apps to receive files you want to store > Then click Next to start.

Select an App to Receive Files

Step 5. When transferring finished, you can paly it on your iPhone.

The Bottom Line

If you were asking ‘where do AirDrop photos go on iPhones?’ we’ve hopefully given you the details you need to locate them. Either the Download folder on Mac OS or the app the file was sent via on iOS. Although the AirDrop system can be a convenient way to move a file or two, AnyTrans for iOS offers you an easy way to transfer multiple data items between computer (Mac or PC) and iPhone. Why not give AnyTrans for iOS a free try now?

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“Hi, I need to know how to transfer photos I have on my Macbook Pro to my Ipad, via the USB? Please can someone help thanks new to apple computers and the Ipad. Cheers!”

Airdrop To Mac Photos Library Size

Transferring photos from Mac to iPad can make iPad users have a better enjoyment. After moving photos to iPad, people can share with families or set as wallpapers. When it comes to how to transfer photos from Mac to iPad, people will always choose iTunes as the first choice. However, there is an easier and quicker way that can help finish the transfer task without data loss. Here we will show you how to do that.

Part 1: Transfer Photos from Mac to iPad with iTunes

As long as iTunes and the iPad use the same Apple ID account, transferring photos from Mac to iPad is easy. These photos will be saved in the Photo Library. Before following this method, one thing you should know is that iTunes will remove all existing photos when transferring photos to iPad. Thus, you’d better think twice whether you really want to transfer photos to iPad from iMac with iTunes.

1. Install and start iTunes on your Mac computer, and go to “Edit > iTunes > Preferences > Devices”, and check “Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically”.

2. Plug iPad into computer via the USB cable, and iTunes will launch automatically. If not, you will need to manually open it.

3. iTunes will recognize your iPad. Click the iPad icon at the upper right corner, and then choose “Photos” in the summary panel.

4. Check “Sync Photos from” and then select the folder that you have saved the photos. Then click “Sync” at the right bottom.

Then iTunes will sync the folder with your iPad. When the sync is done, you will get all the photos from the folder to your iPad. This is a very helpful way to copy photos from Mac to iPad. But note that the photos you have synced before will be erased and replaced with the photos in this folder. The photos synced from computer will be saved in the Photos app, and you are able to view the photos within the app.

Part 2: Transfer Photos from Mac to iPad without iTunes

Apart from iTunes, users can take advantage of the third-party iPad transfer software for Mac to selectively copy photos from Mac to iPad. Among all the transfer programs for iOS devices on Mac computers, Leawo iTransfer for Mac is regarded as one of the best. This software enables users to transfer files among iOS devices, iTunes and mac computers without the sync of iTunes, and users are able to transfer various kinds of files easily. The following guidance will show you how to transfer photos from Mac to iPad, and you can free download this software to have a try. Note that the trial version has limited transfer times.

Step 1. Run Leawo iTransfer for Mac and connect iPad to Mac computer with the USB cable. The software will automatically detect the libraries of iPad, and then show the libraries in the left sidebar.

Step 2. Click the name of iPad and choose Photos library in the left sidebar. The synced photos on your iPad will display in the right part of the software window.

Step 3. Choose “Photos” library and then the contents will be shown in the right part of the window. If your iPad Photo Library is empty, you will see an “Add File” button in the middle of the window, you can click it to add photos from your computer. If not, click “File > Add > Add File/Add Folder” to choose photos from your Mac computer.

After selecting your photos, Leawo iTransfer for Mac will start to copy photos from Mac to iPad. The progress bar in the pop-up dialog will show you the percentage of the transfer process. When the photo transfer is finished, you will get the photos in your iPad Photo Library.

Video Tutorial for Transferring Photos from Mac to iPad without iTunes

Leawo iTransfer for Mac has a Windows version called Leawo iTransfer. Both of the programs are helpful for the data transfers of iOS devices, for example, you can back up iPad data to computer with the help of this software. If you are interested in it, just free download it to have a try.

Part 3: Transfer Photos from Mac to iPad using AirDrop

Also, Apple has offered another iOS data transfer app to help you transfer or share data and files between Mac computer and iOS devices (iPad, iPhone and iPod). That is AirDrop. AirDrop is a cool and useful feature that lets Macs and iOS devices share files wirelessly with a minimum of fuss but quite a few people know about AirDrop feature. Not because it is hard to use (it isn’t) but because most people don’t think to look for it. Usually when we want to share a photo with someone, we just send it in a text message. But when that someone is standing right beside you, it is even easier to use AirDrop.

The below steps would show you how to use AirDrop to transfer photos from Mac to iPad.
1. Open AirDrop on your iPad: Slide up from the very bottom of your iPad’s screen to call out the Control Panel, long press and hold your finger on the box featuring the airplane button, and then on the newly popup screen tap the AirDrop button to reveal the permissions (turn it On, Off or Contacts Only, or Everyone). You could choose Everyone here.
2. On your Mac computer, choose “Go > AirDrop” from the menu bar in the “Finder”. Or select AirDrop in the sidebar of a Finder window.
3. The AirDrop window shows nearby AirDrop users. Just drag one or more documents, photos, or other files to the recipient shown in the window to start to transfer photos to selected recipient.
4. Or, you could open the file you want to transfer from Mac to iPad, then click the “Share” icon to choose “AirDrop” option, then select a recipient from the AirDrop sheet. After they have accepted and the file has been sent, click “Done”.
AirDrop isn’t just for photos, of course. With AirDrop, you can wirelessly send documents, photos, videos, websites, map locations, and more to a nearby iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. You can use it to transfer almost anything that you can share. You could not only AirDrop data and files from Mac to iOS device or another Mac, but also AirDrop things between Mac, iOS devices. For example, you can AirDrop a website from your iPad to your friend’s phone, which is great if they want to bookmark to read later.

Part 4: Transfer Photos from Mac to iPad via email

You could also try to transfer photos from Mac computer to iPad by using email. To email your photos from Mac to iPad would be an easy task. You could either directly send photos from Mac to iPad as email content or attach photos for sending from Mac to iPad.

The below steps would show you how to transfer photos from Mac to iPad via email.
1. On your Mac computer, open the browser and then log in the Gmail account.
2. Click “COMPOSE” button to create a new mail.
3. Enter the receiver address (your own email account that could receive email on iPad) and the topic.
4. Click the “Attach files” icon to choose photo(s) as attachment. You could upload photos from Mac computer as attachment or choose photos from Google Drive as attachment.
5. Send the email.
6. Log in your email account on iPad to receive the mail from your Gmail account.
7. Tap the attached movie file and download photos to your iPad.
This would be extremely easy and it’s totally free. However, if you are going to transfer a large amount of photos from Mac to iPad, this won’t be the first choice since every email attachment has its limit and the transfer speed depends highly on the Internet connection.

Part 5: Transfer Photos from Mac to iPad via Dropbox

Known as an online backup cloud service and personal cloud storage service, Dropbox could help you store and share files, collaborate on projects and bring your best ideas to life. Dropbox application is available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux desktop operating systems, and portable devices such as iPhone, iPad, Android, and BlackBerry devices. Upon registration, users could get a 2GB minimum storage of Dropbox to store files. The storage could be expanded to be 100GB for personal use and 350GB for Dropbox Team use. You could then freely upload, download and share files via Dropbox between Mac, iPad, Windows, Linux and other devices.

How To Airdrop Photos To Ipad

Check the below steps to learn how to transfer photos from Mac to iPad via Dropbox for Mac:
1. Download and install Dropbox on your Mac computer.
2. Create a Dropbox account if you don’t have one and log in with it.
3. Open Dropbox, and then directly copy and paste the photos you want to transfer from Mac to iPad to Dropbox folder. You could create a photo folder for these photos.
4. The photos would be automatically uploaded to the Dropbox cloud service.
5. On your iPad, install Dropbox and log in with the same Dropbox account as you have logged with on your Mac computer.
6. You then will see the photos or photo folder. Open it and then you will be able to save the photos into Photos app on your iPad device as you usually do.
All these above solutions could help you easily transfer photos from Mac to iPad. In fact, you could transfer other data and files in these ways as well. Actually, if you are using a Windows computer, we would like to recommend you another data sharing app that enables you to freely share and transfer data and files between iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod), PC and various Android devices. That is AirShareUp, a totally free and wireless data share and transfer tool for Windows, Android and iOS users.