Aseem Kishore · March 24, 2025 · 5 min read Looking for a way to transfer some large files between your Mac and PC without a USB stick? If you have an iPhone, you can basically use it as a USB drive. Using the iPhone as a makeshift USB drive for transferring files between devices has come in very handy for me while traveling abroad without a good internet connection and with no USB stick laying around.
While it has been very useful, it does require a little bit of initial setup. I wish Apple had made the feature more intuitive and easier to use.
Step 1: Connect Your iPhone
To start, connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC using a USB cable. If it’s the first time you’re connecting your iPhone to a new computer, you’ll be prompted to allow the connection. Simply tap “Trust” on your iPhone and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
Step 2: Access Your iPhone on the Computer
On a Mac, open Finder and look for your iPhone in the sidebar under “Locations.” You don’t have to install any software on your Mac in order to view the contents of your Apple device.
If you’re using a PC, open the Apple Devices app or iTunes (depending on the version of Windows), and your iPhone should appear as an icon or in the sidebar.
You can download the iTunes or Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store.
Step 3: Transfer Files
Once your iPhone is recognized, navigate to the Files section. Here, you’ll see a list of apps that support file sharing. You can drag files from your computer into any of these apps.
For example, if you want to transfer a PDF, drag it into the Acrobat app on your iPhone. This method works for any file type, regardless of whether it’s compatible with iOS. Oddly, only the folders from the Files app show up in iTunes or Apple Devices, not the individual files at the root level. You’ll need to make sure you put the files you want to transfer into one of the apps in order to see it on the other device.
Also, if you’re trying to sync the iCloud Drive files, and you’ll need to install the iCloud app on Windows in order to access any files stored in iCloud. This method is only for files stored locally on your device.
As mentioned earlier, you can also use the Apple Devices app and the interface looks very similar to that of iTunes.
Step 4: View and Transfer Files on Your iPhone
To view the files you’ve transferred, open the Files app on your iPhone and tap on On My iPhone under Locations.
You’ll see the same list of folders as you saw earlier on your computer via iTunes or the Apple Devices app.
If you want to transfer these files to another computer, simply connect your iPhone to that device, open Finder or the Apple Devices app, and drag the files from the app to the computer.
Using Your iPhone Wirelessly
For a more convenient option, you can set up your iPhone to appear in Finder or the Apple Devices app over Wi-Fi. This means you don’t need a cable to transfer files. To do this, connect your iPhone to your computer via USB once, ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, and check the option to show your iPhone when it’s on Wi-Fi.
Personally, I find this feature to be very useful, even though it requires a few extra steps. However, I think it would be even better if Apple streamlined the process to make it a bit more user-friendly. Either way, using my iPhone as a USB drive has saved me from carrying around extra devices, and I appreciate the convenience it offers.
Tips and Considerations
- Memory Space: Keep in mind that using your iPhone as a USB drive can quickly fill up its storage, so it’s essential to delete the files once you have transferred the files.
- File Types: While you can transfer any file type, some may not be readable on your iPhone without specific apps.
- Security: Always ensure your iPhone is unlocked during wireless transfers to avoid interruptions.
In summary, using your iPhone as a USB drive is a handy way to move files between your Mac and PC. It might take a few extra steps to set up, but it’s really useful when you need to transfer files quickly without carrying around extra devices. I’ve found it to be super helpful when I need to share files between different computers. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to easily move files around, which is a great feature to have available. Whether you need to do this often or just every now and then, it’s definitely worth trying out.
