[2024 Solved] How to Transfer iPad Files to PC for Free

iPads, especially those that are used for work, are often used along with computers. Users use their iPad when they’re not at home but still want to be productive, but PCs are the way to go when you’re at the comfort of your home.

Unfortunately, it’s not very easy coordinating an iPad and a computer. It may be easy if it’s Mac, but it’s a different story when it comes to PC considering how incompatible they are.

We will tackle the best ways to transfer iPad files to PC in this article. Let’s start with the most ideal solution at the moment.

1. Transfer iPad Files to PC with Software2. Transfer iPad Files to PC with File Sharing3. Transfer iPad Files to PC by Syncing4. Transfer iPad Files to PC (Purchases Only)5. Transfer iPad Files to PC with File ExplorerFinal Words

1. Transfer iPad Files to PC with Software

Although there are a couple of options available, most experts will agree that the best and most practical way to transfer iPad files to PC is to use a specialized tool, and that’s where FoneDog Phone Transfer comes in.

FoneDog Phone Transfer is a tool designed to help transfer files from one device to another. It is capable of transferring from or to iOS, Android, and Windows PC. What’s more, it supports the latest versions of these devices.

Below are the steps to transfer iPad files to PC:

Step 1. Connect iPad to PC

Connect the iPad device to the Windows PC with its USB cord. Make sure FoneDog Phone Transfer is already open. This will recognize the iPad and will show some info about it.

Step 2. Choose File Type

On the left side of the window, there will be a list of file types such as Photos, Music, Videos, and such. Simply select the type that you’d like to settle first. Once an option is selected, it will take a while to scan for files belonging to that file type.

Step 3. Transfer iPad Files to PC

After a while, you will get a list of files on the right side of the software. These are files that can be transferred from the iPad. Simply select the files by clicking on their corresponding boxes. Once you’re done selecting, click the Export to PC button as shown below.

FoneDog Phone Transfer offers a lot of freedom and control to users in regard to file transfer. But if you are the type that would think twice before using a third-party tool, then I suggest proceeding to the other sections to transfer iPad files to PC.

2. Transfer iPad Files to PC with File Sharing

Most iPad users will know about iTunes, so surely you must’ve heard about it before, too.

iTunes is a file management app available on Mac and Windows PC, though Mac doesn’t require installation since iTunes is a built-in app in this operating system.

Basically, you can manage your files in any way you want with iTunes, even as far as trying to transfer iPad files to PC. This would, however, involve a feature called File Sharing.

Below are the steps to transfer iPad files to PC with File Sharing:

1. Connect the iPad into your PC with a USB cable.
2. Click on the Device icon at the top-left corner of the iTunes window.
3. Now select File Sharing from the left side of the window.
4. Select the Files app from the list of apps.
5. On the further right side, there will be a list of files associated with the selected app. Simply select the files you want to transfer then click Save to.
6. Indicate the location where you want to transfer the file and click Save To

File Sharing can make use of other apps such as Photos, as long as your file is managed by that particular app. However, I still suggest the Files app make it easier to transfer iPad files to PC.

3. Transfer iPad Files to PC by Syncing

Although using iTunes’ File Sharing feature is one option, there are more methods.

Particularly, if you’re going to use iTunes to transfer iPad files to PC, then you may as well make it permanent, and by permanent I mean setting it up so that files will be transferred automatically.

This will involve syncing your iPad and PC, and this can be done easily with iTunes. There are two ways to sync through iTunes.

Syncing with USB

If you don’t have WiFi, then I suggest using a USB cable instead. This is what I like to call Wired Syncing, and here’s how you can do it:

1. Connect the iPad into the Windows PC with a USB cable.
2. On the iTunes app, click the Device icon and select your iPad from the list of devices.
3. Now from the left side of the window, select the content that you’d like to settle first.

Example: Choose Music if you want to sync Music files, or choose Movies if you want to do videos first.

4. There should be a checkbox for syncing. Make sure that box is checked.

Example: Check the Sync Music box if you are in the Music section, or check the Sync Movies if you are in the Movies section.

5. Click on the Apply

Syncing with WiFi

If you do have WiFi, I suggest using the WiFi option since it will be more convenient, and this time it’s called Wireless Syncing. Here are the steps to do this:

1. Connect the iPad and PC with a USB cable.

Note: This will be a one-time process, all other syncing operations will be done through the WiFi after this.

2. On iTunes, select your iPad from the device list and go to the Summary
3. Check the box for Sync with this device over WiFi.
4. Click the Apply

Once this is done, you no longer have to worry about trying to transfer iPad files to PC every time a file is added. You simply need to watch as the files on your iPad are matched so that your PC will have the same files.

4. Transfer iPad Files to PC (Purchases Only)

There are actually three ways to transfer iPad files to PC with iTunes, and this will be our last one that will involve iTunes.

As you may already know, as an Apple user, there are files that came directly from the store. While some of them are free, there are also paid files, but both are treated as purchases.

Often times, purchases belong to the Music, Movies, or Books, category. Lucky for us, if you only want those files to be transferred, you can do it with a few clicks.

Below are the steps to transfer iPad files to PC including only purchases:

1. Connect the iPad into the PC with your USB cable.
2. Once the device is detected, simply select it from the device list.
3. Now on the menu bar, click on File > Device and select Transfer Purchases from the device from the resulting options.

Honestly, this is the easiest way to transfer iPad files to PC, but unfortunately this only works for purchased files such as music, movies, books, and such.

5. Transfer iPad Files to PC with File Explorer

We’ve only been using iTunes which was originally made for Mac, but is there any app that was made for Windows PC?

Well, there is actually an app that fits your criteria, and that would be File Explorer, the built-in file manager in every Windows OS. And as you might’ve guessed, just like iTunes, you can transfer iPad files to PC through File Explorer.

Below are the steps to transfer iPad files to PC:

1. Connect your iPad to the computer with a USB cable.
2. When a popup message shows up on your iPad, select Allow. This will give permission to the PC to access files within the connected device.
3. Now there will be another popup message, this time it would be on your PC, asking what you’d like to do with the iPad. Simply select Open device to view files.
4. You will now be inside the iPad storage. Simply locate the files that you need to transfer.
5. Open another session of File Explorer on your PC and create a new folder wherein you will be transferring all files from the iPad.
6. Now drag the files from the iPad into the created folder on your PC.

That’s pretty much how you can transfer iPad files to PC without breaking a sweat. The best thing about this is File Explorer is integrated into every Windows PC, so it should be reliable enough.

Final Words

You are not the only person out there that wants to transfer iPad files to PC. There are also those that want to free some space on their device, but can’t because they’re afraid to delete the files since they may need them later.

With this guide, you should be able to overcome this problem and successfully free some space for you to use later on. Hopefully, you won’t find the need to delete your files.