How to Enable File Sharing on iPhone

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Easily share files with iCloud Drive, Finder, iTunes, & more

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: January 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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iCloud Drive

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Finder (Mac)

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iTunes (PC, macOS Mojave & Earlier)

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Other Methods

Whether you’re trying to share files with other people or just transfer files between your iPhone and another device, there are multiple options for file sharing on iPhone. You can manage most of your file-sharing needs using the built-in Files app along with iCloud Drive or a third-party cloud storage app. In this article, we’ll teach you how to share files on an iPhone using iCloud Drive, Finder, or iTunes, and alternative options (like connecting to a local server in Files or using AirDrop).

How to Share Files on iPhone: Quick Tips

If iCloud Drive is enabled, move files into the iCloud Drive folder in the Files app to share them with other Apple devices.
Select a file or folder in iCloud Drive in the Files app, click and hold it, and select Share to share it with others.
Use the Collaborate option in the Share menu to create shared folders and files in iCloud Drive.
You can also transfer files between your iPhone and computer with Finder or iTunes.

Section 1 of 4:

File Sharing with iCloud Drive

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Enable iCloud Drive on your iPhone. iCloud Drive allows you to share files between devices connected to the same Apple Account. You can also share files and folders with other people. If you don’t already have iCloud Drive set up, here’s how to do it:^{[1]
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- Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top.
- Tap iCloud.
- Select Drive under the Saved to iCloud header. If you don’t see Drive in the list, tap See All > iCloud Drive.
- Toggle on the switch next to Sync this iPhone.
- If you plan to store a lot of files in iCloud Drive, you might want to upgrade your plan. At the top of the iCloud menu, tap Storage > Get More Storage (or Change Storage Plan if you already have iCloud+). Select the plan that works best for your needs.
  - The free version of iCloud comes with 5GB of storage. You can get up to 12TB with a premium plan.
It’s the blue folder icon that’s typically found on the home screen or in your App Library.

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Move files to iCloud Drive to share them across your devices. If you have iCloud Drive enabled on other devices (like your iPad or Mac computer), you can move files to your iCloud Drive folder to make them instantly accessible on all devices. Here’s how:
- Tap the Browse icon at the bottom of the Files app. If it doesn’t open to the main Browse menu, tap the < button at the top left corner until you get there.
- Tap On My iPhone under the Locations header.
- Tap and hold the file or folder you want to move to iCloud Drive. A menu will appear.
- Tap Move at the top of the menu, then select iCloud Drive.
  - If a different location opens when you tap Move, keep tapping < until you get to the main Browse menu, then select iCloud Drive.
- Tap Copy at the top right corner of the screen to copy the file or folder to iCloud Drive.
  - The original version of the file or folder will stay in its original location unless you delete it.
There are a few different ways to share files with others on iPhone. To get started, navigate to the file or folder you want to share in the Files app (it can be in any location), then tap and hold it to open a menu. Select Share at the top of the menu.^{[2]
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By default, when you open the Share menu, you’ll have the option to simply send the file or folder to a contact via Messages, email, or some other app. In some cases (depending on the type of file/folder you’re trying to share and where it’s located), you’ll see the text Send Copy in a dropdown at the top of the menu. Select a contact from the list of suggestions at the top of the menu, or choose an app to send the file (such as Messages, Mail, or AirDrop).
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Use the Collaborate option to create a shared file or folder. This is different from simply sending the file or folder to another person. It will allow them to access and (depending on the permissions you grant them) potentially edit the file while it is still located in your iCloud Drive. Tap the dropdown at the top of the Share menu (which typically says “Send Copy” by default) and select Collaborate. Choose from the list of suggested contacts, or tap a sharing option like Messages or Mail to share a link to the file or folder with others. Compose a message if you want, then send your text or email with the link.
- While you can do this with a folder stored in any location on your iPhone, you might not see this option for individual files unless they’re already stored in iCloud Drive.
- To change permissions for the shared file or folder (such as who can access it and whether they can edit or only view it), tap the text directly under Collaborate. By default, this might say something like “Only invited people can edit.”
  - Once you’ve made your selections, tap the blue checkmark in the top right corner.
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Manage shared files and folders in the Shared section of Files. You can see all the files and folders you’ve shared using the Collaborate option by tapping the Shared tab at the bottom of the screen. To manage sharing options, tap and hold a file or folder and select Manage Shared File or Manage Shared Folder. From there, you can do things like change permissions for people you’ve shared the file/folder with, share with additional people, or remove people from the list of collaborators.
- In this menu, you can also see files and folders that other people have shared with you. While your management options may be more limited if you aren’t the owner, you may be able to do things like remove yourself from the shared file/folder or invite other collaborators (depending on your permissions).

Section 2 of 4:

File Sharing with Finder (Mac)

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Plug your iPhone into your Mac with a USB cable. You can easily share files between your iPhone and a Mac using Finder. To get started, plug your iPhone into your Mac with a USB (or USB-C) cable.^{[3]
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- You may be prompted to trust the computer on your iPhone.
- This method will only work if you’re using a Mac with macOS Catalina or later. For earlier versions of macOS, you can use iTunes.
Click the blue smiley face icon in the Dock to launch Finder. You should see your iPhone in the left-hand menu bar in Finder, under the Locations header. Click it to open your iPhone in the main Finder window.
It’s one of the tabs at the top of the device window.
Not all apps have file-sharing capabilities in Finder. However, you should see most of the standard Apple apps (such as Pages, Keynote, GarageBand, and iMovie) in the list. Click the > icon next to any app to expand the list of files.
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Drag and drop files between your computer and your phone. To copy files from your Mac to your phone, and vice versa, just drag and drop the files to where you want to put them. For instance, you can drag a video file into iMovie on your phone from your desktop (or the other way around).
- When moving files from your computer to your iPhone, make sure the file is compatible with the app you’re trying to move it to.
- This just copies the file rather than actually moving it. If you don’t want the original file on your iPhone (or computer), you’ll need to delete it manually.
  - To delete a file from your iPhone after sharing it, select the file on your phone in Finder and then press the Delete key. Click Delete in the confirmation message.
  - To delete a file from your Mac after copying it to your iPhone, drag the original file to the Trash or select it and press Delete.

Section 3 of 4:

File Sharing with iTunes (PC, macOS Mojave and Earlier)

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If your computer is not running the latest available version of iTunes, it will be unable to connect to your iPhone. This method works for PC and for Macs running macOS Mojave and earlier.^{[4]
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Research source} If you have a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, use Finder instead.
This ensures that your iPhone can connect to iTunes. To learn how to update your iPhone, see Update iOS.
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Connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable. Use the cable that came with your iPhone or one that’s compatible. When the iPhone is connected, its icon will appear at the top-left corner of iTunes.
- You may be prompted to trust the computer on your iPhone.
- If iTunes did not open automatically, click its icon in the Dock (macOS) or in the All Apps area of the Start menu (Windows).
It’s at the top-left corner of iTunes. This opens the Summary screen.
It’s in the left column of iTunes, under “Info.” All apps with file-sharing features will appear in the right panel.
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Share files from the computer to the iPhone. You can skip this step if you only want to share files from the iPhone to the computer. Here’s how to get files that are on your PC or Mac to the iPhone:
- Click the app in the right panel you want to share with. For example, if you’re sharing an Excel file, click the Excel icon.
- Click Add in the right panel to open your computer’s file browser.
- Browse to the file you want to share with the iPhone.
- Select the file and click Add to add it to the list of files for that app.
- You can also simply drag and drop files from your computer to the appropriate app on your iPhone.
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Share files from the iPhone to the computer. Skip this step if you only want to share files from the computer to the iPhone. Here’s how to get files to the computer from the iPhone:
- Click the app in the right panel that contains the file you want to share.
- Select the file.
- Click Save or Save to in the right panel to open your computer’s file browser.
- Click the folder on your computer where you want to save the file.
- Click Save. The file is now accessible on your computer.
- You can also simply drag and drop files from your iPhone to the appropriate location on your computer.

Section 4 of 4:

Other Methods

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Access shared files on a computer via the Files app. If you have file sharing enabled on your Mac or PC, you can access shared folders by connecting to your computer in the Files app on your iPhone. You can read about how to do this in more detail in our article on How to Access a Shared Folder on an iPhone or iPad. Here is the short version:
- Enable file sharing on your Mac or PC. Make sure the files/folders you want to share are set to be accessible to people and devices on your network.
- Connect your iPhone to the same WiFi network as your computer.
- Open the Files app on your iPhone and tap ••• at the top right corner of the screen.
- Select Connect to Server.
- Enter your computer’s local hostname in the Server field.
  - On Mac, you can find this by going to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Sharing. The local hostname is at the bottom of the window.^{[5]
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  - On a Windows PC, open the Control Panel and find your computer’s name by going to System and Security > System. It’s under the Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings header.^{[6]
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  - Your local hostname is “[your computer name].local”. For example, it might look like “Bobs-MacBook-Air.local” or “BobDSmith.local”.
- Enter a username and password if required by your computer’s file sharing settings.
- Tap the checkmark in the top right corner. You should automatically be taken to the shared folders in Files once you connect. If not, tap the Browse tab and select your computer’s name under the Shared header.
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Do quick transfers between Apple devices with AirDrop. AirDrop is a proprietary file sharing technology that you can use to quickly move files between Apple devices. It’s a great option if you just need to share one or two files. To use it:^{[7]
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- Enable Bluetooth and WiFi on both devices (although you don’t have to be connected to the same WiFi network on both).
- If possible, make sure both devices are logged into the same Apple Account (not necessary, but this way the transfer will be accepted automatically).
- Move your devices close together (within 30 feet (9.1 m)).
- On your iPhone, swipe down on the top right corner of the screen to open your Control Center. Locate the AirDrop icon, which looks like a series of concentric circles with a wedge cut out of the bottom. If the icon is grey, tap it to enable AirDrop. It will turn blue.
  - Tap and hold the icon to see additional options. Select Everyone for 10 Minutes or Contacts Only from the AirDrop dropdown to determine who can send you files.
- Make sure AirDrop is enabled on the other device, too. If you’re AirDropping files to or from a Mac, click
  at the top right side of your screen and make sure AirDrop is on. Click > next to the AirDrop icon to choose who can AirDrop files to your computer.
- If you’re sharing from your iPhone, open Files, navigate to the file you want to share, and tap and hold it. Select Share > AirDrop > [receiving device’s name]. You can also find an AirDrop option in the sharing menu of many other apps.
- If you’re sharing from a Mac to your iPhone, Ctrl-click (or right-click) the file you want to share, then select Share > AirDrop > [your iPhone].
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Use a third-party cloud service. If you don’t like the built-in sharing options on your iPhone, or if you want to share to a non-Apple device, there are several third-party cloud storage options you can try. Services like OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox are compatible with many platforms and offer apps that you can install on your iPhone. Simply upload your files to the cloud using the appropriate app, then access them from any other device using the corresponding app or website. You can even sync your Files app on your iPhone with any of these services so you can easily manage your shared files all in one place:
- Download the cloud app you want to link to Files and log in with the account you want to use.
- Open Files on your iPhone.
- From the Browse tab, tap ••• at the top right corner.
- Tap Edit.
- Under the Locations header, find the name of the cloud app you want to connect to and toggle it on. The switch should be green if it’s connected.
- Tap the blue checkmark at the top right corner of the screen.