How to Copy Files To/From Your iPhone

iphone-copy

While you can use your iPod as a portable hard disk, Apple does not allow you to transfer files to/from your iPhone. Although there are several apps that allows you to copy files, they are no free solutions. If you have jailbroken your iPhone, you can customize it to connect to the desktop and copy files to/from your iPhone.

For those who have not jailbreak their iPhone, here is a tutorial on jailbreaking your iPhone the easy way.

For Mac users:

In Mac, you can make use of AFP to access iPhone/iPod Touch via the Finder.

To do this, you have to first install Netatalk via Cydia.

On your jailbroken iPhone, go to Cydia. At the bottom, go to Sections. Navigate to Networking -> Netatalk. Click install on the top-right corner of the screen.

Once you have installed Netatalk, on your Mac desktop, open up Finder, you should find your iPhone entry on the left pane, under the ‘Shared‘ section. Click on it. You should see a blank screen with a ‘Connect As‘ on top of the screen.

Click on the ‘Connect As‘ and enter the following:

Name: mobile
Password: alpine

For some reason that you can’t find the entry in the Shared section, you can go to Go -> Connect to Server. Under the server address field, enter afp://your-iphone-ip-address. Mine is 192.168.0.102, so I entered afp://192.168.0.102. (You can find your iPhone IP address on Settings->Wi-Fi->Your network connection)

The Connecting to Server window should open up, and then ask for your user name and password.

Fill in the above login credential.

That’s it! You can now access the iPhone straight from Finder!

Most of your personal files will be in private/var/root/Library or private/var/root/Media. And of course installing applications is as easy as dragging the .app into your /Applications folder!

For Windows users:

iPhoneBrowser is a windows based file browser for your iPhone. It features drag and drop uploading to our phone, automatic and manual backups of files on your phone, previews of text and picture files and very cool icons.

Download SetupiPhoneBrowser.1.7.exe from http://code.google.com/p/iphonebrowser/downloads/list

Run the installer on your Windows XP (May not work well on Vista).

Upgrade your iTunes to 7.7.1 (it works on iTunes 7.7 as well).

Open the iPhoneBrowser and connect your iPhone to the computer via the USB cable. The iPhoneBrowser should detect the iPhone and show the file structure on its screen.

You can now drag and drop files to the iPhone.

For Linux users or any other platforms:

In any platforms, as long as you have a FTP program, you can easily transfer files to/from the iPhone via OpenSSH.

On you iPhone, go to Cydia. Tap on Section on the bottom pane and scroll to Networking->OpenSSH. Tap on the Install button to install it.

On your desktop, open up your FTP program (it doesn’t matter which one you use. For me, I used Filezilla because it is free and easy to use).

On Filezilla, go to File->Site Manager

On the left, click New Site

Rename the site to ‘iPhone‘

On the right, enter the following:

Host: Your iPhone IP address
Servertype: SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol
Logontype: Normal
User: root
Password: alpine

Click ‘Connect‘

You will be shown a confirmation message asking if you will accept key exchange / connection with the device with the iPhone’s address. You’ll need to click OK for it to connect.

Connected mode:

Once connected, you will see the familiar Explorer-like navigation structure. Simply drag and drop the files to and forth the iPhone.

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  • Thomas

    Hi… I am using a jailbroken ipod touch 2nd generation, and a Mac. Everything went quite well (jailbreaking with redsn0w), but after having installed Netatalk, my ipod doesn’t appear on my Mac’s Finder, in the section Shared… What do you think…?

    Thanks! – Tom

    • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

      Few questions:
      1) Is your iPhone connected to the Web? If yes, is it connected to the same network as your Mac?

      2) Did you enter the correct login username and password? I am not sure if the username and password have changed for iPod 2G as I do not have a unit to test on.

  • Thomas

    Hi… I am using a jailbroken ipod touch 2nd generation, and a Mac. Everything went quite well (jailbreaking with redsn0w), but after having installed Netatalk, my ipod doesn’t appear on my Mac’s Finder, in the section Shared… What do you think…?

    Thanks! – Tom

  • Thomas

    Hi… I am using a jailbroken ipod touch 2nd generation, and a Mac. Everything went quite well (jailbreaking with redsn0w), but after having installed Netatalk, my ipod doesn’t appear on my Mac’s Finder, in the section Shared… What do you think…?

    Thanks! – Tom

    • http://maketecheasier.com Damien

      Few questions:
      1) Is your iPhone connected to the Web? If yes, is it connected to the same network as your Mac?

      2) Did you enter the correct login username and password? I am not sure if the username and password have changed for iPod 2G as I do not have a unit to test on.

  • patrick

    Works great thanks!!!

  • patrick

    Works great thanks!!!

  • JKT

    All of this works…except I have no permissions to change the files on the iPhone. I can browse just fine, even play files from the iPhone. But I have no write permissions at all, even in Terminal. I tried to change the permissions in Terminal using sudo chmod and that fails too (no error, but the perms don’t change; they stay at 555). Are you sure this method works with iPhone OS 3.0? Any chance that Apple has locked down the filesystem in this newer version? Perhaps NetAtalk is not fully 3.0 compatible?

  • JKT

    All of this works…except I have no permissions to change the files on the iPhone. I can browse just fine, even play files from the iPhone. But I have no write permissions at all, even in Terminal. I tried to change the permissions in Terminal using sudo chmod and that fails too (no error, but the perms don’t change; they stay at 555). Are you sure this method works with iPhone OS 3.0? Any chance that Apple has locked down the filesystem in this newer version? Perhaps NetAtalk is not fully 3.0 compatible?

  • JKT

    All of this works…except I have no permissions to change the files on the iPhone. I can browse just fine, even play files from the iPhone. But I have no write permissions at all, even in Terminal. I tried to change the permissions in Terminal using sudo chmod and that fails too (no error, but the perms don’t change; they stay at 555). Are you sure this method works with iPhone OS 3.0? Any chance that Apple has locked down the filesystem in this newer version? Perhaps NetAtalk is not fully 3.0 compatible?

  • JKT

    All of this works…except I have no permissions to change the files on the iPhone. I can browse just fine, even play files from the iPhone. But I have no write permissions at all, even in Terminal. I tried to change the permissions in Terminal using sudo chmod and that fails too (no error, but the perms don’t change; they stay at 555). Are you sure this method works with iPhone OS 3.0? Any chance that Apple has locked down the filesystem in this newer version? Perhaps NetAtalk is not fully 3.0 compatible?

  • JKT

    Followup: I *was* able to write files using OpenSSH and SFTP. So I recommend that method for any iPhone 3.0 users. Hope this helps!

  • JKT

    Followup: I *was* able to write files using OpenSSH and SFTP. So I recommend that method for any iPhone 3.0 users. Hope this helps!

  • Jasper

    Wow…you have to do all this mess just to copy files from/to a device that you have paid $$$ for? This is also the device that doesn’t (easily) let you change your own battery and also lacks a memory card slot.

    Why again are people waiting in line to buy these things?

    Does Steve Jobs personally come and kick everyone who buys his products in the balls or does he have regional assistants take care of it?

    Well that’s my rant…now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to transfer some files to my android device by simply using a usb cable.

    • AaronD12

      Wow. Someone is sore about getting an Android device with its lack of apps…

    • AaronD12

      Wow. Someone is sore about getting an Android device with its lack of apps…

    • AaronD12

      Wow. Someone is sore about getting an Android device with its lack of apps…

  • Jasper

    Wow…you have to do all this mess just to copy files from/to a device that you have paid $$$ for? This is also the device that doesn’t (easily) let you change your own battery and also lacks a memory card slot.

    Why again are people waiting in line to buy these things?

    Does Steve Jobs personally come and kick everyone who buys his products in the balls or does he have regional assistants take care of it?

    Well that’s my rant…now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to transfer some files to my android device by simply using a usb cable.

  • Jasper

    Wow…you have to do all this mess just to copy files from/to a device that you have paid $$$ for? This is also the device that doesn’t (easily) let you change your own battery and also lacks a memory card slot.

    Why again are people waiting in line to buy these things?

    Does Steve Jobs personally come and kick everyone who buys his products in the balls or does he have regional assistants take care of it?

    Well that’s my rant…now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to transfer some files to my android device by simply using a usb cable.

    • Aaron

      Wow. Someone is sore about getting an Android device with its lack of apps…

  • Tim

    OK, mounted root & home.

    If I want to copy a bunch of movie files from my Macbook to iPhone where should I copy them TO, do they need to be in a certain format & do I need a certain app to open/play them on iPhone ?

    Thanks !! Tim

    • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

      If you are copying movie files, it is better to transfer via iTunes and make sure your movies are in mp4 format.

      If you choose to copy your movie files over rather than using iTunes, you will need to jailbreak your phone and perhaps install a third party video player to play the movie.

  • Tim

    OK, mounted root & home.

    If I want to copy a bunch of movie files from my Macbook to iPhone where should I copy them TO, do they need to be in a certain format & do I need a certain app to open/play them on iPhone ?

    Thanks !! Tim

    • http://maketecheasier.com Damien

      If you are copying movie files, it is better to transfer via iTunes and make sure your movies are in mp4 format.

      If you choose to copy your movie files over rather than using iTunes, you will need to jailbreak your phone and perhaps install a third party video player to play the movie.

  • greg

    freeware iPhone Explorer for mac n pc
    http://www.iphone-explorer.com/

  • greg

    freeware iPhone Explorer for mac n pc
    http://www.iphone-explorer.com/

  • DT

    can i search for files that were deleted on the iphone after the Restore process if i’ve jailbroken using this method? I restored my old profile to my new 3G S and all my photos got deleted.

    i’ve installed iphone browser, but the iphone directory and files only appear in the iphonebrowser window. it isn’t detected as another drive on the pc – so i can’t run a file retrieval app against the phone.

    how do i do tat? do i need to clone the hard disk to my pc first? how do i do tat?
    tks.

  • DT

    can i search for files that were deleted on the iphone after the Restore process if i’ve jailbroken using this method? I restored my old profile to my new 3G S and all my photos got deleted.

    i’ve installed iphone browser, but the iphone directory and files only appear in the iphonebrowser window. it isn’t detected as another drive on the pc – so i can’t run a file retrieval app against the phone.

    how do i do tat? do i need to clone the hard disk to my pc first? how do i do tat?
    tks.

  • btrfngrz

    if n e 1 is having trouble accessing files on their iphone (like SMS tones) use the log in:

    User Name: root

    Password: alpine

    this will give you full access to all files, whereas using “mobile” as a username lets you see all the files but you can’t modify anything in the “root” folder – with username “root” you can…..

  • btrfngrz

    if n e 1 is having trouble accessing files on their iphone (like SMS tones) use the log in:

    User Name: root

    Password: alpine

    this will give you full access to all files, whereas using “mobile” as a username lets you see all the files but you can’t modify anything in the “root” folder – with username “root” you can…..

  • Phil

    Hello,

    I have an Iphone which is connected to my university’s WiFi.

    I’d like to browse other computer’s files and download them using my Iphone alone, without those other computers being in reach. Is that somehow possible ?

  • Phil

    Hello,

    I have an Iphone which is connected to my university’s WiFi.

    I’d like to browse other computer’s files and download them using my Iphone alone, without those other computers being in reach. Is that somehow possible ?

  • Dan

    I downloaded the iphone explorer, but as soon as the software opens, i get the “stoped working” error. Any help please?thank you

    • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

      @Dan: Which version of the iPhone Browser are you using?

  • Dan

    I downloaded the iphone explorer, but as soon as the software opens, i get the “stoped working” error. Any help please?thank you

    • http://maketecheasier.com Damien

      @Dan: Which version of the iPhone Browser are you using?

  • naszoun

    I just installed the iphone Browser on Windows and it does not recognise my iphone. I downloaded the 1.93 version of the I phone Browser, I got a 9 someting i tunes version and my iphone is jailbreack with the 3.1.2 version

  • naszoun

    I just installed the iphone Browser on Windows and it does not recognise my iphone. I downloaded the 1.93 version of the I phone Browser, I got a 9 someting i tunes version and my iphone is jailbreack with the 3.1.2 version

  • Michael

    Here are some Iphone Explorer for Mac versions. http://www.downloadoldversion.com/iphone-explorer-for-mac.html

    Hope they help.

    • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

      Thanks for sharing.

  • Michael

    Here are some Iphone Explorer for Mac versions. http://www.downloadoldversion.com/iphone-explorer-for-mac.html

    Hope they help.

    • http://maketecheasier.com Damien

      Thanks for sharing.

  • sharonne

    How do I transfer themes to the iphone. My iphone is jailbroken, though once I downloaded iphone browser it says not jailbroken. What should I do. I have cydia and installous, so I do know its jailbroken.

  • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien Oh

    I assume you are using Windows. You can use the Linux method to transfer files to your iPhone. Install OpenSSH from Cydia, and transfer files via Filezilla (or any other FTP apps)

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  • Howie

    I've got everything set up on mac and can see home and root directory.

    Am trying to recover from a ibook hd crash and am on a new imac, however it wants to erase everything on my iphone, and iphone has only version of many photos, itunes and apps.

    So I want to bring these (photos, itunes, apps) over – i see root/private/var/root and it is licked, i don not have permissions.

    Any suggestions for this situation?

  • Howie

    Ah saw other post and logged in as root.

    Still what's a suggested way to achieve transfer of photos, itunes and apps to imac, and then be able toi synch with iphone, please?

  • Howie

    nothing in media folder!

  • Howie

    When logged in as root the file structure will not unfold, it keeps resetting itself.

  • Karly

    Very very old method… Now there is DiskAid http://www.digidna.net/products/diskaid . It works via USB and you can drag & drop your files between your computer PC or Mac and your device iPhone or iPad. You can also access any application folder without jailbreak. Pretty amazing app :)

  • Howie

    Ok – can I still pull files over where iphone has never been synced?

    The problem is that my computer originally synced to crashed and now it doesn’t want to sync to new compuer unless I wipe files, apps, photos and songs etc.

    Thanks!

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