4 Best Methods to Transfer Files from Android to iPad

File transfers between two mobile devices have been traditionally very complex processes that suffered severe limitations. Email and WhatsApp also fall short when needing to transfer large files. There are various methods available to transfer files (Android to iPad and vice versa) without these restraints, including:

We'll proceed to elaborate a bit further on each of these, especially on our recommended method. Remember that this can also be read as a tutorial on transferring files from Android Phone to an iPad (Pro, Air, etc.), but we would simply be following the process in reverse.

AirDroid Personal

AirDroid has been in our midst since 2011 and has withstood as one of the most reliable and intuitive file transfer services on the internet. AirDroid Personal is not simply reduced to being a file-transferring app, though. It also offers a wide array of other features, including the ability to operate another device entirely from its web application or a dedicated client app. The service is also cross-platform and compatible with the most popular operating systems in the tech space.

Without further ado, we'll be unpacking the steps you need to follow in order to transfer files from Android to iPad (Pro, Air, etc.) using AirDroid:

You may also access the Airdroid Web Client through your iPad's browser (Safari or any other of your preference). The Web Client has a different interface, with files organized by type in distinct labelled folders. Needless to say, if you want to know how to transfer files from an iPad to an Android phone employing the Web Client, you only need to open your Android browser to access the Web Client from your Android device in the same way that you would do it through your iPad browser.

Cloud Service

Cloud storage services, as an option to transfer files between devices, have been the go-to method for many people owing to three main reasons:

With AirDroid Personal, you're not bound to connect to the internet to transfer files from one device to another, as you still have the option to transfer files from Android to iPad via WiFi or Bluetooth directly without the need to be online and exposed to cybersecurity hazards.
Furthermore, your cloud storage capacity is always limited. You'll be allowed to expand your allotted storage capacity in exchange for a monthly or yearly fee, depending on the service of your choice.

The most popular ones are Google Drive or iCloud Drive, but other famous services include Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive. Each one offers a unique package with premium features. Google Drive is one of the most generous cloud storage solutions, granting a whopping 15GB of storage for free!

USB Cable or SD Card

At this point, you will be wondering why there is no guide on how to transfer files from Android to iPad through Bluetooth or WiFi directly.

Apple is known to be very restrictive regarding wireless transfers between Apple and non-Apple devices. iPhone and iPad users are capped from using Bluetooth to transfer files to and receive files from Android or PC, with AirDrop being the only viable method for file transfer. iPad to Android Bluetooth and WiFi transfers are only available through third-party applications like AirDroid Personal. As we stated earlier, AirDrop is a feature that is limited to iOS, iPad, and macOS devices.

In summary, you cannot transfer files from Android to iPad through Bluetooth. Those who wish to transfer files on a whim and without an internet connection will have no choice but to resort to other physical means, such as the traditional USB cable method. Apple's recent file manager update enables file sharing through the use of a USB-C pen drive or an OTG cable without having to rely on an intermediary.

iTunes

You can also turn to iTunes, but for this, you will need a computer apart from the USB cable. For this purpose, you should follow the steps below. On macOS, you don't need to install iTunes (it comes preinstalled), and you may use your already existing AppleID credentials to access your iTunes account.

To transfer the files from your Android to your PC/Mac, you may also use an SD card instead. You can access the contents of your SD card through the USB connection or by inserting the card into a card reader and, in turn, into the SD card slot of your desktop or laptop. AirDroid Personal is still a better option in our view, but if you don't have it installed and configured yet and you have no internet access, you will have to resort to this technique, which could turn out to be a bit cumbersome for those looking to do seamless file sharing.

Conclusion

After assessing all the aforementioned alternatives, it's very easy to see why AirDroid Personal is clearly the winner of this round. You will still require internet access for installation and login, but aside from that, you don't have to be permanently connected to the internet and exposed to potential hacks or viruses. You also don't need to trouble yourself with cables and wires, and you may be able to use AirDroid Personal, possibly without ever having to pay a dime to access features behind a paywall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the a way to transfer data between android to ipad without erase my data?

Charudatta

The Move to iOS app will only be useful for setting up your new iOS/iPadOS device for the first time, or after performing a factory reset on your iPad. If you want to move files from Android to iPad without having to erase your data, you should abide by methods such as those we described above.

Which cloud storage platform is the most affordable for transferring files from Android to iPad?

Charudatta

Google One, as of this time of writing, offers one of the most affordable yearly plans, granting as many as 200GB for a yearly fee of $29.99 (equivalent to $0.0125 per GB). However, you could pay less if you only want to enjoy a few months of expanded cloud storage by choosing iCloud's 50GB plan (for only $0.99 a month). Considering that 50GB is dwarfed by the current storage options of most Android and Apple devices, we feel that the Google One plans are more suitable for the purpose of transferring files.

Is there a limit in how much data can be transferred with AirDroid's premium plan?

Charudatta

Currently, there are no limitations on the amount of data or the number of files you can transfer, whether it be under a local or remote network.