Apple's New Betas Let You Drag and Drop Files Between iPhone and Mac

Apple's latest beta releases for macOS 15.1 and iOS 18.1 have added a much-anticipated new iPhone Mirroring capability – seamless drag and drop between iPhone and Mac. The feature allows you to transfer files between the two devices effortlessly, even when your iPhone is locked and charging.

macos sequoia iphone mirroring
To use this feature, you'll need to update to the fifth beta versions and activate iPhone Mirroring. Once set up, transferring files is intuitive – simply drag a file from one device and drop it onto the desired location on the other. This works for various file types, including photos and PDFs.

For instance, you can drag a photo from your Mac directly into the open Photos app on your iPhone. Likewise, move PDFs by opening the Files app on your iPhone and dragging the document from your Mac. The process works both ways, with iPhone-to-Mac transfers following the same method.

Drag and drop is currently available in the fifth developer betas, so if you're a public beta tester, expect access to these software versions later this week. The feature is set to arrive with iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1, which are likely to launch in October.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia

Popular Stories

apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Announces iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Come to These Additional U.S. States

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:45 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The list of states where the feature is available currently includes Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Hawaii, and most recently...
iphone 16 pro apple intelligence

Apple Intelligence Features Expected to Roll Out in This Order Between iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.4 [Updated]

Sunday September 22, 2024 6:00 am PDT by
iOS 18 was released to the public earlier this month, but the first Apple Intelligence features will not be available until iOS 18.1 is released in October. Apple Intelligence features will continue to roll out in iOS 18.2 and beyond, with the expected roadmap outlined below per Apple's website and rumors. Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro model or any iPhone 16 model, and it...
28 years later iphone rig

'28 Years Later' to Be First Blockbuster Movie Shot on iPhone

Saturday September 21, 2024 4:31 am PDT by
With a budget of $75 million, Danny Boyle's "28 Years Later" will become the first major blockbuster movie to be shot on iPhone, WIRED reports. Jodie Comer on the set of "28 Years Later" with an iPhone 15 Pro Max camera rig (right). The upcoming post-apocalyptic British horror movie was shot over the summer using the iPhone 15 Pro Max as the principal camera, along with additional equipment...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

iPhone 17 Pro No Longer Expected to Feature Under-Display Face ID [Updated]

Friday September 20, 2024 10:44 am PDT by
Update: Young has since said under-display Face ID is no longer expected for the iPhone 17 Pro. His previous response was sent in error. Original story follows. While the iPhone 16 series just began arriving to customers today, there are already rumors about the next-generation iPhone 17 series. In a post shared on social media platform X on Thursday, display industry analyst Ross...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2

iPhone 17 and 'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Feature 120Hz ProMotion Displays

Friday September 20, 2024 12:22 pm PDT by
We don't mean to take away from the excitement of the iPhone 16 launch today, but there are more rumors to share about next year's iPhone 17 lineup. Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants today informed MacRumors that the standard iPhone 17 and a slimmer model that we are calling the "iPhone 17 Air" will both feature ProMotion, meaning that each device's display would be able to ramp ...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

iOS 18 Available Now With These 8 New Features For Your iPhone

Sunday September 15, 2024 10:09 am PDT by
Following over three months of beta testing, iOS 18 was finally widely released to the public on Monday, September 16. The update is available in the Settings app under General → Software Update on the iPhone XS and newer. Below, we have highlighted eight key new features included in iOS 18, and Apple shared a complete list of new features and changes last week. Note that Apple...