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Best iOS syncing software for Mac

How to connect iPhone to Mac: find the best solution

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Top choice

SyncMate

4.5 Rank based on 795+ users, Reviews(476)

Do you regularly sync your data between all your iOS devices, from your iPhone, iPod, and iPad to your Mac? It’s amazing how easy it is to accidentally wipe a contact or delete a photo - and if your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen, your precious data will be gone forever. It’s vital to sync your videos, photos, music, contacts, calendar and more regularly, to ensure you have up-to-date information across all your devices, which means no more missed calendar appointments or lost contacts. The latest software makes it easy to sync iOS for Mac, updating all your data across your devices in a few easy steps. We’ll show you how and we’ve even included some handy FAQs for you to refer to.


I. How to Sync iPhone with Mac

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SyncMate Expert


Requirements: macOS 10.13+. 60.62MB free space. Version 8.7.527. (5 Dec, 2023). 4.5 Rank based on 795+ users, Reviews(476)
Category: Utilities

Want to listen to that playlist from your iPhone while working on your Mac at home? Or perhaps you need to backup your Contacts to ensure you don’t lose any of those all-important numbers you picked up at that networking event last week.

SyncMate wizard

You might even need to transfer your calendar appointments from your iPhone to your Mac to help plan your schedule this week or sync the videos you filmed at your sister’s wedding. Whether you’re syncing your contacts, calendar, photos, videos, music, or other important data, you can use sync software to quickly and easily sync iPhone to Mac. Let’s take a look at how to connect iPhone to Mac, starting with syncing your photos from iPhone to Mac.

SyncMac

1. Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac in 3 Ways

There are three different ways to sync your photos from iPhone to Mac: using sync software like SyncMate, using iCloud, or using iTunes. In this handy guide, we’ll reveal some best practices for syncing your photos and videos from iPhone to Mac and take you through the steps for each option.

• How to sync photos from iPhone to Mac with SyncMate

SyncMate is a powerful sync tool that allows you to sync iPhone with Mac. To sync photos using SyncMate, you’ll need to pay for and download the Expert version, which lets you sync everything from photos and videos to music and contacts. It’s a one-stop iOS sync solution - and it’s not just iOS that’s supported; you can even use it to sync your Android devices.

SyncMate sync iPhone photos


Here’s how to sync your photos from iPhone to Mac using SyncMate.

  1. Download SyncMate Expert Edition and install it on your Mac. Once it is installed, launch it to display the main window.
  2. In the left pane, click “Add New” link and choose “iOS Device”.
  3. Select how you want to connect your iPhone to your Mac (USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth) and connect your phone to your Mac.
  4. Press the “+” button in the top panel and choose “Photos” from the plugins list, then specify your sync parameters.
  5. Click “Sync” to sync your photos to your Mac.

SyncMate does all the hard work, so you can sit back and relax knowing that your photos will be backed up to your Mac.

• How to sync iPhone photos to Mac with iCloud

You can also use iCloud Photos, Apple’s online photo storage service, to sync your iPhone photos to Mac. Activating iCloud Photos ensures all photos from your iPhone will be stored in iCloud, so you can view, edit, download, and share them from your Mac.

iCloud sync photo iPhone


Here’s how to sync iPhone photos to Mac with iCloud (Note: make sure you’re signed in with the same Apple ID on both your iPhone and Mac):

  1. On your Mac, click the Apple icon at the top left of the screen.
  2. Under “System Preferences” select “iCloud”.
  3. Ensure the box next to “iCloud Photo Library” is checked (this is iCloud Photos in macOS Monterey).
  4. Check “iCloud Photos” is on (on your iPhone) by going to Settings -> Photos.
  5. That’s it! Your photos should now start to sync from your iPhone to your Mac.

This is a quick and easy way to sync iPhone to Mac if you don’t want to install any software.

• Sync iPhone photos to Mac using iTunes

The third way to sync iPhone photos to Mac is (for some people) the simplest of all. iTunes can be set up to sync photos from the photos app or from a folder on your computer. Every time your iOS device is synced with iTunes, photos, and videos from your device will be updated to match the albums on your Mac.

iTunes sync photo iPhone


Here’s how to sync photos from your iPhone to your Mac using iTunes:

  1. Check you have the latest version of iTunes and open it on your Mac.
  2. Connect your iPhone via USB cable.
  3. In the iTunes window, click on the device icon.
  4. Click “Photos” (you’ll find this on the left side of the iTunes window, in the sidebar).
  5. Check the box next to “Sync Photos” is checked. Note: if “iCloud Photos is On” appears, this means all your videos and photos are already synced across your devices that use iCloud Photos, so there’s no need to sync them through iTunes.
  6. Now, navigate to the folder or app you want to sync from. If you’re syncing a folder containing subfolders, the first level of subfolders appears as albums on your device.
  7. Select whether you want to sync all albums and photos or specific albums - at this point, you can also choose to include videos.
  8. Click Apply.
  9. That’s it - your photos (and videos) will now sync from your iPhone to your Mac.

It’s worth noting that Live Photos will keep their effect when imported to Photos in OS X El Capitan and later, but lose their effect if you sync them back to your device via iTunes. If you want Live Photos to keep their effect across all your devices, use iCloud Photos for syncing.

2. Best Ways of How to Sync iPhone Contacts to Mac

As well as syncing your photos, you might want to sync your iPhone contacts to Mac, in case your iPhone is lost or stolen. Or maybe to ensure your contacts are up-to-date across all your iOS devices, so you’re less likely to call the wrong number. In this guide, we’ll show you some of the best ways to sync your iPhone contacts to Mac and take you through the steps for each option.

When it comes to syncing iPhone to Mac, there are three ways to backup your contacts, so let’s look at each in more detail:

• Sync contacts from iPhone to Mac using SyncMate

SyncMate is a powerful, free tool that lets you sync contacts from iPhone to Mac quickly and easily, with no data loss. It’s a one-stop solution, so you won’t need to rely on any other tools or software.

SyncMate sync iOS

Here’s how to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac with SyncMate:

  1. Download SyncMate Free Edition (which can be used to sync Contacts and Calendar) and install it on your Mac.
  2. Launch the app to display the main window.
  3. In the left pane, click “Add New” and choose your iPhone. Select how you want to connect your phone to your Mac (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB) and connect your phone to your Mac.
  4. Press the “+” button in the top panel then choose “Contacts” from the plugins list. Specify your sync parameters.
  5. Then just click “Sync” to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac.

SyncMate can be used to sync as many devices as you want, and can also be used with Android devices. To sync other data such as photos, videos, and music, you’ll need to upgrade to the Expert Edition.

• Sync iPhone contacts to Mac via USB/Wi-Fi

If you’d rather sync iPhone contacts to Mac via USB/Wi-Fi, this is quick and easy to do. Your Mac will determine whether your iPhone or your Mac contains the most recent information and will only sync any new or changed information.

Here’s how to sync your iPhone contacts to Mac using USB/Wi-Fi.

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB or USB-C cable or via a Wi-Fi connection. To turn on Wi-Fi syncing.
  2. Open Finder on your Mac and in the Finder sidebar, select your iPhone.
  3. Then click “Info” in the button bar.
  4. Ensure the “Sync contacts onto [device name]” is checked, then decide whether you want to sync all contacts (click “All groups”) or selected contacts (click “Selected groups”).
  5. If you chose “Selected groups”, you can select the groups you want to sync from the Groups list.
  6. You can also add new contacts to a group by checking the “Add new contacts from this [device] to” box and selecting a group from the pop-up.
  7. Click Apply and your contacts should now sync from your iPhone to Mac.

It’s possible to set up automatic syncing whenever your iPhone is connected to your Mac. To do this, select “General” in the button bar, then “Automatically sync when this [device] is connected”.

• Sync contacts from iPhone to Mac with iCloud

There’s a third way to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac: using iCloud. You’ll first need to enable iCloud sync for contacts on your iPhone:

  1. On your iPhone, open settings and tap on your name.
  2. In iCloud, ensure the Contacts box is checked.
  3. Tap “Merge” if your phone asks whether you want to Merge or Cancel.

iCloud sync iPhone contacts


If you’re using an iPhone running iOS 10.2 or earlier, you’ll need to click on iCloud when you launch Settings, then follow the above steps.

So how do you make sure your iCloud contacts show up on your Mac? It’s just a case of repeating the same steps on your Mac. This will download the contacts you’ve just uploaded to iCloud:

  1. Go to System Preferences on your Mac.
  2. Select “iCloud” and log in with your Apple ID.
  3. Check the box next to Contacts.
  4. Your iPhone contacts will now sync from iCloud to your Mac.

When your contacts sync, any contacts on your Mac that previously were not on your iPhone will show up and vice versa. You might find your contact list starts to look a bit messy but don’t worry - it’s easy to tidy it up.

3. How to Sync Messages from iPhone to Mac

There might be times you want to sync messages from iPhone to Mac - like when you’ve received praise from a client that’s made your day, or when someone sends you important information that you need to backup. In this guide, we’ll show you three ways to sync messages from iPhone to Mac and take you through the steps for each solution.

• How to sync iPhone messages to Mac with iMessage

Using iMessages to sync iPhone messages to Mac couldn’t be simpler. Here’s how to do it:

  1. On your Mac, open the Messages app (in your Applications folder).
  2. If you’re not already logged in, you’ll be prompted to do so.
  3. At the top left of your screen, click “Messages” on the Menu and select “Preferences”.
  4. Then choose “Accounts” and select your iMessage account.
  5. You should see your Apple ID. (Check to make sure it’s the same Apple ID you're logged in with on your iPhone).
  6. Under "You can be reached for messages at" ensure your phone number and any email addresses you use to send messages (including your Apple ID email) are checked.
  7. Then, under "Start new conversations from," select the same email or phone number as on your iPhone. So if you selected your phone number on your iPhone, do the same on your Mac.
  8. That’s it - now sit back and wait as your iPhone messages are synced to Mac.

• SyncMate as a PRO way to sync messages from iPhone to Mac

There is another, easier way to sync messages from iPhone to Mac - using SyncMate. It’s a powerful tool that lets you sync your most important data (from photos and videos to messages and contacts) to your Mac, as we mentioned earlier. In order to sync messages, you’ll need to upgrade to the Expert Edition.

SyncMate SMS sync


Here’s how to use SyncMate to sync messages from iPhone to Mac:

  1. Download SyncMate Expert Edition and install it on your Mac. Once it is installed, launch it to display the main window.
  2. In the left pane, click “Add New” link and choose your iPhone. Select how you want to connect your phone to your Mac (USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth) and connect your phone to your Mac.
  3. Press the “+” button in the top panel and choose “Messages” from the plugins list, then specify your sync parameters. Don’t forget to choose the sync direction from your device to your Mac in the plugin settings.
  4. Click “Sync” to sync your Messages to your Mac.

The whole process is reliable and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, depending on how much data you are syncing.

• Try TunesGo to sync iPhone messages to Mac

The third way to sync iPhone messages to Mac is using Wondershare TunesGo. This is a one-click backup tool that lets you backup all your important data (including text messages and iMessages) or selectively transfer individual messages. It’s fully compatible with the latest iOS and you don’t need iTunes installed on your Mac.

TunesGo sync iPhone


Here’s how to sync iPhone messages to Mac using TunesGo:

  1. Download and install Wondershare TunesGo to your Mac.
  2. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
  3. Click the “Information” icon at the top of the main interface, then click “SMS” on the left sidebar. You should see your messages displayed in the right panel.
  4. Check the messages you want to sync to Mac and click “Export” in the top menu.
  5. Choose your save format - we recommend selecting “Export to HTML” from the drop-down list if you have pictures or videos attached to messages and you want to be able to read your messages on your Mac. (You can also choose “Export to CSV” if preferred).
  6. Browse to the target folder on your computer and click “OK” to start the sync.
  7. When the popup window “Export Successfully” appears, click “OK”.

4. Try 3 Ways to Sync Notes from iPhone to Mac

We’ve looked at syncing photos, contacts, and messages, but how do you sync important meeting notes stored on your iPhone to your Mac, so you can share them with your team? Syncing Notes to your Mac not only makes it easier to share them with others, but it also ensures they’re safe as you have a backup, should anything happen to your phone. We’ll take a look at three ways to sync Notes from iPhone to Mac, as well as a step-by-step guide for each solution.

• How to sync notes from iPhone to Mac with iCloud

Provided you have iCloud set up on both your iPhone and Mac, it’s easy to use it to sync all your photos, mail, contacts, calendars, notes, and other documents and data. iCloud backup keeps all your iPhone data safe so you can restore your iPhone from backup directly.

iCloud sync notes iPhone


Here’s how to sync notes from iPhone to Mac with iCloud:

  1. Go to “Settings” on your iPhone, tap [your name], then select “iCloud”.
  2. Under “Apps Using iCloud”, ensure iCloud is toggled on for “Notes”.
  3. This means when your iPhone syncs with iCloud, your notes will be automatically backed up.
  4. When your Mac is signed into the same iCloud account, your notes will be synced automatically to your Mac.

This is a quick and easy way to sync iPhone to Mac, backing up your most important notes.

• Sync notes from Mac to iPhone using SyncMate

Just as you can use SyncMate to sync your contacts and photos to your Mac, you can also use it to sync notes from Mac to iPhone. It’s quick and easy to use, although you’ll need to upgrade to the Expert Edition to sync your notes.

Here’s how to backup your notes using SyncMate:

  1. Purchase SyncMate Expert Edition and install it on your Mac. Once it is installed, launch it to display the main window.
  2. In the left pane, click “Add New” link and choose your iPhone. Select how you want to connect your phone to your Mac (USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth) and connect your phone to your Mac.
  3. Press the “+” button in the top panel and choose “Notes” from the plugins list, then specify your sync parameters. Don’t forget to choose the sync direction from your device to your Mac in the plugin settings.
  4. Click “Sync” to sync your Notes to your Mac.

• Use AirDrop to sync notes between iPhone and Mac

The third option we recommend is using AirDrop to sync notes between iPhone and Mac.

Here’s how to wirelessly sync notes from your iPhone to your Mac:

  1. First, ensure your Mac is set up correctly for AirDrop. Choose Go -> AirDrop from the menu bar in Finder, then tick the “Allow me to be discovered by” setting. Ensure your iPhone has a similar setting.
  2. Choose the Apple menu -> System Preferences, then click “Security & Privacy”. Click the Firewall tab, then click the lock and enter your administrator password. Click “Firewall options” and deselect “Block all incoming connections”.
  3. Ensure personal hotspot is turned off on your iPhone and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on.
  4. Open Notes and tap “Share”.
  5. Tap the AirDrop device you want to share with.
  6. You’ll see the request as a notification or a message in the AirDrop window on your Mac.
  7. Click “Accept” to save the files to your downloads folder.

5. Guide on How to Sync iPhone Music to Mac

As well as notes, contacts, photos, and messages, your music is one of the most important things you store on your iPhone. If you need to backup a playlist or sync music to play on your Mac while working from home, we’ve got some tips on how to do this and three ways you can sync iPhone Music to Mac.

• How to sync music from iPhone to Mac in the fastest way

For the fastest way to sync music from iPhone to Mac, SyncMate is a one-stop solution. This powerful tool lets you sync all your music, or just selected tracks and playlists from your phone to your Mac, so you can listen wherever you are!

SyncMate sync music iPhone

Here are the step-by-step instructions:

  1. Purchase SyncMate Expert Edition and install it on your Mac. Once it’s installed, launch it to display the main window.
  2. In the left pane, click “Add New” link and choose your iPhone. Select how you want to connect your phone to your Mac (USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth) and connect your phone to your Mac.
  3. Press the “+” button in the top panel and choose “Music” from the plugins list, then specify your sync parameters. Don’t forget to choose the sync direction from your device to your Mac in the plugin settings.
  4. Click “Sync” to sync your Music to your Mac.

It only takes a few seconds to sync all your favorite tracks from your phone to your Mac.

• Sync music from iPhone to Mac using iTunes

Some iPhone users prefer to use iTunes to sync their music from iPhone to Mac. This is a quick and easy way to get all your favorite music on all your devices.

Here is how to sync your music using iTunes:

  1. Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes.
  2. Open iTunes on your computer.
  3. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
  4. Click on the device icon in iTunes.
  5. In the sidebar on the left side of the iTunes window, click “Music”.
  6. Choose to sync your entire music library or selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres.
  7. Click Apply.
  8. Syncing should start automatically. If it doesn’t, click the “Sync” button.

Because most iTunes users already have iTunes on their computer, no additional software is needed to sync music using this method.

• How to sync iPhone music to Mac Monterey with Finder

Mac Monterey users can use Finder rather than iTunes to sync iPhone music to their Mac. First, make sure your iPhone is connected to your computer via USB cable, then follow these steps:

iPhone music to Mac Monterey


  1. Go to your dock and click on Finder.
  2. From the sidebar, select your iPhone.
  3. In the main window ensure the tab named “Music” is selected.
  4. Ensure “Sync Music onto your device” is checked, and check it if it isn’t.
  5. You can choose to sync your entire music library or selected albums, artists, genres or playlists.
  6. To sync everything in your library, click “Apply” then “Sync”.
  7. Alternatively, select which specific albums, artists, playlists, and genres to sync. Then click “Apply” then “Sync”.

The length of time your sync takes will depend on the amount of music you have to be transferred.


II. How to Sync iPad to Mac

We’ve looked at syncing iPhone to Mac, but what if you want to sync iPad to Mac? Perhaps you need to backup important documents from work, store video files or just create a backup of your iPad in case it’s lost or stolen. You can sync iPad with Mac for all your data, or select what data you want to backup, like your most important contacts, precious photos, meeting notes or calendar appointment, to ensure your data is synced across all your devices. Below, we’ll explain how to sync iPad to Mac, starting with your contacts.


1. Sync Contacts to Mac from iPad in 2 Ways

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SyncMate Expert


Requirements: macOS 10.13+. 60.62MB free space. Version 8.7.527. (5 Dec, 2023). 4.5 Rank based on 795+ users, Reviews(476)
Category: Utilities

If you need to sync contacts from iPad to Mac then there are a number of different ways to do this. You might want to backup your most important contacts following a business meeting or networking event, and these are the two easiest ways to do that.

SyncMate wizard

• How to sync contacts from iPad to Mac without iTunes

The quickest and easiest way to sync contacts from iPad to Mac without iTunes is by using a sync tool like SyncMate. It can be used with any Android or iOS device, so it’s ideal for backing up your contacts to your Mac without risking data loss.

SyncMate sync contacts iPad

Follow the below steps to sync your iPad contacts to Mac using SyncMate:

  1. Download SyncMate Free Edition and install it.
  2. Launch the app to display the main window.
  3. In the left pane, click “Add New” and choose your iPad. Then select whether you want to connect your iPad to your Mac using Bluetooth, USB, or Wi-Fi.
  4. Connect your iPad to your Mac.
  5. Press the “+” button in the top panel, then choose “Contacts” from the plugins list. Specify your sync parameters, then click “Sync”.

That’s all there is to it - your contacts should start to sync immediately. This may take some time, depending on how many contacts you have!

• How to sync contacts from iPad to Mac using USB

Connecting your iPad to your Mac via USB is one of the quickest ways to sync your contacts.

The below steps will show you how:

  1. Ensure you have the latest version of iTunes installed. You can check by launching iTunes on your Mac, clicking the “Help” menu, and selecting “Check for Updates”. Allow any updates to install and restart iTunes after updates have completed.
  2. Connect your iPad to your Mac with a USB cable. Once connected, iTunes detects the iPad and you will see it under the “Devices” list in the left-hand menu.
  3. Select your iPad under “Devices” and click the “Info” tab.
  4. Check the “Sync Contacts With” box and select “Sync Address Book Contacts” from the drop-down menu on the right.
  5. Then click “Apply” and your iPad contacts should sync to your Mac Address Book.

This is a convenient way to sync iPad to Mac when you aren’t connected to WiFi.

2. [2 Tips] How to Sync Photos from iPad to Mac

Nowadays many of us use our iPads as cameras, and even if you don’t, you may have precious photos stored on your iPad from friends and family. If your iPad is lost or stolen, these could be gone forever, which is why it’s so important to regularly sync photos from iPad to Mac. Below, we’ll reveal some best practices for syncing photos from your iPad to Mac.

• The most effective method to sync iPad photos to Mac

Earlier we mentioned SyncMate, a powerful tool for syncing iPhone photos to Mac. You can use SyncMate with any device, which is why it’s so useful for syncing your iPad photos to your computer too.

SyncMate iOS devices sync

You’ll need to upgrade to the Expert Edition to sync your photos, and the following steps will guide you through the process:

  1. Purchase SyncMate Expert Edition and install the tool on your Mac.
  2. Once installed, launch it to display the main window.
  3. In the left pane, you’ll see the “Add New” link. Click it and choose “iOS Device”.
  4. Select how to connect your iPad to your Mac - you can choose from Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or USB.
  5. Connect your iPad to your computer.
  6. Press the “+” button in the top panel and choose “Photos” from the plugins list. Specify your sync parameters.
  7. Then simply click “Sync” and all your iPad photos will start to sync with your Mac.

This may take some time, depending on file sizes and how many photos you have on your iPad.

• Sync photos from iPad to Mac with AirDrop

iPad and Mac both support AirDrop, so you can use it to help you backup your photos to Mac. AirDrop also lets you send contacts, videos and more from one device to another.

Follow the below steps to sync your photos from iPad to Mac:

  1. First, you’ll need to turn on AirDrop on your Mac. Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are switched on by going to Finder -> Go -> Airdrop. Choose whether you want to be discovered by your contacts only or everyone under the “Allow to be discovered by” option. Set the “Allow to be discovered by” option to “Everyone” or “Contacts Only”.
  2. Then turn on AirDrop on your iPad by opening the Control Center. You can do this by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. Select Airdrop and again, select whether you want to be discoverable by your contacts only or everyone.
  3. To sync photos from iPad to Mac, open the app containing your photos and tap the “Share” button. Select Airdrop and choose your recipient, then tap “Done”.
  4. If you want to sync photos from Mac to iPad, the photos can be dragged onto the image of the person you’re sending them to. Then click “Send”.

This is an efficient way to sync your photos wirelessly.

3. How to Sync iPhone and iPad [The Simplest Way]

If you own both an iPad and iPhone then at some point you may want to sync them to ensure your photos are up to date across both devices or make sure you have the correct contacts on your iPad and iPhone. In this guide we’ll reveal some best practices for how to sync iPad and iPhone, whether you’re syncing your photos, contacts, or calendar.

• How to sync iPad and iPhone using iCloud

Syncing iPad and iPhone can be done quickly and easily with iCloud, without the need to download any other software.

Follow these steps to sync iPhone and iPad:

  1. On either your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap your name to open the Apple ID screen then select “iCloud”.
  3. Next to each app and type of content you’d like to sync between your iPhone and iPad, turn on the toggle switches.
  4. Then repeat this on the other device - make sure your settings are identical across both devices or the sync won’t work.
  5. Under Settings ->iTunes & App Store, move the toggle switches next to “Updates” and “Music, Apps, Books & Audiobooks” to on, to turn on automatic downloads.

Once you have set up sync using iCloud, your devices will remain automatically synced, so you no longer need to worry.

• Sync iPhone and iPad in a PRO way

If you’d prefer to use a professional tool to sync iPhone and iPad, you can download and install SyncMate.

Here’s how to sync iPad and iPhone using SyncMate:

  1. Download SyncMate and install it on your Mac.
  2. Once it is installed, open the app.
  3. In SyncMate's main window, click “Add New” on the left. Select your iPad and iPhone device options in Wizard (you can choose from Bluetooth, WiFi, or USB connections).
  4. Connect your devices. (Note: you can connect any number of Android and iOS devices to your Mac and they can all be synced with SyncMate).
  5. Select the device you will sync with your Mac first - let’s go with iPad - and choose the sync parameters (don’t forget to set the sync direction from device to Mac).
  6. Click “Sync”. Your iPad will sync data to your Mac.
  7. Now choose the sync parameters for the iPhone with the sync direction from Mac to iPhone.
  8. Click “Sync” and the data that was originally on your iPad will now be synced from your Mac to your iPhone.

Note: Because SyncMate is a Mac app, your data will be synced through your Mac (i.e. data will be first transferred from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, and then from your Mac to your other iOS device).

4. Guide on How to Sync Calendar on Mac with iPad

There might be times when you need to sync your Mac calendar with your iPad. Perhaps you’ve got important meetings or appointments coming up and you need to make sure your iPad has all the details. Our handy guide will reveal some best practices for syncing your Mac calendar with iPad.

There are two ways you can do this and we’ll explain both in more detail (along with a step-by-step guide) below:

• Try iTunes to sync iCal with the iPad

If you run a small business or work from home, you might not always be able to use your computer to view your iCal calendar. Luckily, it’s easy to sync your iPad so you can view your calendar on-the-go on your iPad. A quick and easy way to do this is with iTunes, which you probably already have installed on your Mac.

Follow the below steps to sync iCal on your Mac with your iPad:

  1. Ensure you are using the latest version of iTunes.
  2. Launch iTunes on your Mac.
  3. Connect your iPad to your Mac with a USB cable (iTunes should recognize and automatically connect to your iPad).
  4. In the “Devices” tab (on the left hand side of the iTunes window), click your iPad.
  5. At the top of the iTunes window click the “Info” tab and check the “Sync iCal Calendars” option.
  6. Select the “All Calendars” radio button.
  7. The “Do Not Sync Events Older Than” option should be unchecked if you don’t want to sync any events before a specific date or time.
  8. In the bottom right corner of iTunes, click “Apply” to apply the new settings.
  9. Now, click “Sync” and your Mac iCal should sync with iPad.

Warning: Don’t close iTunes or disconnect your iPad while it’s syncing.

• How to Share Mac calendars to iPad using Email

What if you don’t use iCal but instead use a calendar that’s available through an online service, like Google or Yahoo? It’s possible to subscribe to the calendar from your iPad so you can see events and appointments.

sync iCal to iPad with Email


  1. Tap the Settings icon on the Home screen of your iPad.
  2. Tap the Mail -> Contacts -> Calendars option on the left.
  3. Tap “Add Account”.
  4. Select your email, for example, Gmail or Yahoo!
  5. A dialog will appear. Enter your name, email address, and account password.
  6. Tap “Save”.
  7. Your iPad will now retrieve data from your calendar at the interval you have set. You can change this by tapping the “Fetch New Data” option under Mail -> Contacts -> Calendars.
  8. When the Fetch New Data dialog appears, ensure the “Push” option’s toggle button is set to “On” and choose the option you prefer for how frequently you’d like data pushed to your iPad.

Note: It’s only possible to read these events - you can’t edit them from your iPad.


III. How to Sync iPod to Mac

When it comes to syncing iOS devices with your Mac, how about your iPod? Most of us keep all our favorite tunes on our iPod, with customized playlists for almost any situation imaginable. You might store some of the most precious photos on your iPod, and if it is lost or stolen, you could lose them permanently. By syncing your iPod to Mac, you’ll always be able to access your tunes, playlists and photos, no matter where you are - and if the worst happens to your iPod, your data will be safe.


1. How to Sync iPod Photos to Mac in 1 Click

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SyncMate Expert


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It’s really easy to sync iPod to Mac with SyncMate, a powerful tool that helps you keep all your iOS (and Android) devices in sync.

SyncMate wizard

Just follow the below steps to sync iPod photos to Mac:

  1. Download and install SyncMate Expert Edition.
  2. Once installed, launch it to display the main window.
  3. In the left pane, you’ll see the “Add New” link. Click it and choose “Mounted Drive”.
  4. Select how to connect your iPod to your Mac - you can choose from Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or USB.
  5. Connect your iPod to your computer.
  6. By clicking on “Mounted Drive” on the left menu, you should be able to open up your iPod touch media folder.
  7. From here, you can click and drag files onto your Mac.

SyncMate keeps your devices synced, so whenever you add something to your media folder, it will automatically be synced between your Mac and your iPod touch.


2. Sync Music between macOS Monterey and iPod

What if you want to sync music between your iPod and Mac computer running macOS Monterey?

macOS Monterey sync with iPod


It’s actually a pretty simple process and here are the steps you need to follow for how to sync iPod with macOS Monterey:

  1. Connect your iPod to your Mac via Wi-Fi or USB cable.
  2. Select your device in the Finder sidebar on your Mac.
  3. Select “Music” in the button bar.
  4. Check the “Sync music onto [device name]” box to enable syncing of your music. With this box checked, syncing will transfer all music from your iPod to Mac.
  5. To sync selected tracks, click “Selected Playlist, artists, albums & genres”. Then check the box for individual items you want to sync in the music list.
  6. Select your syncing options (check the box “Include videos” to sync videos or “Include voice memos” to sync voice memos).

You can also turn on auto syncing. Select “General” in the button bar and “Automatically sync when this [device] is connected”.


3. Transfer Files from iPod to Mac with iTunes

You can use iTunes to sync iPod touch to Mac and transfer files without the need for any additional software, and the good news is it’s quick and easy to do.

iTunes sync iPod files


Here are the steps you need to follow to transfer files from iPod to Mac using iTunes:

  1. Open iTunes on your computer.
  2. Connect your iPod to your computer via USB cable.
  3. In the iTunes app on Mac, click the “Device” button near the top left of the iTunes window.
  4. Click “File Sharing” and in the list on the left-hand side, select the app on your device that you want to transfer a file from.
  5. Then, to transfer a file from your iPod to your Mac, select the file you want in the list on the right, click “Save To”, select where you want the file to be saved, then click “Save.”
  6. To transfer a file from your Mac to your iPod, click “Add”, select the file you want to transfer, then click “Add”.

Note: You can only transfer files using iTunes with iPods running iOS 4 or later.

IV. FAQs

Yes! It’s easy to sync iOS devices using a powerful tool like SyncMate, which helps you keep your iPod, iPhone, and iPad in sync with your Mac.
You can sync between iOS devices using iCloud (which will backup your data to iCloud and then allow you to sync it to other devices) or using a dedicated tool like SyncMate, which syncs between iOS devices quickly and easily.
macOS Monterey users can use the Finder to sync their iPhone, rather than syncing with iTunes.
When it comes to choosing the best app for iOS sync, it’s important to read reviews, look at all the features the app offers and think about price too. Look for an app that is regularly updated and offers easy-to-access support if you experience any troubleshooting. SyncMate Free Edition lets you sync your contacts and calendar from iOS devices to Mac for free (you can upgrade to the Expert Edition to sync photos, videos, music, and more).
Yes, and it’s easy to do. To sync your iPad with iPhone you can either use iCloud or download a powerful app like SyncMate which will do all the hard work for you quickly and easily.

It’s important to weigh up your options when choosing the right software for syncing your iOS devices with Mac. Although free solutions like iCloud and iTunes can be useful, many people prefer to opt for a professional tool like SyncMate which does all the hard work and is compatible with any device (including Android).

SyncMate Expert

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Rank based on 795+ users, Reviews(476)