7 Best iPad File Explorers for Windows [2024 List]
Take a closer look at our top picks now
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Key notes
- If you want to manage your iPad files on Windows, you definitely need a dedicated file manager for it.
- One of the tools below lets you transfer files from your PC to your iPad and sync everything running on your iPad.
- Another software allows you to transfer your data between phones with different operating systems.
- We also provide a 100% free file explorer and app manager app for iOS devices.
iPad file managers are specialized tools that allow users to view and open the files stored on their devices, copy them to another device, send them via email, and more.
iOS is a great mobile operating system, but it has some limitations. For example, iOS users can’t manage their files as easily as Android or Windows users. This task becomes even more difficult when it comes to managing iPad files on Windows. You need a dedicated file manager for this task.
You can use iPad file managers to perform these tasks:
- Cut/copy/paste files and folders
- Create or delete files and folders
- (On some of the apps) edit files in real-time
- Create Dropbox/Box.net/iCloud sync
- Access/open files of various types (images, pdf, zip, etc.)
Transferring files from an iPad to a Windows PC is quite hard due to iTunes’ limitations. To help you better manage your iPad files on your PC, we will list five apps that will allow you to do that without jailbreaking your device.
What are the best iPad file managers?
| iExplorer | iFun Box | iTools | iMobie's AnyTrans | iMazing | Syncios | IOTransfer 2 PRO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RANK (1 to 5) | 4,5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4,5 | 4.0 | ||
| Free/Paid | Paid | Free | Free (Trial) | Free | Paid | Free | Free(Trial) | ||
| Backup | Yes | Apps | Yes | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Using device as storage | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Selective file choose | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Keeps metadata | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A | ||
| Mobile Device Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| View Only Mode | No | No | No | Yes | No | N/A | N/A | ||
| Support 24/7 | No | No | No | No | No | N/A | N/A | ||
| iTunes required | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
IOTransfer 2 PRO – Great photo organizer
This is a great tool for whoever wants to manage files on their iPad but also on iPhone. What can it do? First of all, its interface allows you to easily manage all your files, including all formats available on your iOS devices, especially iPad. You can organize your photos, images, videos, and music into collections, but you can also delete the files you do not need anymore.
Another great feature is that you can transfer files from your PC to your iPad with ease. You will be able to sync anything that literally can run on your iPad. It also includes a video download feature that allows you to download videos from different platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo, etc.
One more important feature, but not the last, is iPad/iPhone cleaning. You will be able to free storage space and optimize the work of your device. All you have to do is to select the necessary parameters. Try it for free and see if it fits your needs.
IOTransfer
IOTransfer lets you freely and easily transfer your files and back your data between all your Apple devices.Syncios – Phone libraries synchronizer
Syncios is a software meant to allow its users to manage their iOS and Android devices with great ease. The software allows you to transfer your data between phones with different operating systems.
Usually, it is a pain to try and transfer your files from your PC to your personal mobile device. However, with Syncios, you can transfer all your music, photos, apps, videos, and files between your devices, in a simplified way, with just a few clicks.
Besides data transfer, the program can also synchronize your phone libraries and back up all your data to keep it safe. Thus, you can recover any damaged or deleted data.
Syncios
A simple yet effective solution for transferring content between Android and iOS.iMobie’s AnyTrans – All-in-one manager
Anytrans is a free iPhone Explorer software developed to access, explore, and manage your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch file system without jailbreaking your device.
This is another 100% free file explorer and app manager app for iOS devices. The tool provides a free iOS file manager app that will allow you to manage files on your device. You will be able to transfer the docs and files from your PC to your iPad and vice versa.
The tool also allows you to use advanced customization of the iPad. For instance, you will be able to change the apps’ text, icons, sounds, and so on.
Anytrans is one of the most decent and safest free iOS file browsing software that gives you full control over your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch file system. By bringing about an intuitive File Explorer interface, this thoroughly developed iPhone backup extractor will help you to instantly access and manipulate the iOS file system.
Anytrans has an impressive facility over iTunes and other similar iPhone Explorer. It’s great for uploading your music from one iPhone to the new iPad or rebuilding your iTunes library with music and playlists.
Easy to export your app data, game saves, and personal settings onto your new iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, or iPad Pro. It’s free to try out all new and exciting AnyTrans features by downloading the trial version below.
AnyTrans
AnyTrans is an all-in-one manager that allows you to transfer, manage, and back up your iOS data with ease.iFun Box – Batch-install option
iFunBox is an excellent File Manager for your iOS device. iFunBox may be defined as an alternative to Explorer, but it has some additional features, including App Management. You can use it to install or remove apps from your iPad.
The software also allows you to install apps from .ipa files from your PC to your device. The installation process is safe because the apps are installed in a secured sandbox.
You can also batch-install apps and manage your device apps and games very quickly. iFunbox can easily manage equipment apps, photos, music, videos, mobile phone ringtones, voice memos, and more.
iOS apps store data such as user accounts, chat history, saved games, in-app purchases, and so on. iFunBox provides an easy way to manipulate this data to clean the track of usage, chat games, backup messages of chats, and more.
iTools – Offline backup
iTools allows you to create a backup of your iPhone and iPad apps and even restore them or uninstall them. The tool allows you to sync your music, contacts, and message data right on your PC. You can also browse Apps files and folders on your device.
iTools also allows you to configure iBooks, Media, and Photos settings, and you can also make an offline backup.
You can also use iTools to directly install IPA files on your iPhone/iPad and design your HomeScreen look.
The software also comes bundled with a built-in PXL to IPA converter, which allows you to convert PXL apps into IPA apps as the IPA app format is the most secure one.
iExplorer – Intuitive usage
iExplorer is a great software that you can use to browse all your iPad files and explore app data files.
To export files to your PC, follow the steps below:
- Go to the folder or file that you want to export.
- Right-click it > choose the Export option and the destination folder in the pop-up window.
- Press the OK button, and you’re done. Now, your files will be exported to your PC.
The requirements include the following:
- An iOS device (iPad/iPhone/iPod)
- iTunes 10 or later installed on the system
- Windows XP /Vista/7/8/8.1/10
To download the tool, go to the iBrowse app page, and download iExplorer. Once the download completes, run the iBrowse .dmg file. After you open it, drag the icon into your Applications folder to install it.
iMazing – Backup scheduling feature
iMazing is a reliable tool to transfer and save music, files, messages, and data. You can use it to safely back up any iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. The tool is one of the best iOS device managers for PCs.
You can now quickly transfer your data to a new iPhone. Without iCloud or iTunes, you can copy everything or select the right content to transfer.
You can now copy your music back and forth between your iPhone, iPad, iPod, and PC. There are no more iTunes syncs necessary.
You can also export your pics and videos, without iCloud or iTunes. Save your favorite moments on your Mac or PC.
Unlike iTunes and iCloud, this tool will never overwrite your iPhone and iPad backups. It doesn’t require paid cloud storage. iMazing is reliable and innovative, and it just might be the only software on the market that offers an automatic backup and archive solution, for free.
You can now keep control and never lose precious information. With every backup, iMazing creates a new photo of your Apple device. Your iPhone and iPad archives will be able to get secure encryption from now on. They are also optimized for minimum disk use. The tool is very safe and efficient.
You will be able to schedule your backups for every evening, or weekly after 6 PM, it will be up to you. And if for any reason, your next backup expires, iMazing can notify you. This way, you can always stay ahead of your backups.
There are many different options for using an alternative to iTunes for managing iOS devices. The five alternatives that we offered you bring many useful features that you will definitely enjoy. Check them all out and select the tool that best suits your needs.
And before you leave, find out how to use the iPad as a second monitor in Windows, something most users don’t know.
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