How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to iPad: 5 Common Ways

Find ways to sync photos from iPhone to iPad? This passage can help you a lot, whether you need a wireless or wired way.

By @Kathy Last Updated November 14, 2024

Syncing iPhone photos to your iPad can be so convenient when you need to view, edit, share pictures on iPad, or free up your iPhone storage. Which way can be most efficient? This passage will give you detailed instructions!

Method 1. How to transfer photos from iPhone to iPad with AirDrop

As a built-in feature, AirDrop can help you easily transfer photos between Apple devices wirelessly.

Step 1. Go to the control center on your iPhone and iPad by swiping up from the bottom to enable the AirDrop feature > Turn on the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when asked. If the iPad’s name is shown in your contact, you can choose Contacts Only. If not, tap on Everyone or Everyone for 10 Minutes.

Step 2. Go to the Photos app on your iPhone. Tap on the Select button at the upper right corner to select the pictures you need to move.

Step 3. Click the Share option and choose AirDrop to transfer. Tap on your iPad when your iPhone shows it as the option. Accept the pictures on your iPad to finish the transfer.

Method 2. How to sync photos from iPhone to iPad with iCloud

As an official cloud-based storage service offered, the iCloud sync feature allows you to sync data including photos between Apple devices. As long as you have enabled this feature on both devices, synchronization can be easily achieved.

⚠️ Note: iCloud only offers 5 GB of free storage for users, if you have too many pictures that need to be moved, you may need to buy more storage or turn to another way.

Step 1. Go to Settings app on your iPhone > Tap [your name] > Click iCloud > Photos > Turn on iCloud Photos (or iCloud Photo Library).

Step 2. Do the same action on your iPad and wait for a while, the photos will be synced to it. Then you can view iPhone photos on iPad.

Tip:
To efficiently manage iCloud data, you can use the professional iCloud manager - FoneTool to easily download, upload or delete photos, videos, contacts, notes, etc. stored in iCloud from PC (My iCloud > Manage iCloud).
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Method 3. How to sync iPhone photos to iPad with iCloud Photo Stream

Photos Stream is an iCloud service that will sync photos in the most recent 30-day photos (up to 1000 photos). You can turn on the feature if you don’t have enough iCloud storage. But this way doesn't support syncing videos and live photos.

To enable Photo Stream on iPhone and iPad: Go to Settings > Tap Apple ID banner > Tap iCloud > Photos > Turn on Upload to My Photo Stream.

It won't take up space in your iCloud storage. When you exit the Camera app and connect to Wi-Fi, your photos will automatically sync between your iPhone and iPad.

Method 4. Transfer photos from iPhone to iPad without iCloud - fast & professional

How do I transfer photos from my iPhone to my iPad without iCloud? A wired way might be ideal! When you need to transfer multiple photos or videos from iPhone to iPad, the professional iPhone data transfer software named FoneTool might be the best choice.

FoneTool

Powerful iPhone/iPad Data Transfer Software

  • Efficiently transfer unlimited photos/videos between iOS devices.
  • Selectively/fully transfer iPhone/iPad data as you like.
  • 100 + high-quality pictures can be moved in 1 minute without data compression.
  • A safe & stable USB connection gives you an effortless transfer process.
  • Various iOS models and versions are OK (iPhone 16/iPad 10/iOS 18).
Download Freeware Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7

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Now just download FoneTool on your PC and follow the guidance to how to get all or part of photos from iPhone to iPad. You need to transfer photos from iPhone to PC, then move them from PC to your iPad.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the Windows PC with a USB cable. Launch FoneTool > Go to Phone Transfer > Choose iPhone to PC and click Get Started.

Step 2. Choose the Photos or Videos icon > Select the data you need to transfer and click OK.

Step 3. If necessary, change file storage location from the Transfer Settings to save documents > Click Start Transfer to begin.

Step 4. Once all photos on iPhone are moved to your PC, now you can unplug your iPhone and connect your iPad to the PC > Go to PC to iPhone to save targeted images to your iPad.

💡 How do I transfer from iPhone to iPad?  FoneTool also allows you to transfer data from iPhone to iPad without iCloud. Just go to Phone Transfer > Choose iPhone to iPhone and you can move all your iPhone data to your iPad in one click.

Method 5. How to get photos from iPhone to iPad with iTunes

You can export photos to your PC using the Photos app, then use iTunes to sync those photos to your iPad. Follow these steps:

⚠️ Note: Windows Photos cannot detect iCloud Photos or shared photos; you can only transfer images from the Camera Roll. Additionally, you'll need to disable iCloud Photos before syncing with iTunes.

Syncing via iTunes will replace your current photo library on the iPad with the files from the iTunes library.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and select Trust when prompted. Windows Photos should open automatically; if it doesn’t, click the Start button and select Photos.

Step 2. Choose the photos you want to import and click Import. Once the import is complete, disconnect your iPhone.

Step 3. Connect your iPad to the computer and select Trust. In iTunes, click the phone icon and then select Photos.

Step 4. Check the Sync Photos option and click Apply to sync the photos to your iPad.

Conclusion

Here you can know how to transfer photos from iPhone to iPad. You can use AirDrop or iCloud to finish the process wirelessly, or rely on FoneTool or iTunes to sync photos from iPhone to iPad with a USB cable. If you have lots of pictures that need to be moved, the professional iPhone/iPad data transfer software - FoneTool will be a good helper.