Often need to transfer files between two Mac. Of course, if we are talking about a few megabytes, it will save the email. What if you need to transfer from computer to computer of file size in 2, 3 and 10 gigabytes? Specially for such cases we offer this small guide to action.
1. USB flash drive, external drive, smartphone
Method is elementary and familiar to everyone, we mentioned about him just because he has his subtleties and tricks, which someone didn’t and someone forgot.
Connect USB key to computer, copy files into it, then connect to another and again copy. If you need to pass large amounts, use an external drive with a USB cord or a really succinct (and not cheap) flash card. If you have nothing at hand that would be similar to the “flash drive” or external hard drive that will come down and smart phone on Android.
2. Send via AirDrop
With a standard AirDrop you can wirelessly send from one Mac to another photos, videos, websites, locations, and other data.
On computers with macOS, choose go in the menu bar of the Finder. If in the menu “Transfer” includes AirDrop, the Mac can use AirDrop. The window shows coming Mac users connected to a wireless network. Drag one or more files on the recipient’s image in the window, then click “Send”.
To get files from everyone, not just those who are in the list of Contacts, use the setting “Allow my detection” at the bottom of the AirDrop window.
3. Sharing files
If the two Mac are on the same network, there’s always something to share with each other. To make it relatively simple.
To enable shared access files in macOS, open the panel “sharing” in “System settings” and select “Shared file access”. Now Macs and even Windows computers can see your computer on the local network.
If you connect your Mac to another computer from Apple running the latest OS versions using the functions of the General file access, the PC will automatically attempt to use the SMB Protocol for communication. If SMB is not available, the computer establishes a connection using the Apple file Protocol (AFP).
To connect to your Mac or Windows PC that provides access to files on the local network, go to “sharing” in any Finder window.
To directly connect to the file server, use “Connect to server” in the Finder window. Select the menu Go > “Connect to” and enter the URL, IP address or domain name.
4. Special programs
Transfer files between two Macs using special software. There are many different programs, but we with a clear conscience I can recommend two — Sunshine (previously ShareON) and Send Anywhere or Instashare.
The main difference between them is in the approach. The first requires you to create an account, and the second and third – no, which accelerates the process and makes it in some degree anonymous. It is especially important that both of the programs are in versions for mainstream desktop and mobile platforms. Transfer files from iOS to Linux or Windows? Easy!
5. USB connection cable
On Apple computers has the so-called target disk mode, which allows you to use your Mac as an external drive connected to another host computer cable. Once a target PC, which is running in the mode of the hard disk, becomes available to the host computer, you can copy files to / from it and to it.
With the advent of the MacBook with USB-C Thunderbolt 3 is more convenient to arrange the connection in an alternative way. This method is suitable in situations when you need to quickly move from one computer to another large amount of information. The Thunderbolt connectivity allows you to transfer files with a speed of 10 GB/s and rebooting, like when you use target disk mode.
6. Cloud services
If you need to regularly share files, you can use a standard cloud service iCloud Drive. Suitable third-party service such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive, “Yandex.CD”. They are not set up in a minute, however, at the moment it is one of the best solutions for sending files from one PC to another.
Strictly speaking, such a service needs to use, every owner of a Mac — at least for the backup of valuable photos, videos and documents. Have a backup on an external drive, of course, good, but what if a fire or flood?