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How to Set Up Wi-Fi Sync for Your iPad

Enable Wi-Fi sync once from Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes after connecting your iPad by cable; then sync with both devices on the same Wi-Fi network.
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To set up Wi-Fi sync, connect your iPad to its computer once with a USB or USB-C cable, then turn on the Wi-Fi option in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes. After setup, the iPad and computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network for the iPad to appear in the computer’s syncing app.

Choose the instructions for your computer

Computer App to use Where to enable Wi-Fi sync
Mac with macOS Catalina or later Finder iPad > General > “Show this [device] when on Wi-Fi”
Windows PC using Apple’s current device app Apple Devices iPad > General > “Show this [device] when on Wi-Fi”
Windows PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier using iTunes iTunes Device > Summary > “Sync with this [device] over Wi-Fi”

Apple directs Mac users on Catalina or later to Finder; iTunes remains the route described for Mojave or earlier and for the legacy Windows workflow. Apple’s Finder instructions and iTunes setup instructions describe the respective paths.

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Set up Wi-Fi sync in Finder on a Mac

  1. Connect the iPad to the Mac with a USB or USB-C data cable.
  2. Open Finder and select the iPad in the sidebar. If asked whether to trust the computer, follow the prompt on the iPad.
  3. Select General.
  4. Scroll down and select Show this [device] when on Wi-Fi.
  5. Select Apply.
  6. Disconnect the cable. With the Mac and iPad on the same Wi-Fi network, the iPad should appear in Finder when available.

Finder syncs the content types you select, which can include music, films, TV programmes, podcasts, audiobooks, books, photos, contacts, and calendars. For Apple’s full workflow, see Use the Finder to sync your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with your Mac.

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Set up Wi-Fi sync in Apple Devices on Windows

  1. Connect the iPad to the PC with a USB or USB-C cable. If the iPad asks whether to trust the computer, tap Trust.
  2. Open the Apple Devices app and select the iPad in the sidebar.
  3. Select General.
  4. Check Show this [device] when on Wi-Fi.
  5. Choose the content and sync settings you want, then select Apply.

Afterward, keep the PC and iPad on the same Wi-Fi network, then select the iPad in the Apple Devices sidebar to sync. Apple also documents an option to sync automatically. See Apple’s Wi-Fi sync guide for Apple Devices on Windows.

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Use the legacy iTunes workflow

Use these steps if you sync through iTunes on a Windows PC or on a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier:

  1. Connect the iPad to the computer with a cable and open iTunes.
  2. Select the device, then open Summary.
  3. Check Sync with this [device] over Wi-Fi.
  4. Select Apply.
  5. Disconnect the cable. When the iPad and computer share a Wi-Fi network, select the iPad in iTunes to sync.

For automatic syncing through iTunes, Apple says the iPad must be connected to power and iTunes must be open. Its Windows iTunes guide also says the computer must be turned on; you can connect the iPad to power for automatic syncing or select it in iTunes and sync manually. Apple’s iTunes instructions cover the setup, and its Windows guide explains syncing over Wi-Fi.

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Manual and automatic syncing: what to expect

Wi-Fi sync does not start from a switch in the iPad’s Settings app. The computer’s syncing app controls setup and the selected content. Once enabled, you can select the iPad in that app and start a sync manually. Automatic syncing has additional conditions: Finder and iTunes instructions specify that the iPad must be connected to power; for iTunes, the app must also be open. Apple’s Windows Apple Devices guide allows automatic syncing to be enabled in its settings.

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Wi-Fi sync is local syncing, not a backup or cloud mirror

Wi-Fi sync transfers content selected in the computer app; it is not a complete iPad backup and does not make every item a cloud copy. Apple describes iCloud separately as a way to keep items available across devices. If you want content available when you are away from your computer, cloud services such as iCloud or Apple Music serve a different purpose. See Apple’s overview of syncing and iCloud.

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If the iPad does not appear over Wi-Fi

  • Check the network: Confirm that the iPad and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Check the computer and app: Make sure the computer is on and awake. For iTunes automatic syncing, keep iTunes open.
  • Reconnect by cable: If Wi-Fi sync was never enabled or the computer does not recognize the iPad, reconnect it by USB or USB-C and confirm the Wi-Fi option is selected in the correct app.
  • Start a manual sync: Select the iPad in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes and use that app’s sync controls.

Apple’s Windows iTunes guide says Wi-Fi syncing is slower than syncing over a cable; it does not give a speed estimate. If a transfer is taking too long, reconnecting by cable is an option.

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Take care with another-library prompts

An iPad can sync with only one Apple Music or Apple TV library at a time, according to Apple’s Finder guide; its iTunes instructions similarly describe a single iTunes library. If a prompt offers Erase and Sync or Remove and Sync, understand the effect before choosing it: the selected content on the iPad is replaced with content from the computer’s library. Apple explains this behavior in its Finder guide and iTunes guide.

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