SharedClipboard

How to transfer photos from an iPhone to an iPad

AirDrop is the quickest way when it works, and iCloud Photos syncs everything if both use the same Apple Account.

When the iPad won’t show up in AirDrop, or it’s signed in to a different Apple Account, SharedClipboard sends photos straight across in the browser, end‑to‑end encrypted.

Free, no account.

Send photos from your iPhone to your iPad

  1. Create a clipboard on your iPad. Open sharedclipboard.com in Safari on the iPad and tap Create clipboard, then Connect device. A QR code appears.
  2. Scan it with your iPhone. Point the iPhone camera at the code on the iPad and tap the link.
    The same clipboard open on a phone after scanning the QR code
  3. Add your photos. Tap Share files on the iPhone and pick the photos. They show up on the iPad a moment later.
    Photos added on the iPhone, ready on the iPad

The built-in ways

AirDrop

Turn on Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth on both. On the iPad, set AirDrop to Everyone for 10 Minutes in Control Center, then share from Photos on the iPhone.

iCloud Photos

If both use the same Apple Account with iCloud Photos on, photos appear on the iPad on their own.

Good to know

  • Photos are sent as the original files, without compression.
  • Both devices need to be online at the same time. Files go straight from one to the other and are never stored on our server.
  • Each file can be up to 100 MB.
  • Some work and school networks block direct connections between devices. If a file doesn’t arrive, put both devices on the same Wi‑Fi or use your phone’s hotspot.

Questions

Why won’t my iPad show up in AirDrop?

Usually Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth is off, or the iPad only accepts AirDrop from contacts. Set it to Everyone for 10 Minutes and try again.

How do I transfer photos from iPhone to iPad without iCloud?

Use AirDrop, or open the same SharedClipboard on both and add the photos on the iPhone.

Do the photos lose quality?

No. SharedClipboard sends the original files.

Updated September 27, 2026

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