# Quick iPhone question re: transfer of files from PC **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-iphone-question-re-transfer-of-files-from-pc/507310 "2009-08-22T15:03:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-iphone-question-re-transfer-of-files-from-pc/507310/1 "2009-08-22T15:03:39Z")
Can an iPhone be connected to a PC in such a way as to simply appear like a USB drive, or does it have to be synced through iTunes? My girlfriend has an iPhone now, and I’m trying to figure out how best to transfer files to it. We can, it appears, set it up to join my wi-fi network, but I’m hoping to be able to just transfer the files directly. However, from what I understand, if we connect it to my PC and it syncs to my iTunes, it will mess up the sync she has with _her_ iTunes on _her_ PC, so I don’t want to do it that way if I can avoid it. Little help? ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-iphone-question-re-transfer-of-files-from-pc/507310/2 "2009-08-22T15:18:33Z")
Do you want to transfer music she can play or just transfer so files to it as you would a USB stick? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-iphone-question-re-transfer-of-files-from-pc/507310/3 "2009-08-22T18:34:44Z")
It’s just files to transfer, not necessarily music. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-iphone-question-re-transfer-of-files-from-pc/507310/4 "2009-08-22T19:04:09Z")
There are various apps in the app store that can be used to transfer files. Search the app store for “webdav.” But what does she want to do with the files once they are on the phone? Any Apple approved method will only allow you to transfer files to an application’s directory. So if you use app X to transfer files, they will end up in X’s directory and only app X can view the files. This is assuming her phone isn’t jailbroken. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-iphone-question-re-transfer-of-files-from-pc/507310/5 "2009-08-22T19:05:55Z")
There are several iPhone apps that will do that. I use [Air Sharing](http://avatron.com/apps/) ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-iphone-question-re-transfer-of-files-from-pc/507310/6 "2009-08-22T19:15:00Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Can an iPhone be connected to a PC in such a way as to simply appear like a USB drive, or does it have to be synced through iTunes? When I hook up my iPhone it appears as an attached device, but you can’t simply drag files into it. Interestingly, you can drag files (like pictures and videos) out of it, though. So you will need an app to do what you want to do. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-iphone-question-re-transfer-of-files-from-pc/507310/7 "2009-08-22T22:57:57Z")
Bah. Sounds like she may be stuck with the USB drive I gave her.