Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPad mini Best way to transfer pictures to iOS without compression or optimization?

gdourado

gdourado

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 22, 2010
468
66
Hello,

I have a large number of images on my computer that I want to transfer to my iPad.
The iPad is a mini 5 running the latest iOS.
I tried iTunes.
It transferred all the images, but it converted them to another format other than jpeg.
So I am guessing it did some kind of optimization on the files.
That is not what I want, as it is probably doing compression on top of a jpeg that is already a compressed format.

So with that in mind, what is the best way to transfer the images.

I have them organized in folders on the computer and I would like each folder to be an album on the iPad photos app.

Thank you.
Best regards.
 
gdourado said:
Hello,

I have a large number of images on my computer that I want to transfer to my iPad.
The iPad is a mini 5 running the latest iOS.
I tried iTunes.
It transferred all the images, but it converted them to another format other than jpeg.
So I am guessing it did some kind of optimization on the files.
That is not what I want, as it is probably doing compression on top of a jpeg that is already a compressed format.

So with that in mind, what is the best way to transfer the images.

I have them organized in folders on the computer and I would like each folder to be an album on the iPad photos app.

Thank you.
Best regards.
Click to expand...

You could use a file manager like FileBrowser or File explorer and copy them over a WiFi SMB connection.
 
gdourado said:
I would create a share on the computer and then use the file manager on the new iPad os to access the share and copy the images to a folder on the iPad?
Click to expand...

Yes. The folder(s) on the Win10 machine need to be visible as shared. Both File Browser and File Explorer have visibility/access to the Photos photo library on the iPad so you can copy them directly to it.
 
Documents by Readdle can probably do the same thing.

The Photos app also has an album called imports or similar. With that you can probably browse the last batch of pics you imported into the photos app and make an album of that import set.
 
ericwn said:
Documents by Readdle can probably do the same thing.

The Photos app also has an album called imports or similar. With that you can probably browse the last batch of pics you imported into the photos app and make an album of that import set.
Click to expand...

It can - similar interface/functionality as the others.
 
After some tries, I am still stuck...

I can make a sure on my computer, access that share on the iOS files app.
Then I can copy a pictures folder and paste it on the iPad.
The folder and pictures are indeed copied to the iPad, but not to the photos app.
They just don’t show in photos.

If I then access the folder on the files app, and then a picture inside the folder, I can click the share button on the picture, select save to images and then that single picture shows in the photos app.
And the file is duplicated on the iPad. One on the files app and one on the photos.

So that is a no no.

I can copy them to the photos app with iTunes, but iTunes creates a new folder on the computer named iPod photo cache and fills it up with the optimized files and it is those optimized files it copies to the photos app and not the original JPEGs.
So that is another no...

At this point I’m thinking get a lightning to usb to connect an external HDD with the pictures on it and then import the pictures directly in the iPad photos app.
But I don’t know if that would work...
 
gdourado said:
After some tries, I am still stuck...

I can make a sure on my computer, access that share on the iOS files app.
Then I can copy a pictures folder and paste it on the iPad.
The folder and pictures are indeed copied to the iPad, but not to the photos app.
They just don’t show in photos.

If I then access the folder on the files app, and then a picture inside the folder, I can click the share button on the picture, select save to images and then that single picture shows in the photos app.
And the file is duplicated on the iPad. One on the files app and one on the photos.

So that is a no no.

I can copy them to the photos app with iTunes, but iTunes creates a new folder on the computer named iPod photo cache and fills it up with the optimized files and it is those optimized files it copies to the photos app and not the original JPEGs.
So that is another no...

At this point I’m thinking get a lightning to usb to connect an external HDD with the pictures on it and then import the pictures directly in the iPad photos app.
But I don’t know if that would work...
Click to expand...

And why I would use a file manager in lieu of the Files app.
 
gdourado said:
After some tries, I am still stuck...

I can make a sure on my computer, access that share on the iOS files app.
Then I can copy a pictures folder and paste it on the iPad.
The folder and pictures are indeed copied to the iPad, but not to the photos app.
They just don’t show in photos.

If I then access the folder on the files app, and then a picture inside the folder, I can click the share button on the picture, select save to images and then that single picture shows in the photos app.
And the file is duplicated on the iPad. One on the files app and one on the photos.

So that is a no no.

I can copy them to the photos app with iTunes, but iTunes creates a new folder on the computer named iPod photo cache and fills it up with the optimized files and it is those optimized files it copies to the photos app and not the original JPEGs.
So that is another no...

At this point I’m thinking get a lightning to usb to connect an external HDD with the pictures on it and then import the pictures directly in the iPad photos app.
But I don’t know if that would work...
Click to expand...

The HDD copy would work but you'll need the camera adapter with the power input as the iPad itself can't provide enough power for the drive.

Edit - If you go this route, I believe that you'll need to have the photos in a DCIM folder on the drive to get a direct import into Photos; otherwise, it will be similar to the PC share situation and going through Files (you'd have to use Files to access the HDD in this case).
 
Last edited:
gdourado said:
Do you mean something like imazing?
Click to expand...

No, a file manager app on the iPad like FileBrowser or File Explorer. As I mentioned, you can make an SMB connection to your PC like with Files, but unlike Files, these apps have direct access to Photos and the photo library so you can copy direct to the library. Why the photo library is not available in Files is beyond me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gdourado
You could also try to drag an entire folder or selection of images from one app to the photos app via drag & drop in split screen- maybe that works.
 
sparksd said:
No, a file manager app on the iPad like FileBrowser or File Explorer. As I mentioned, you can make an SMB connection to your PC like with Files, but unlike Files, these apps have direct access to Photos and the photo library so you can copy direct to the library. Why the photo library is not available in Files is beyond me.
Click to expand...

Like this one?

apps.apple.com

‎Owlfiles - File Manager

‎Owlfiles is a powerful file management app on mobile platforms and desktop platforms. It can access not only files on your macOS, but also files on your server, NAS and cloud. Stream movies and music to your Mac. Directly view and manage documents, photos on your server, NAS and cloud without...
apps.apple.com

I search file browser and file explorer on the App Store, but I get several apps that are named the same or very similar.

I’m going to try that first instead of going out and get the camera connection kit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sparksd
gdourado said:
Like this one?

apps.apple.com

‎Owlfiles - File Manager

‎Owlfiles is a powerful file management app on mobile platforms and desktop platforms. It can access not only files on your macOS, but also files on your server, NAS and cloud. Stream movies and music to your Mac. Directly view and manage documents, photos on your server, NAS and cloud without...
apps.apple.com

I search file browser and file explorer on the App Store, but I get several apps that are named the same or very similar.

I’m going to try that first instead of going out and get the camera connection kit.
Click to expand...

Yes. I use the Pro (paid version) but the free version should work for what you want. Here are the differences between the versions -


Give it a try. I much prefer file manager apps over Files.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gdourado
sparksd said:
Yes. I use the Pro (paid version) but the free version should work for what you want. Here are the differences between the versions -


Give it a try. I much prefer file manager apps over Files.
Click to expand...

I tried and indeed it works.
It can copy the JPEG files from the computer share to the iPad camera roll.
It places them as jpeg inside the dcim folder of the iPad but with new Filenames.
However, it doesn’t copy folders. Only single image files.
And I can’t seem to be able to select multiple files. Maybe it is a limitation of the free version.
I might give the paid version a shot.
Thanks for your help.
 
gdourado said:
I tried and indeed it works.
It can copy the JPEG files from the computer share to the iPad camera roll.
It places them as jpeg inside the dcim folder of the iPad but with new Filenames.
However, it doesn’t copy folders. Only single image files.
And I can’t seem to be able to select multiple files. Maybe it is a limitation of the free version.
I might give the paid version a shot.
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

I actually use Photos minimally on my iPhone and two iPads - I prefer Photo Manager Pro by the same developer who does File Explorer -

apps.apple.com

‎Photo Manager Pro

‎Photo Manager Pro provides a complete solution for your photos and videos. Organize photos, videos and RAWs into folders, sub-folders. Set password on the app and folders. Add description and star rating on your photos. Transfer photos among iPhone, iPad, computer and cloud storages. *...
apps.apple.com


I like the layout much better and photo transfer with its built-in WiFi interface is simple and fast. And it's far easier to get basic photo info in it.
 
rui no onna said:
That's Windows Explorer. :)
Click to expand...

This was in the context of copying images from a Windows box to the iPad and Finder was mentioned as a replacement for iTunes on a Mac - but the equivalent for Finder on a Windows machine is ... what? Still iTunes. I think VineRider is saying he uses the File Explorer app for those Windows-iPad photo transfers. I do the same, using FileBrowser over WiFi in lieu of iTunes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back