Drag and Drop Files Now Work With iPhone Mirroring in Latest macOS Sequoia 15.1 and iOS 18.1 Betas

[MacRumors]

With macOS 15.1 and iOS 18.1 beta 5, Apple has enabled drag and drop, a much anticipated iPhone Mirroring feature. After updating to the new software, you can drag files from an iPhone to a Mac and vice versa.

iPhone Mirroring makes it simple to move files from one device to another because it works even when the iPhone is locked and charging. To use the feature, update to the fifth macOS 15.1 and iOS 18.1 betas and then activate iPhone Mirroring.

From there, if you drag a file like a photo from Mac to the open Photos app on the iPhone, it'll transfer over. If you want to transfer a PDF, just open the Files app and then drag the PDF from the Mac to the iPhone. Dragging a file from iPhone to Mac works in much the same way, you simply drag it over where you want it.

The new iPhone Mirroring feature is active in the developer beta now, and public beta testers should be able to try it out later this week. iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 are expected to see a public launch in October.

Article Link: Drag and Drop Files Now Work With iPhone Mirroring in Latest macOS Sequoia 15.1 and iOS 18.1 Betas

 

[surfzen21]

Stoked about this!

So far, I am using and enjoying iPhone mirroring more than I thought I would.

 

[geotbozo]

I still haven't been able to get iPhone Mirroring to work. Any suggestions?

 

[mrhansolo]

So happy for this. There have been numerous cases over the past few months where I wanted to drag/drop some photos from my photo app to my desktop.

 

[cmatuk]

Also if audio is playing it will route it to the Mac speakers

 

[thatguywill]

PDF and files doesn’t make sense as you just paste them in your files app on your Mac then you can access them on your phone, less steps.

 

[iObama]

Woohoo! I thought I remembered them saying this would be available.

Been absolutely loving iPhone Mirroring. Allows me to use iMessage at work without logging into my iCloud account in Messages/storing texts on my computer.

 

[Treq]

Have they fixed the mouse button problem? It's backwards. Primary and secondary click are switched if you are set to left hand mouse operation. Frustrating to use.

 

[ersan191]

Loving iPhone Mirroring - especially getting phone notifications on the Mac.

If only macs weren't terrible at gaming or I could get rid of windows entirely.

Also pinch gestures don't seem to work in most apps when mirroring, wonder if that got fixed.

 

[spaxxedout]

Pretty useful. Often I would need to move files downloaded to phone manually to iCloud Drive. This is a bit more seamless.

 

[elementalwingma]

This is an awesome feature. iPhone mirroring has been my favorite feature of Sequoia by far.

 

[noSpeed]

Nice to see Apple catching up to 2014.

 

[ignatius345]

I can't get it to connect consistently. iPhone 15 Pro and two separate M1 Macs, and most of the times I've tried it says it can't connect.

 

[Rychiar]

The only way I would find iPhone mirroring useful is if I could mirror my personal phone onto my work computer but I can't do that cus they're different apple IDs...

 

[Treq]

Nice to see Apple catching up to 2014.

What other operating system had this feature in 2014?

 

[cocoua]

All this features require the horrible two factor auntetification.

My experience when your bag with your laptop and phone (2 trusted devices + trusted phone) has been stolen is the real hell. Never would go again to that service again.

 

[karranz]

nice feature that no one asked for.

 

[macfacts]

Nice to see Apple catching up to 2014.

Chromebooks only had android mirroring in 2024.

 

[JohnC1959]

All this features require the horrible two factor auntetification.

My experience when your bag with your laptop and phone (2 trusted devices + trusted phone) has been stolen is the real hell. Never would go again to that service again.

I probably wouldn't have my phone in my laptop bag. But regardless, if they have your phone how are they going to unlock it? And you can remotely disable and even zero out you phone if needed.

 

[JohnC1959]

I like getting phone notifications on my mac. While I like the idea of the other feature like drag and dropping files I'm not sure I would use them much. I have some key folders on my Mac as iCloud folders which I can access from my phone. Also my photos are also in the cloud and fully synced between my Mac and phone. There are a few apps on my phone that could be handy to use while on my Mac.

 

[iObama]

All this features require the horrible two factor auntetification.

My experience when your bag with your laptop and phone (2 trusted devices + trusted phone) has been stolen is the real hell. Never would go again to that service again.

The fact that you had 2FA set up probably saved your ass in that situation. Totally counterintuitive conclusion you reached there lol.

 

[257Loner]

Now Apple needs to add Dvorak compatibility so that you can type using the Dvorak keyboard layout on your Mac and the letters show up correctly via the iPhone Mirroring app.

 

[apparatchik]

I still haven't been able to get iPhone Mirroring to work. Any suggestions?

You need a Mac computer, it won't show up in Windows.

 

[macduke]

I want them to add more gestures for things like going to the Home Screen or multitasking. Right now it feels finicky to do things like that.

 

[subjonas]

All this features require the horrible two factor auntetification.

My experience when your bag with your laptop and phone (2 trusted devices + trusted phone) has been stolen is the real hell. Never would go again to that service again.

1. As someone else asked, how did they unlock your phone to access 2FA?
2. Without 2FA, the thief wouldn’t have even needed your phone; they would have only needed your password. So as far as I can tell, 2FA can only add security, not take away.