Apple's New Betas Let You Drag and Drop Files Between iPhone and Mac

Apple's latest beta releases for macOS 15.1 and iOS 18.1 have added a much-anticipated new iPhone Mirroring capability – seamless drag and drop between iPhone and Mac. The feature allows you to transfer files between the two devices effortlessly, even when your iPhone is locked and charging.

To use this feature, you'll need to update to the fifth beta versions and activate iPhone Mirroring. Once set up, transferring files is intuitive – simply drag a file from one device and drop it onto the desired location on the other. This works for various file types, including photos and PDFs.

For instance, you can drag a photo from your Mac directly into the open Photos app on your iPhone. Likewise, move PDFs by opening the Files app on your iPhone and dragging the document from your Mac. The process works both ways, with iPhone-to-Mac transfers following the same method.

Drag and drop is currently available in the fifth developer betas, so if you're a public beta tester, expect access to these software versions later this week. The feature is set to arrive with iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1, which are likely to launch in October.