Not everyone is an iTunes lover. Even though iTunes considered the obvious choice to transfer any files from PC to iPhone, it has found that many iOS device users do not choose iTunes at all. The main reason is that iTunes gets slow during file transfers, and it frequently gives frustrating and irritated error messages while transferring data. Whatever be the reason. A few years back, Apple, for some strange reason, decided to remove file transfer functionality from iTunes in its entirety. Now you forced to use a convoluted approach that uses the Photos application as an alternative. It also makes it even tougher to copy random files from your iPhone device.
As an iOS user, this was a great inconvenience for me. Reason for its screen size, my iPad 10.5 is my device of choice for watching movies and shows. I want a method to copy videos over to the iPad to watch many of these. With iTunes no longer a workable solution, third-party tools became the only choice where iFunBox and Fileza come in front of you. Together, these two tools allow me to copy arbitrary files from my iPad and PC devices, play videos in players without having trouble inducing sync process. It is most important to note first that this approach needs you to be a jailbroke. I stayed on iOS 12.4 to enjoy the convenience of this approach. Following steps below to find out how to transfer and use files on your iPad or iPhone without iTunes if you are jailbreaking. Here are the other useful methods to do the task.
Part One: Installing Filza
Filza is a robust file management solution. It provides you nearly as much control over the iOS file structure as you get on a standard iOS device. It is a jailbreak application, which means that you will require to install it from Cydia.
Step 1: Launch Cydia
Step 2: You will need to click on the Search icon which is at the bottom right corner of the Cydia
Step 3: Write Filza in the search bar, then select Filza.
Step 4: Click on “Install” at the top right corner
Step 5: Tap “Confirm”
That will download Filza from its Cydia repository and install it. It will now be available for you, just like a standard application.
Part Two: Installing iFunBox
Step 1: Install iTunes if you have not already done it. The reason is that the Apple mobile device driver bundled with the iTunes Windows application. Without this, iFunbox won’t work correctly. Visit the iTunes install page. Then move down and click on Windows where it says Looking for other versions? Doing this will require you the regular iTunes app instead of the buggy Microsoft Store.
Step 2: Download and install iFunBox. You can get it at this link. Just click where it says, “V3.0.” To install, double click on the installation file and proceed with the standard installation.
Part Three: Copying Files from your PC and iOS Devices
Step 1: Connect your iOS devices to your PC using Thunderbolt/USB C.
Step 2: Make sure your iOS devices unlocked. Enter the password or use TouchID if you have one of them.
Step 3: Open iFunbox on your PC desktop. At first, it will show a loading screen where it says, “connecting to your device.” After this, you presented with the interface below if you want to Click on Toolbox.
Step 4: Click on the User File System.
Step 5: You can select the folder to copy your files. However, I suggest using the Downloads folder. It’s easy to access Filza later. Select this folder now
Step 6: Click on Copy From PC. It will bring you a menu.
Step 7: Click on a file that you want to transfer to your iOS device and click open it.
Step 8: If you have followed these steps, the file transfer will start in iFunBox.
Part Four: Then Copying Files To your PC from your iOS Device
Follow all the steps above.
Step 5a. Click on a file you want to transfer to your PC.
Step 6a. Click on Copy To PC Display.
Step 7a. Select a folder on your PC, so which file you wish to move on.
Step 8a. The transfer will start.
Part Five: Using Filza to access your Files
Filza is a robust file manager. It has many features. But this tutorial is just going to be about obtaining the video file that you have copied over.
Step 1. The first thing to do is navigating the Downloads folder. iFunbox and Filza present the iOS folder structure a bit differently. In Filza, you will need to navigate to var/mobile/Media/Downloads. Have a look at the following screens to find out how to get there.
Step 2. Once you are there, you will need to change the default app for your video files. Many file formats not supported by either the stock player or Filza’s built-in player. If you’ve downloaded a third-party video player app like VLC, you can select it by doing the following:
2a. Click on the “I” icon on the right
2b. Select “open with.”
2c. Please scroll down to reach your preferred video player, then tap on it.
Now, by default, videos of this format will open in that particular player.
That’s all there is to it. Apple can make it very convoluted to get your PC and iOS devices to play nice together. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Following these steps, you’ll be able to copy files to and from your iOS device, as well as to play them locally. That’s as robust as the file copying system on an Android device. We hope you found this useful.