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

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.

macos sequoia iphone mirroring
‌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.

drag and drop files app mac
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.

Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...

Top Rated Comments

Treq Avatar
18 months ago

Nice to see Apple catching up to 2014.
What other operating system had this feature in 2014?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
surfzen21 Avatar
18 months ago
Stoked about this!

So far, I am using and enjoying iPhone mirroring more than I thought I would.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iObama Avatar
18 months ago
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.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrhansolo Avatar
18 months ago
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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JohnC1959 Avatar
18 months ago

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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iObama Avatar
18 months ago

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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)