How to Connect a Tablet to a Computer

This wikiHow teaches you how to connect your iPad or Android tablet to your Windows or macOS computer.

Table of Contents

Connect Android tablet with cable (on PC)

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Connect the tablet to the computer via the USB cable. Use the charging cable that came with the tablet or a compatible cable to connect. A notification will appear on the tablet screen.

If your tablet came with a driver or software, you’ll need to install it before continuing.
Usually you don’t need to install specific drivers to connect an Android device to Windows.

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Tap the notification on the tablet. A list of connection options will appear.

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Tap Media Device . That way, you’ll be able to transfer files between your computer and tablet.

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Press ⊞ Win + E on the computer. File Explorer will open.

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Click This PC located in the left column. A list of drives and devices connected to the computer will appear in the main pane.

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Double-click the tablet. The contents of the tablet will appear. Now you can start working with the files in your tablet like any hard drive.

Connect your Android tablet with a cable (on Mac)

Connect your Android tablet using Wi-Fi (PC or Mac)

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Install SHAREit on your PC or Mac. This free app allows users to connect their Android device to any computer via a Wi-Fi connection. Here’s how: ^{[2] X Research Sources}

Go to http://www.ushareit.com/ using a web browser.
Click the download link for the specific operating system to get the application.
Double-click the file you just downloaded ( uShareIt_official.dmg for Mac, or SHAREit-KCWEB.exe for Windows).
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the app.

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Open Play Store

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on the tablet. Apps are usually located in the app drawer.

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Type shareit in the search bar. A list of results will appear.

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Click SHAREit – Transfer & Share . The app is blue with three dots and curves.

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Click Install . The app will begin to install on the Android device.

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Open SHAREit on your computer. Applications are located in the All Apps section of the Start menu on Windows, or the Applications folder on macOS.

Connect iPad with a cable (PC or Mac)

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Install iTunes. If you’re using a Mac, it’s likely that iTunes is pre-installed. For Windows PCs without the iTunes app, you can download and install it for free from https://www.apple.com/itunes/download.

See also online for how to install iTunes.

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Connect iPad to the computer with a USB cable. Use the cable that came with your iPad or a compatible cable. After you plug in the cable, iTunes will automatically launch and pop up a notification on the iPad screen.

If iTunes doesn’t launch automatically, click the music note icon in the Dock (macOS), or click the iTunes app in the All Apps area of the Start menu (Windows).

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Tap Trust on iPad. This is to allow iPad to communicate with the computer.

You can also click Continue on your computer.

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Click the iPad button on iTunes. This is the small iPhone/iPad icon located near the upper left corner of iTunes. So the iPad is connected to the computer.

Connect iPad using Bluetooth (macOS)

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Turn on Bluetooth on iPad. This method will only work if you use a Mac.

Open the Settings section.

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on iPad.
Tap Bluetooth .
Swipe the switch to the position

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.

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Click menu

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in the upper-left corner of the Mac screen.

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Click System Preferences .

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Click Bluetooth .

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Click Turn Bluetooth On . This option is on the left side of the window. If the heading “Turn Bluetooth Off” is showing here, Bluetooth is turned on, and the iPad name is displayed on the right side of the window.

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Click Pair next to the iPad name. This option is on the right side of the window.

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Tap Pair on iPad. The tablet will be paired with the computer.

Your Mac may display a code, which you need to enter into your iPad to complete the pairing process.

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Click

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in the menu bar on Mac. This option is located in the upper right corner of the screen.

If you don’t see the Bluetooth option, you need to turn it on by clicking the menu

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> System Preferences > Bluetooth > Show Bluetooth in menu bar (Show Bluetooth in menu bar).

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Click Browse Files on Device… . This option is at the bottom of the Bluetooth menu.

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Select iPad and then click Browse . You can now use your Mac to browse and use files on your iPad.

Steps

Connect Android tablet with cable (on PC)

Connect your Android tablet with a cable (on Mac)

Connect your Android tablet using Wi-Fi (PC or Mac)

Connect iPad with a cable (PC or Mac)

Connect iPad using Bluetooth (macOS)

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