Resolved Finder Sidebar and iOS Devices

[jparker402]

I am using Catalina in my 2015 MacBook Air, and I have an iPhone 8. Understand there might be some connectivity through Finder. In Finder Preferences there is a button for selecting "CDs, DVDs, and iOS Devices"; this button is checked. However, no "CDs, DVDs, and iOS Devices" option appears under Sidebar Locations. Is this correctable? What benefit is there with this option?

 

[0128672]

I am using Catalina in my 2015 MacBook Air, and I have an iPhone 8. Understand there might be some connectivity through Finder. In Finder Preferences there is a button for selecting "CDs, DVDs, and iOS Devices"; this button is checked. However, no "CDs, DVDs, and iOS Devices" option appears under Sidebar Locations. Is this correctable? What benefit is there with this option?

Those devices would need to be connected to your MBA to see them in the side bar.

 

[jparker402]

Hmm. Since the MacBook and iPhone are synched, thought they were connected. By going to bluetooth on each of them, I see that they were not connected there. Have now connected them on bluetooth, but the iPhone still does not appear in Finder Locations. Or is that what you meant by "connected"?

 

[Taz Mangus]

I am using Catalina in my 2015 MacBook Air, and I have an iPhone 8. Understand there might be some connectivity through Finder. In Finder Preferences there is a button for selecting "CDs, DVDs, and iOS Devices"; this button is checked. However, no "CDs, DVDs, and iOS Devices" option appears under Sidebar Locations. Is this correctable? What benefit is there with this option?

Plug your iPhone into a USB port on the computer and it should show up under Sidebar Locations. Select the iPhone from the Sidebar and then enable Show this iPhone when on WiFi. Now unplug the iPhone and you should see it show up wirelessly.

 

[jparker402]

Oh! As in connected by wire! Now I am beginning to see! I have never done that. What would connecting like that and having the iPhone come up on the Sidebar allow me to do that I can't do without it? And should I turn off the Bluetooth connection that I have now made?

 

[Taz Mangus]

Oh! As in connected by wire! Now I am beginning to see! I have never done that. What would connecting like that and having the iPhone come up on the Sidebar allow me to do that I can't do without it? And should I turn off the Bluetooth connection that I have now made?

The iPhone connects over USB or WiFi, you don't need Bluetooth turned on for that. Since iTunes went away in Catalina, finder now handles the access to the iDevices.

 

[0128672]

To add onto what Taz Mangus said above, it's in the Finder now that you can back up and sync your iPhone (or iPad/iPod) to your Mac. Tap on the device in the sidebar and the options are displayed in the main screen.

Use the Finder to sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with your Mac - Apple Support

The Finder is one of the ways that you can sync your device with your Mac.

support.apple.com

 

[jparker402]

I must learn to use support.apple.com more!!!! Thanks for reminding me!!!

 

[0128672]

I must learn to use support.apple.com more!!!! Thanks for reminding me!!!

It's always ok to ask here too. Someone else may have the same question so you might have helped them by asking.