Watched the tutorial on customizing finer sidebar. I am using Catalina on my MacBook Air, and have an iPhone 8. The “cds, dvd, and iOS devices” button is checked in Finder Preferences, but nothing about that comes up in Sidebar Locations. Asked the question on Macrumors, and someone said that the computer and iPhone need to be “connected”. Just discovered I could link them on bluetooth which I did, though I don’t see anything happening and the iPhone still doesn’t come up on the Sidebar. If and when it ever comes up in the Sidebar, I am curious about what utility there is in it. Stuff that is suppose to synch has appeared to be synching without it. Thanks!
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John Parker
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How Do I Get iOS Devices To Show In Finder Sidebar Locations?
Comments: 5 Responses to “How Do I Get iOS Devices To Show In Finder Sidebar Locations?”
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You need to connect them physically with a Lightning cable to USB on your Mac. A Bluetooth connection is something different entirely. Once you connect them with the cable and get it to appear in the sidebar, then you do have an option to use Wi-Fi to connect them after that. But the first time needs to be with the Lightning cable.
Thank you very much, Gary. I gather that the utility of connecting them by the Lightning cable is that I could then transfer data across the two devices; in other words, more than just synch. I am going to go ahead and disconnect them on Bluetooth now, but knowing that I did/could connect them on Bluetooth, does that accomplish anything I may want to do? Thanks again!
John: There's really no reason to. I think it may allow you to connect too the Internet if you don't have Wi-Fi for some reason and your Mac is wired.
Have hooked my iPhone 8 to my MacBook by cable. Only time the iPhone shows up in Sidebar Locations is when they are physically connected by the cable. Remove the cable and the iPhone icon goes away. So I gather that is the way it is suppose to function.
John: That is how it works. If you want it over Wi-Fi, then you have to check "Show this iPhone when on Wi-Fi" under General, Options with the iPhone selected.