Use iTunes to transfer spreadsheets

You can use iTunes on your computer to directly transfer spreadsheets between your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch and your computer. This is useful for transferring spreadsheets when you aren’t using iCloud.

Transfer a spreadsheet from your computer

  1. Connect your iOS device to your computer, then open iTunes on your computer. After a moment, your iOS device appears on the right side of the iTunes toolbar.

  2. In iTunes, select your iOS device, then click Apps.

  3. Scroll to the bottom of the Apps window, then select Numbers (in the Apps list below File Sharing).

  4. Click Add, select the file, then click Open.

  5. Open Numbers on your iOS device.

  6. In the spreadsheet manager, tap Add button, then tap Copy from iTunes.

  7. Tap the spreadsheet.

    The spreadsheet downloads to your iOS device and appears in the spreadsheet manager.

Numbers can open spreadsheets that were saved using some types of file encryption available in Microsoft Office ’97 or later. If you can’t open an encrypted Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, try changing the type of encryption or the encryption options used, then save it again before opening it in Numbers.

Transfer a spreadsheet to your computer

  1. From your iPad, open the spreadsheet, tap Share button (or Shared button if you’ve already shared a link to the spreadsheet on iCloud), then tap Send a Copy.

    From your iPhone or iPod touch, tap Tools button, tap Share and Print, then tap Send a Copy.

  2. Tap iTunes, then tap the spreadsheet format you want to export: Numbers, PDF, Excel, or CSV.

  3. Connect your iOS device to your computer (or use iTunes Wi-Fi Sync) and open iTunes on your computer. After a moment, your iOS device appears on the right side of the iTunes toolbar.

  4. In iTunes, select your iOS device, then click Apps (in the top bar next to Summary).

  5. Scroll to the bottom of the Apps window, then select Numbers (in the Apps list below File Sharing).

  6. Select the spreadsheet, click Save to, choose a location, then click Save to.