Import media into Final Cut Pro for iPad

If you’ve set up iCloud Photos to sync your photos and videos across all your Apple devices, you can import that media from the Photos app on your iPad into a project in Final Cut Pro.

If you don’t use iCloud Photos, you can use AirDrop or a USB cable to transfer photos and videos from another Apple device to the Photos app on your iPad, then import them into Final Cut Pro.

1. In Final Cut Pro for iPad, open a project.

2. Tap in the toolbar, then tap Photos.

   When prompted, choose whether to allow Final Cut Pro to access selected photos or your entire library.

3. Tap the photos or videos that you want to import, then tap Add.

The imported clips appear as thumbnails in the browser.

You can also export media from the Photos app on your iPad to a Final Cut Pro for iPad project. In Photos, select a photo or video, tap , tap Final Cut Pro, tap Open Final Cut Pro, then tap the project you want to export to.

Using AirDrop, you can transfer photos and videos from an iPhone or iPad to the Photos app on your iPad. You can then import that media from the Photos app into Final Cut Pro.

1. In the Photos app on the iPhone or iPad you want to transfer from, select the photos or videos you want to transfer.

2. Tap .

3. Tap Options at the top of the screen, turn on All Photos Data, then tap Done.

4. Tap AirDrop, then, in the Devices list, tap the iPad you want to transfer the media to.

   If the iPad doesn’t appear automatically, make sure AirDrop is turned on on both devices in Control Center.

5. On the iPad you want to transfer to, tap Accept when an AirDrop alert appears.

   The media is added to the Photos app on your iPad.

6. Follow the instructions in Import from the Photos app on your iPad to add that media to your project in Final Cut Pro for iPad.

You can connect your iPhone to your iPad with a USB cable, then transfer media to your iPad using the Photos app. This method is particularly useful if you’re transferring many large files, you don’t have iCloud Photos set up, or you can’t use AirDrop to transfer the files.

1. Connect your iPhone to your iPad with a USB-C to Lightning Cable.

2. When the Trust This Computer alert appears on the iPhone, tap Trust.

   Note: It may take up to 30 seconds for this alert to appear.

3. Open the Photos app on your iPad.

4. In the Devices section of the Photos sidebar, tap iPhone.

5. Navigate to the videos and photos you want to import, tap the thumbnails to select them, then tap Import Selected.

6. Follow the instructions in Import from the Photos app on your iPad to add that media to your project in Final Cut Pro for iPad.

Using AirDrop, you can transfer photos and videos from a Mac to the Photos app on your iPad. You can then import that media from the Photos app into Final Cut Pro for iPad.

1. In the Photos app on the Mac you want to transfer from, select the photos or videos you want to transfer.

2. Choose File > Export > Export Unmodified Original.

3. If you want to export IPTC information (assigned IPTC metadata and keywords) as a sidecar XMP file, select the Export IPTC as XMP checkbox.

4. Optionally, click the File Name pop-up menu and choose how to name the exported files.

5. Click Export.

6. Choose where to save the exported files, then click Export Originals.

7. Select the exported files in the Finder, choose File > Share, then click AirDrop.

8. In the Devices list, click the iPad you want to transfer the media to.

   If the iPad doesn’t appear automatically, make sure AirDrop is turned on on both devices in Control Center.

9. On the iPad you want to transfer to, tap Accept when an AirDrop alert appears.

   The media is added to the Photos app on your iPad.

10. Follow the instructions in Import from the Photos app on your iPad to add that media to your project in Final Cut Pro for iPad.

You can also import media from a connected Mac. See Import from a Mac using a USB cable, below.

iCloud Drive lets you access files and folders from all your Apple devices. You can add photo, video, or audio files to iCloud Drive on one device and then import them into Final Cut Pro on your iPad.

1. In Final Cut Pro for iPad, open a project.

2. Tap in the toolbar, then tap Files.

3. In the sidebar, tap iCloud Drive, navigate to the folder containing the media you want to import, tap items to select them, then tap Open.

The imported clips appear as thumbnails in the browser.

With macOS 10.15 or later, you can connect your iPad to your Mac with a USB cable, then transfer media to your iPad using the Finder.

1. Connect your iPad to your Mac with a USB cable.

2. In the Finder on your Mac, locate the folder containing the media files you want to import.

3. Choose File > New Finder Window, then select your iPad in the sidebar.

   See the Apple Support article Learn what to do if your Mac doesn’t recognize your iPad.

4. Click the Files tab, then drag the media files to the Final Cut Pro icon in the list of apps in the Files tab.

   The files are copied to your iPad.

   Select only files that work with Final Cut Pro for iPad. See Media formats supported in Final Cut Pro for iPad and the Apple Support article Cameras supported by Final Cut Pro for iPad.

5. In Final Cut Pro for iPad, open the project you want to import to.

6. Tap in the toolbar, then tap Files.

7. In the sidebar, tap On My iPad, navigate to the Final Cut Pro folder, tap items to select them, then tap Open.

The imported clips appear as thumbnails in the browser.

The Files app on iPad lets you connect your iPad to networked computers, file servers, and cloud storage services like Box and Dropbox, and then import media into Final Cut Pro.

1. Use the Files app to connect to a computer, file server, or cloud storage service.

2. In Final Cut Pro for iPad, open a project.

3. Tap in the toolbar, then tap Files.

4. In the sidebar, tap the computer, server, or service you want to import from, navigate to the folder containing the media you want to import, tap items to select them, then tap Open.

The imported clips appear as thumbnails in the browser.

You can import media from a file-based camera that’s connected to your iPad with a USB cable. You can also import media from a connected storage device or from a camera’s removable memory card.

For a list of supported cameras, see the Apple Support article Cameras supported by Final Cut Pro for iPad.

1. Do one of the following:

   • Connect your camera or storage device to your iPad using the cable that came with the device, then turn on the device.

     If you’re using a camera, it may be necessary to set it to PC Connect mode. (The name of this transfer mode may be different on your device.) Your camera may automatically switch to “connect” mode if you turn it on in playback mode while it’s connected to your iPad. See the documentation that came with your camera.

   • Remove the memory card from your camera or device and insert it into the card slot of an external card reader, then connect the card reader to your iPad using the cable that came with the device.

2. In Final Cut Pro for iPad, open a project.

3. Tap in the toolbar, then tap Files.

4. In the sidebar, tap the camera, memory card, or storage device, navigate to the folder containing the media you want to import, tap items to select them, then tap Open.

   Note: When you import from a camera or memory card, you may need to navigate multiple levels of folders to find the correct files.

The imported clips appear as thumbnails in the browser.