How to Sync an iPad 2 Locally in OS X Mavericks

If you prefer to keep your data stored locally rather than using iCloud, OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 restored the ability to sync iPhones, iPads and iPods directly with a Mac using a USB cable. This guide explains how to enable local syncing through iTunes.

Before You Begin

You’ll need:

  • A Mac running OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 or later (I'd recommend having a Mac capable of running 10.9.5 and no further the best experience and look.)
  • iTunes 11.2 or later
  • iPad 2 running iOS 6.1.3
  • A USB charging cable

To check your macOS version, click the Apple menu  → About This Mac. If required, install any available software updates before continuing. Local USB syncing was restored in OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 after being unavailable in earlier Mavericks releases.

Step 1 – Connect Your Device

Connect your  iPad to your Mac using a USB cable.

Launch iTunes. If prompted to allow your Mac to communicate with the device, select Continue.

Step 2 – Select Your Device

Click your device icon near the top of the iTunes window to open the device management screen.

Step 3 – Choose What to Sync

Select the tabs across the top of the window to choose the content you want to sync.

Examples include:

Music

Movies

TV Shows

Photos

Books (Your iPad will need the iBooks app.) Reddit Guide on how to obtain ebooks. Use Calibre to covert .cbz format to .epub making it compatible with iBooks on MacOS Mavericks. Select file on iBooks and select add to library, on the folder that contains your .epub files.

Only enable the categories you wish to transfer between your Mac and iOS device.

Step 4 – Apply Your Changes

Once you’ve selected the content you want to sync, click Apply.

Then click Sync to begin transferring your data.

The first sync may take several minutes depending on how much content is being copied.

Automatically Sync When Connected

If you regularly sync your device via USB, you can automate the process.

Select your device in iTunes.

Open the Summary tab.

Enable the option to automatically sync when your device is connected.

Each time you connect your iPad with a USB cable, iTunes will begin syncing automatically.

Why Use Local Sync?

Many users still prefer local syncing because it:

Doesn’t require an internet connection.

Keeps personal data stored on your own Mac.

Allows faster transfers of large music and photo libraries.

Gives you greater control over what is synced.

For collectors and users running older Apple hardware, local syncing also helps preserve a classic iOS workflow without relying on cloud services.