DirectConnectCopy files faster with fast copy
Fast copy sends files over the cable without Finder or File Explorer, so it skips the waiting they add to every file. Use it for folders with many files, and for sending large files from a Mac.
Why Finder and File Explorer are slower
Finder and File Explorer treat the other computer like any other drive and copy one file at a time. For each file, they ask the other computer to look up the name, create the file, write the data, set its dates and close it. Each request waits for an answer before the next one starts.
Each round trip is short, but with thousands of small files the waiting takes much longer than moving the data.
On a Mac, large files have a different limit. macOS sends file data to network drives in small pieces, so Finder sends a large file to another Mac at about 6.6 Gb/s, well below what the cable can carry.
DirectConnect can’t change how Finder or File Explorer copy. Fast copy goes around them.
What fast copy does differently
DirectConnect reads and writes the files itself at both ends of the cable, so the copy never waits on your file manager.
Every file is still checked: the receiving computer confirms each one is written in full before fast copy reports it as copied.
On Windows, Microsoft Defender scans every file written to the PC, however you copy. That limits both methods when copying many small files to a Windows PC.
How much faster it is
We copied each test in both directions, several times, on the same computers and cable.
A folder of 2,000 small files
Time to copy the whole folder. Lower is better.
| Computers | Finder or File Explorer | Fast copy |
|---|---|---|
| Mac and Mac | Finder: 2.3–2.8 s | 0.23–0.71 s |
| Windows PC and Mac | File Explorer: 4.8–5.6 s | 0.77–1.11 s |
| Windows PC and Linux | File Explorer: 4.5–4.8 s | 0.16–0.31 s |
| Mac and Linux | Finder: 1.7–3.6 s | 0.15–0.25 s |
One 1 GiB file
Copy speed. Higher is better.
| Computers | Finder or File Explorer | Fast copy |
|---|---|---|
| Mac and Mac | Finder: 6.6 Gb/s sending, 11.3 Gb/s receiving | 11.3–16.6 Gb/s |
| Windows PC and Mac | File Explorer: 11.0–13.0 Gb/s | 7.8–15.9 Gb/s |
| Windows PC and Linux | File Explorer: 9.8–12.3 Gb/s | 14.5–17.3 Gb/s |
The two Macs were connected with a 40 Gbps Thunderbolt cable. The Windows PC and the Mac were connected over Thunderbolt, and both copies were started on the Windows PC. Copies between the Windows PC and the Linux computer were started on the Windows PC, and copies between the Mac and the Linux computer on the Mac. See test results for the hardware, dates and method.
When to use fast copy
- Folders with many files, such as photo libraries, projects and code. Fast copy helps most here: 5 to 20 times faster in our tests.
- Large files from a Mac, where Finder sends at about 6.6 Gb/s.
- Large files between a Windows PC and a Linux computer, where fast copy ran at 14.5–17.3 Gb/s and File Explorer at 9.8–12.3 Gb/s.
- Large files between a Windows PC and a Mac copy at a similar speed either way. Use whichever suits you.
To open, edit or browse files, keep using Finder or File Explorer. Fast copy is only for copying.
Copy files from the other computer
The other computer must share a drive or folder with you. Then either:
- In the other computer’s window, click Get files, choose files or folders, and click Copy to Downloads.
- Drag the other computer’s files from Finder or File Explorer onto its window in DirectConnect.
Either way, the files are copied to your Downloads folder.
Copy files to the other computer
Drag files or folders from your computer onto the other computer’s window in DirectConnect. The window shows Drop files to copy at full speed. The files go to the top of the drive or folder it shares with you.
If the other computer shares read-only, you can copy files from it but not to it.
While files copy
A progress bar shows the copy. Click Cancel to stop it. When the copy finishes, click Show in Finder (or the equivalent on Windows and Linux) to see the copied files.
To send files to a computer set to Receive only, see Send files.