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Loading Fire Studio Simulations onto an iPad Using Apple Devices App (Windows)

Load simulations from a Windows computer to an Apple iPad

Written by Rich Merritt

Overview

Apple is phasing out iTunes for Windows and replacing it with the Apple Devices app for device management and file transfers.

This document explains how to transfer Fire Studio simulations from a Windows computer to an iPad using the Apple Devices app.

This process is commonly used:

  • When iTunes is no longer available

  • On newer Windows systems using Apple Devices instead of iTunes

  • To manually transfer Fire Studio simulations directly onto an iPad

Important Notes Before You Begin

No Apple Account Sync Required

You do NOT need to:

  • Sign into an Apple ID

  • Sync the iPad with iCloud

  • Pair the iPad with a Microsoft account

  • Enable music/photo synchronization

The Apple Devices app is simply being used as a file transfer utility to copy simulation files from the PC directly onto the iPad.

Requirements

Before starting, make sure you have:

  • A Windows computer

  • The Apple Devices app installed

  • A USB cable compatible with the iPad

    • USB-C cable for newer iPads

    • Lightning cable for older iPads

  • Fire Studio Player installed on the iPad

  • Simulation files already exported from Fire Studio

    • Typically .DSC and .LBR files

Installing the Apple Devices App

Step 1 — Install Apple Devices

  1. Open the Microsoft Store on the Windows computer

  2. Search for:

    • Apple Devices

  3. Install the application

  4. Launch the Apple Devices app after installation completes

Connecting the iPad

Step 2 — Connect the iPad

  1. Connect the iPad to the Windows computer using a USB cable

  2. The iPad should appear inside the Apple Devices app after a few moments

Trusting the Computer

Step 3 — Approve the Trust Prompt

When connecting for the first time:

On the Windows Computer

The Apple Devices app may display a prompt asking to trust the device.

  • Click Trust

On the iPad

The iPad should display:

  • “Trust This Computer?”

Tap:

  • Trust

  • Enter the iPad passcode if requested

Transferring Simulations

Step 4 — Open Fire Studio Player File Sharing

Inside the Apple Devices app:

  1. Select the connected iPad

  2. Navigate to:

    • Files

  3. Locate:

    • FS7 Player (or Fire Studio Player)

Step 5 — Copy Simulation Files

  1. Open the folder on the Windows PC containing the exported simulation files

  2. Select the simulation files:

    • .DSC

    • .LBR

  3. Drag the files into the Fire Studio Player area inside Apple Devices

Important File Requirements

Keep Simulation Files Together

The .DSC and .LBR files must remain together.

Do NOT:

  • Rename one without the other

  • Separate the files

  • Upload only one file

Both files are required for proper simulation playback.

Simulations That Include Video Files

If the simulation includes video files, the video files must also be copied into the same location as the .DSC and .LBR files.

All related simulation files should remain together inside the Fire Studio Player file area on the iPad.

Recommended Video Format for iPad Compatibility

If simulations are created on a Windows computer, video files are often created in the .AVI format.

However, iPads and other Apple devices have much better compatibility with .MP4 video files.

For maximum compatibility between:

  • Windows

  • macOS

  • iPadOS

…it is strongly recommended that simulation videos be created in the .MP4 format instead of .AVI.

Using .MP4 allows the same simulation package to work properly across both Windows and Apple devices.

Syncing the Files

Step 6 — Allow the Transfer to Complete

After dragging the files:

  • Apple Devices will begin copying them to the iPad

  • Wait for the transfer to fully complete before disconnecting the device

Large simulations or video files may take several minutes.

Safely Disconnecting

Step 7 — Disconnect the iPad

Once the transfer finishes:

  1. Close the Apple Devices app if desired

  2. Disconnect the USB cable from the iPad

The simulations should now be available inside Fire Studio Player on the iPad.

Troubleshooting

iPad Does Not Appear

Try:

  • Unlocking the iPad

  • Using a different USB cable

  • Trying a different USB port

  • Restarting the Apple Devices app

  • Restarting the iPad

Fire Studio Player Does Not Appear in Files

Possible causes:

  • Fire Studio Player is not installed

  • The iPad was not trusted successfully

Files Copy but Do Not Show in Fire Studio

Verify:

  • Both .DSC and .LBR files were copied

  • Any associated video files were also copied

  • The files were not renamed

  • The transfer fully completed before disconnecting

MDM / Intune Managed iPads

Important for Managed Devices

If the iPad is controlled by an MDM solution such as:

  • Microsoft Intune

  • Jamf

  • Other enterprise management systems

…the organization may block USB trust or file-sharing access.

Symptoms of This Issue

You may notice:

  • The iPad appears but file access is unavailable

  • Fire Studio Player does not appear in the file list

  • Drag-and-drop does not work

  • The Trust prompt never appears

Required MDM Changes

The organization’s IT administrator may need to:

  • Allow USB connections

  • Allow non-Configurator device trust

  • Enable iTunes/File Sharing permissions

In Microsoft Intune, this is often related to:

  • “Allow iTunes File Sharing”

  • USB connection restrictions

  • Device trust restrictions

After the IT administrator changes the policy:

  1. Disconnect the iPad

  2. Reconnect it

  3. Approve the Trust prompts again

Summary

The Apple Devices app replaces iTunes for Windows file transfers and can be used to load Fire Studio simulations onto an iPad.

This process:

  • Does NOT require syncing accounts

  • Does NOT require iCloud

  • Does NOT require iTunes

  • Simply copies simulation files directly from the Windows PC to the iPad

For managed devices, additional MDM permissions may be required from the organization’s IT department.

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