Can i connect external drive to ipad

Thanks to iPadOS there are more ways than ever to connect to external media drives and networks from your iPad and iPad Pro. Here's how to get it done. Other iPads still use Lightning connectors, but using the right dongle can get your external storage connected too.

You can have any number of external storage devices connected to the iPad and they will all be recognized. As long as the storage is properly formatted, you can connect and view any storage device to your iPad as if it were a Mac. If it is not properly formatted, the iPad will not see the storage and you must connect the storage to a Mac to format it properly. Once connected to a properly formatted drive, users can drag and drop files and manage the storage as if it were native to the system as expected.

Just like with external storage, network storage can be manipulated on the device with ease once connected. Devices like network attached storage already have SMB networking configured and ready to go, but the files you need may be on your Mac instead.

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All modern iPhones and most modern iPads have the Lightning port, except for newer iPad Pro and iPad Air models manufactured over the last two years. Before unlocking your iPad or iPhone and jumping into the software, you must establish a physical connection between your external storage device and your tablet or smartphone. If your iPhone or iPad and external device have matching plugs, connect both by plugging them into one another using the bottom connector of your Apple device. For example, a thumb drive might also use a Lighting connector, allowing it to plug directly into iPhones and most iPads.

Otherwise, if the connectors are different, you will need to purchase an adapter so that your external device can connect to your iPad or iPhone. Once your external device is physically connected to your Apple device, you can use the native Files app to access the external device.

Step 2: Under Locations , tap the name of your external drive. On the iPad, the contents of your external device appear on the right. On the iPhone and the iPod Touch, the contents appear on the following screen.

Step 3: Tap any folder or file with your finger to open it or tap and hold with your finger on any visible folder or file to open a submenu for additional management options, including copying, duplicating, moving, deleting, renaming, tagging, and favoriting. Note: To select multiple files or folders, tap the Select option in the upper-right corner, and then tap each file or folder you wish to manipulate. Check the connection: Double-check that your devices are correctly plugged in with the appropriate plugs and adapters.

If you have extra cords and adapters, try using them, or plug into different ports if you can. Get more of our great Apple tips, tricks, and important news delivered to your inbox with the OSXDaily newsletter. I am buying an iPad Pro and would like to connect it to an external drive that contains all of my movies. If I do as instructed in this site, will I be able to view my movies? Nothing from the browse button. This means that iOS does not allow access to my most important files, rendering the feature useless.

On macOS, attaching an encrypted drive triggers an immediate password request while iOS… just… does… nothing. Maybe with keychain sync for encryption passwords. Hi, When I connect a flash drive to iPhone or iPad , the contents can only be seen in the drive installed application , and not in iOS Files application.

Any reason? They reduced the power it outputs with iOS 13, god knows why. There are cheaper lightning adapters on amazon look for those combined usb-adapters and cardreaders that can handle a common thumbdrive.

I have the official lightning to SD adapter. I use it to transfer photos from my mirrorless camera and also as a way to back up iPad files which I later store on external hard drives connected to my computer. I hear some hard drives may need additional power but the SD card adapter works well enough. I mean that would make things so much easier. If you use a powered USB hub that should resolve the power error.

Also the official Apple adapters seem to be better for power for some devices… as some third party adapters do not seem to pass power at all. Hi Lucien, thanks for the heads up. I have the iPad Pro My iPad can detect the drive but it takes some time to detect and not instantaneous.

When I use the charging cable with the drive, it does not detect at all. Name required. Mail will not be published required.

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Diane says:.