How To Connect External Hard Drives To Your iPad

Your iPad is a fantastic device for storing and accessing files. However, if you’re someone who loves capturing lots of photos and videos, the built-in storage might be a bit limited. But fret not, because there’s a solution! You can easily connect an external hard drive to your iPad for more storage space. Apple made this incredible feat possible with the release of iOS 13 in 2019, bringing native support for external storage devices using both Lightning and USB-C connectors. In this guide, we will show you how to connect external hard drives to your iPad.

We’ll also share some handy tips to help you make the most out of your external hard drive. Whether you own the latest iPad model or an older one, as long as it supports external hard drives, this guide is for you. Let’s get started!

How To Connect External Hard Drives To Your iPad

To have native compatibility with external storage devices, your iPad will need to be running iOS 13 or later versions, such as iOS 16. However, please note that not all devices are compatible with the latest versions of iOS and iPadOS. If your device cannot be upgraded beyond iOS 12 (e.g. iPhone 6), then unfortunately, you won’t be able to use an external storage device.

Please remember that any device capable of updating to iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 can also update to iOS 14/iPadOS 14, iOS 15/iPadOS 15, and iOS 16/iPadOS 16. After ensuring the OS version on your iPad, follow the steps below to connect external hard drives to your iPad:

Step 1: Check if your iPad supports external hard drives

Not all iPads are compatible with external hard drives. To find out if your iPad supports external hard drives, navigate to Settings > General > About. If your iPad is equipped with a USB-C or Thunderbolt connector, it is compatible with external hard drives. However, if your iPad has a Lightning connector, you can still use external hard drives by using the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter.

Step 2: Format your external hard drive

Your iPad can only read files that are formatted in the exFAT or FAT32 file system. If your external hard drive is formatted in a different file system, you’ll need to format it to exFAT or FAT32. Fortunately, you can easily format your external hard drive using a laptop or PC.

Step 3: Get the necessary adapters

Before plugging an external device into your iPhone or iPad, it’s important to check which connector it’s using. Apple introduced the Lightning port in 2012 to make the iPhone slimmer, and it’s smaller than the more common USB-C port introduced two years later. While Lightning and USB-C are separate technologies, they’re not interchangeable, so you’ll need different cables for each.

The Lightning port, found in all modern iPhones, is slimmer and has exposed pins, while the USB-C port, used in new iPads, encloses the pins. Lightning can handle up to 12 watts of power (likely more), while USB-C supports over 100 watts. It’s worth noting that the base model iPad uses the Lightning port, while newer iPads (iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, and 10th-generation iPad) use USB-C.

If your iPad is equipped with a USB-C or Thunderbolt connector, you won’t require any adapters to connect your external hard drive. However, for iPads with a Lightning connector, you’ll need the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter. Additionally, if your external hard drive lacks a power supply, you might need a USB power adapter.

Please note: When using iPads with a Lightning connector, especially the iPad 9 and earlier models. We recently faced an unfortunate situation where an external SSD became unusable due to the use of a low-cost third-party Lightning to USB C adapter. The cause of this incident remains unclear, as it worked perfectly fine with all other devices before that.

Step 4: Connect your external hard drive to your iPad

Once you’ve got the required adapters, simply connect your external hard drive to your iPad. And if your external hard drive needs power, make sure to plug it into a power source.

Step 5: Open the Files app

Once you’ve physically connected your external device to your iPad, you can easily access it using the native Files app. Open the Files app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Under Locations, tap the name of your external drive (in this example, it’s labeled Extreme SSD). On the iPad, you’ll see the contents of your external device on the right. On the iPhone and iPod Touch, the contents will appear on the following screen.

To manage files and folders, simply tap on them to open, or tap and hold to access a submenu with various options like copying, duplicating, moving, deleting, renaming, tagging, and favoriting.

Please Note: If you want to select multiple files or folders, just tap the Select option in the upper-right corner and then tap each item you wish to manipulate.

Step 6: Browse your files

After locating your external hard drive, you can effortlessly browse through the stored files. Simply tap to open a file or effortlessly drag and drop files between your external hard drive and your iPad.

How to move Files from iPad to external hard drive

1. To move a folder or file in the Files app, open it and then long press on the desired file. 
2. Next, tap on the “Move” option and choose the External Drive from the provided menu. 
3. If there are multiple folders, select your preferred destination and then confirm the move by tapping on “Copy”.

Please that this action has simply copied the file or folder to the drive. To free up space on your iPhone/iPad, you’ll need to manually delete it.

Move Files from external hard drive to iPad

1. Open Files app and navigate to the External Drive to locate your desired file or folder.
2. Long-press the folder or file, then select Move.
3. Next, choose the destination where you wish to save it, and tap Copy.

Additionally, you have the option to directly copy the files to your iCloud, Dropbox, and other similar services. While using iCloud storage is a feasible backup solution, it may come with a higher cost. Moreover, if you possess an external SSD for Mac, consolidating all your data in one location becomes possible. All you’ll require is the appropriate data transfer cable.

How do I get my external hard drive to show up on my iPad?

If you’re dealing with the problem of your external drive not showing up on iPad, give these methods a go to resolve the issue.

Check if your iPad supports external hard drives

Not every iPad is compatible with external hard drives. To verify if your iPad supports external hard drives, navigate to Settings > General > About. If your iPad features a USB-C or Thunderbolt connector, it means it supports external hard drives. If your iPad has a Lightning connector, you can still use external hard drives by utilizing the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter.

Make sure your external hard drive is formatted correctly

Your iPad is only compatible with files formatted in the exFAT or FAT32 file system. If your external hard drive is formatted differently, you will need to reformat it to exFAT or FAT32. You can easily format your external hard drive using a computer.

Make sure your external hard drive is connected properly and has enough power

Please verify the connections between your external hard drive, the adapter, and your iPad. Ensure that all of the connections are securely fastened.

If your external hard drive doesn’t have its own power supply, you’ll need to connect it to a power source. Insufficient power can cause issues with your external hard drive’s functionality.

Restart your iPad and your external hard drive

Sometimes, giving it a good old restart can do wonders for fixing issues with your external hard drive. Just restart your iPad and your external hard drive, and then give connecting them another shot.

Update your iPad’s software

From time to time, Apple rolls out software updates that address bugs and enhance compatibility with external hard drives. Ensure that your iPad is running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS for optimal performance.

Here’s how you can check for updates and install them if needed:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap on General.
3. Select Software Update.
4. If an update is available, simply tap on Download and Install to start the update process.

Contact Apple Support

If you’ve given everything a go and your external hard drive still refuses to cooperate with your iPad, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Apple Support. They’re there to lend a hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

In this guide, we’ve shown you how to connect an external hard drive to your iPad. We’ve also covered some handy tips to help you make the most of your external hard drive. We hope this guide has been useful to you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us in the comments.

Here are some additional tips to maximize the benefits of your external hard drive:

• Use your external hard drive for storing photos, videos, and other files. This will free up space on your iPad’s internal storage.
• Safeguard your data by backing up your iPad onto your external hard drive, ensuring protection in case of loss or damage.
• Easily transfer files between your iPad and computer using your external hard drive. It’s a convenient way to share files with others.