How to Use an External Drive with iPad Files

Step by step

1. 30 sec

   Connect the drive to your iPad

   Insert the USB-C cable into your external drive and connect the other end to the USB-C port on your iPad. If your drive requires additional power, ensure it is connected to a powered hub or its own dedicated power source.

   Note: Some high-capacity drives may require an externally powered USB-C hub.
2. 30 sec

   Open the Files app

   Locate and open the Files app from your Home Screen or App Library. Tap the Browse tab at the bottom of the screen to view the sidebar where your connected storage will appear.

3. 30 sec

   Locate the external volume

   Look under the Locations section in the sidebar. Your external drive will be listed by its name; tap it to mount the drive and view the contents stored on the device.

   Note: If the drive does not appear, ensure the cable is fully seated and the drive is not encrypted with proprietary software.
4. 1 min

   Move or copy files

   Long-press a file or folder in the Files app and select Copy or Move from the menu. Navigate to your external drive in the sidebar, long-press in an empty area of the folder window, and select Paste to transfer the data.

   Note: You can also drag and drop files directly between the iPad storage and the external drive.
5. 1 min

   Format the drive

   If you need to change the file system, tap the More (...) icon in the top right corner of the Files app while the drive is selected. Choose Erase from the menu to format the drive to APFS, ExFAT, or MS-DOS (FAT).

   Note: Formatting will permanently delete all data on the drive.
6. 30 sec

   Safely disconnect the device

   Tap the Eject icon located next to the drive name in the sidebar before unplugging the cable. Once the drive disappears from the Locations list, it is safe to remove the hardware.

   Note: Always eject to prevent potential file corruption.