Level 1

12 points

slow usb-c transfer speeds, reliability and Files app bugs, iPad OS, iPad Pro 2018

I've been experiencing unexpected and buggy behaviour of Files app when copying data from and to an external storage media.

iPad OS 13.1.1 and 13.1.2

Files app bugs:

ExFAT formatted drives (both ssd and hdd) cause problems: files copied to external media not visible in Files app. Files app hangs and refuses to recognize drive after leaving current directory while file is being copied
usually SLOW (10-15 MB/s) transfer speed when copying files from iPAD to external media - occurrs for SSDs, HDDs, SD cards, thumb drives, regardless of connection method, file size, file system (exFAT, APFS, OSX extended journaled). Same setups for all Macbook pros I have at hand exhibit transfer speeds reaching max specs for the devices. (all above 100 MB/s) - I can provide more details in subsequent posts.
Frequent errors when copying large folders and files (5 GB and heavier) - files not visible after copy process or drive disconnects during transfer (probably related to exFAT or power hungry devices)
Transfer progress bar inaccurate (finishes at half-revolution around the circle)
Transfer progress bar visible only after changing view mode
Multiple instances of a copied file listed during copy process (might be expected as one could be a partial file, but looks confusing)
Initiating copy - paste from long press menu (as opposed to drag and drop) operation often does not provide visual feedback of the operation taking place - file name and progress bar visible only after view change.
drag and drop copy-pase often drops the file in the last folder within the active directory, and not the active directory itself - minor annoyance for casual use, but for work related issues this can be a major workflow disrupting problem.

General related issues:

For iPad Pro 11 2018 - Plugging in drives rated at 1,4A @ 5V (example: samsung 850 ssd in external usb-c enclosure) causes system crash during file transfer, without the "usb device requires too much power" message - iPad turns off and then restarts by itself. Does anyone know the recommended Watt/Amp rating for iPad Pro 2018 external USB devices?
Inconsistent file transfer speed via usb-c FROM external media to iPad- especially SD cards (connected via Apple USB-C to USB A dongle or directly to usb-c port)

Regarding transfer speed for iPad Pro 2018:

I'd be grateful for a REAL LIFE max expected transfer speed, not the USB 3.1 spec.

Case in point:

Same sandisk extreme pro SD card connected via dedicated sandisk reader and Apple USB-C to USB-A dongle, transferring raw photos of about 30-50MB each. (I've checked batches of 4, 10 and 50 gigs of images)

transfer speeds with usb-c equipped MacBook Pros basically max out the card at 160 MB/s
transfer speeds with iPad Pros 2018 (checked a few devices) vary from 60 to a bit over 100 MB/s

I observed similar behaviour for other media, such as SSDs, HDDs and thumbdrives

iPad Pro 11-inch Wi-Fi

Posted on Oct 2, 2019 9:33 AM

Similar questions

58 replies

dimas150

Level 1

8 points

Apr 15, 2020 3:25 PM in response to przemja

I bought my pro for a similar reason, the only solution is to download to you mac/PC with lightroom, and edit on your iPad.

2 months later I bought a msp7 and use my iPad for YouTube.

przemja Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 16, 2019 10:56 AM in response to QuickPost

Is there any info on when this bug is scheduled to be fixed?

This is basic functionality, especially on a pro device...

External drive with USB-C support is the main reason I bought the iPad pro (with reliability and speed in mind). I got it with the intent of using it for my work. This bug and slow transfer speeds render the iPad practically useless for me as a PRO device (potential data loss related to buggy exFAT support aside).

przemja Author

Level 1

12 points

Dec 11, 2019 7:46 AM in response to przemja

iPad OS 13.3 update.

Problems persist.

Transfer from the ipad to external media seems even slower than before (5 to 6 MB/s for a UHS-II card...).

Apple support seems unaware of the issue and can only recommend sending the device to a service facility... (since I already have performed a clean os install).

I did report a bug... Maybe more people should do so too.

At this point, I've given up on the ipad pro entirely as a device for work, or anything remotely close to a laptop replacement. Removed posts for allegedly unconstructive remarks only make me more disappointed in the whole situation. This type of behaviour is what erodes professionals' brand loyalty. That said, It would be great if an admin or whoever in charge could draw Apple's software engineers' attention to this poignant issue with slow transfer speed. That would be really great.

Dec 21, 2019 1:20 PM in response to Lance Mcvickar

Known USB-A to USB-C cables version 3.1 gen 1 have been used. They work in all other cases, and when read speeds can reach around ten times write speeds (thereby being impossible on USB 2), there can be no doubt about the USB capabilities (connected to a Thunderbolt 3 dock, connected to a MacBook Pro 13 2018 (4 ports) the exact same drives (7 in total, one spinning rust) deliver far better performance with the same cable(s) - several tested - and SSD’s delivering read speeds in industry typical regions around 450 megabyte/second read and 350 to 400 megabyte/second write on USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports. Clearly demonstrating, that the involved cable(s) are not affecting performance. And that the disks are not defective either.

Thank you for your kind effort.

[Edited by Moderator]

Jan 6, 2020 5:55 AM in response to Kurt Friis

It's a huge frustration! I bought the iPad 50% because of the ability to make backups...I couln't have guessed that it's this bad. Also it shows that many selfproclaimed YouTube professionals don't really dig deep before they make their reviews. I hope Apple gets a hold of this soon.

Jan 28, 2020 1:14 PM in response to przemja

I also have this (or similar) issue. It took 15 mins to get a 1.5gb Keynote file from my 2019 iPad Pro onto a standard USB stick, via the Apple dongle (with USB-B HDMI, and USB-C). That can’t be right.

sietse80

Level 1

4 points

Mar 8, 2020 1:38 AM in response to cityofsound

I experience similar challenges. Bought me an iPad pro with 512 storage to be able to do light traveling while executing bird photografy. On a good day I shoot aprox 1500 pics. 48 mb each. I therefore want to store my pics dayly to an external flash drive (Sandisk; 1TB) direcly from the XQD cardreader. After that i'd like to do some editing from the iPad with lighroom. Transfering files from card to sandisk is exremely slow! Both are connected to the apple hub that is devoped for the iPad pro (see attachment). Don't have a clue what is causing this extreme low speed, but ik takes up to half an hour to transfer only 150 raw images..

This means to me that it is not acceptalble to use it fot the purpose i bougt it. I will take up to 5 hours to offload my files from a good day..

Any suggestions how to improve this??

Mar 9, 2020 12:20 AM in response to Lance Mcvickar

I’m not using a hub at all but the standard Apple USB-C HDMI multiport-adapter. And putting a USB stick (thumb drive) - and not an old one - in that. It’s way too slow. I think I’ll have to go back to a MacBook soon. This, and a thousand other small things, suggest that the iPad Pro is (still) not really for pros. Not that copying files is particularly pro-behaviour! Thanks for the replies anyway.

Mar 9, 2020 10:04 AM in response to Nightjar84

Re: “PLEAE ALL FILE A BUG REPORT / FEATURE REQUEST”.

P-lease!!

Apple designs its own hardware. Apple designs its own firmware. Apple designs its own software. Also for their iPad Pro’s. Apple knows exactly what limits are involved and why. Apples marketing and sales department also has a near perfect knowledge of all the details. The design was planned, executed and delivered by Apple, and Apple knew every detail possible, before poring the backbone of the design into concrete in chip form. In several main design generations.

Why should anyone waste any time by telling Apple, what it already knows?

If informing Apple of the limititations of their deliberate design is truly needed at this stage, there’s something fundamentally wrong with the company.

But... go ahead and file a “bug report” for this deliberate design called iPad Pro flagellated by Apple self in the unmitigated disaster called ipadOS 13 (the first few versions were pure horror). My four year old Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is still more usable in the “Pro department”, than the Pro’s from Apple. Especially regarding “connectivity” options aaaand speed!!.

I bought my Apple iPad Pro as a test, and the product - hardware, firmware, software, support and infrastructure based on iCloud - flunked. As simple as that! I only miss one, extra product suffix. In the future I’ll name my pro “iPad Pro Con” (con as in consumer, of course ;-).

Apple is first and foremost a manufacturer of consumer goods. Nothing wrong with that.

Life goes on.

ruiabreu

Level 1

4 points

Apr 4, 2020 11:09 AM in response to Kurt Friis

Hi. Hope someone can help.

I have the Pro 3rd gen 12,9 version with 256Gb. I’ve made some videos from my GoPro camera in a very average quality. Only FHD quality 1920x1080.

I have a USB Hub 3.0 and I’ve try to read the videos directly from the Files APP through the microSD port and it’s too damm slow!!! Only play well the first 3 seconds and after it’s impossible...It’s always stopping and very slow....

I try to copy the file to the IPad and it’s also too slow....900mb files takes to long....

A don’t know if it’s normal...**** this...it’s too annoying....My wife have a Samsung Note 9 almost with 2 years and with the same hub it’s too damm fast...

Video below to see the problem.

Hope someone can help.

https://youtu.be/IITxToaV6-k

ruiabreu

Level 1

4 points

Apr 4, 2020 2:44 PM in response to Lance Mcvickar

I just want to open GoPro videos on iPad or transfer files from sd card to iPad. It’s just a simple thing. I see people on YouTube open directly from microSD and works fine...I just can’t do that...It’s just so frustrating....

Apr 4, 2020 2:49 PM in response to Lance Mcvickar

Really?!?

Why do we have to “fight the system” Apple designed; Apple has had ample chance to change to the better - to no avail!

That’s in no way “Pro”, outside the most hallowed parts of the ”UFO” in Cupertino.

Either the system delivers - it does not - or it doesn’t, in which case it is a waste of time to continue to fiddle with this, that or the other band-aid with little or no effect.

That’s only my two cents.

ruiabreu

Level 1

4 points

Apr 4, 2020 3:48 PM in response to Lance Mcvickar

I love my iPad Pro also...but why somes guys on YouTube open directly from sdcard 4K videos and I can’t even open an 1080p video?! As you all can see on my previous post on the YouTube link what’s my “problem”...

przemja Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 4, 2020 4:08 PM in response to Lance Mcvickar

Well...

I, on the other hand, connot use iPad on location the way I want to because I have no way of backing up high capacity card without resorting to a bunch of expensive reader/drive combos, which put together negate the the idea of an iPad as a solution in this case - as I'd be better off with any other laptop... and I wouldn't have to use APFS, which is not really the "go to" file system for external drives if anyone on your team uses anything else than macos with Catalina.

(Yeah, I could get the 1TB iPad, but that's even worse for backup management in the long run and it's not really the most cost effective option out there)

Oh, and if true, the fact that errors occur for drives formatted in Mojave and High Sierra shows the immaturity of the system and apparently a departure from the "it just works" motto...

Korsinou

Level 1

4 points

May 1, 2020 6:51 AM in response to przemja

Hello,

I have the same issue.

I bought an ipad pro for backup photo (APS-C and gopro rush) to my external disk.

So, I have :

look the beautiful hig speed transfer :)

73sec to copy a 1GB file... AMAZING :) :)

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

slow usb-c transfer speeds, reliability and Files app bugs, iPad OS, iPad Pro 2018