Can I access a thumb drive from a sixth generation iPad with iPadOS

This is my understanding as to how it works. I copied this from the iPad iOS 13 iBooks User guide.

“Connect a USB drive or an SD card

Insert a USB camera adapter or an SD card reader into the charging port on iPad.

Depending on your model, use the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, the USB-C to SD Card Camera Reader, or the Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader (sold separately).

Do one of the following:

Connect a USB drive: Use the USB cable that came with the USB drive to connect the drive to the camera adapter.

Insert an SD memory card into the card reader: Don’t force the card into the slot on the reader; it fits only one way.

To view the contents of the device, tap Browse at the bottom of the screen, then tap the name of the device below Locations. If you don’t see Locations, tap Browse again at the bottom of the screen.”

Excerpt From

iPad User Guide for iPadOS 13.1

Apple Inc.

https://books.apple.com/us/book/ipad-user-guide-for-ipados-13-1/id1464778568

This material may be protected by copyright.

This is an adapter that Apple sells for that.

Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

https://store.apple.com/xc/product/MK0W2AM/A

I made type bold for emphasis.

You need to purchase the genuine Apple Lightning to USB-3 camera adapter, from Apple, and plug that adapter into power using your iPad charge cable and Apple power/charging block!

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0W2/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter?fnode=37

You need to purchase this exact Apple adapter.

This is the ONLY adapter that works!

Cheaper ( cheap in price and quality ) third party adapters WILL NOT WORK!!!!

With older Lightning connector iPads, you need this adapter as it has a power connection to power both the iPad and to connect a commonplace USB flash memory drive or portable SSD drive.

Without the additional power to thr iPad, USB flash drives and portable SSD drives will NOT work with older iPads with the Lightning connector.

The Lightning connector alone cannot convey the necessary power requirements needed for normal USB style flash memory drives.

There are lots of YouTube videos that discuss and demonstrate this.

If you cannot access the drive directly connected to the iPad with that Lightning connector,the you WILL need and try to use Apple’s adapter and try using the USB end of the drive, instead!

I can still access my Wireless SanDisk USB Connect flash drive via the SanDisk app, too, but I have to plug the SanDisk drive’s USB connection into the Apple Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter with external power connected to get my 2015 iPad Pro to see the drive “directly” connected and registered by my iPad.

Yes, it has me confused as well. However, I am interpreting what MichelPM is saying as I understand it.

The older style thumb drives, which the iXpand Drive is, was not built for direct connection to the iPad because of the need for power, in spite of the lightning connector end. The newest devices that work with iPadOS, don’t need the power hence they don’t need to use the adapter.

That's my take. He is the resident expert on the use of thumb drives in ASC as far as I’m concerned, so I’m sure he will confirm if I am right or correct me if I’m wrong.

The issue is power.

The Lightning connector cannot/could not carry the needed current for most thumb drives to work.

Hence the need for a externally powered adapter.

Here;’s a video demonstrating that!

https://youtu.be/1Jm-xcrbFy8

Hence, why I mentioned the possibility you might need to use the Apple adapter with adding external power using the USB end of that drive.

Thank you for chiming in. I couldn’t remember exactly what the reason was for the need for the adaptor.

I have to say though that when you see Apple’s promo on iPadOS on their website, they say ... grab files from anywhere, even one of these, but with no further explanation. No asterisk or anything that would indicate that there is more to the explanation as to what is required.

It is going to be the same for any iPadOS compatible iPad that still uses the Lightning connector, of which there are quite a few still.

iPad Air 2

iPad Air 3

iPad Pro 2015-2017

iPad 5th gen

iPad 6th gen

iPad 7th gen

iPad Mini 4

iPad Mini 5

EricWeir wrote:

It's interesting that I can access this thumb drive using SanDisk's iXpand app, that is without any external power being supplied to the iPad.

I wanted to ask you about that. What can you access with that Drive if not files in the files app? Photos and videos, I know, but anything else?

I have been wanting to use a thumb drive with my iPad for a while now and I would really like to avoid having to use an adapter. However, I also want to upgrade from my iPad Air 2 to one one of the newer models this Christmas. I think I prefer another iPad with the lightning connector.

An off topic question for you... we have talked before. You might not remember. Aren’t you from Verona, or have some connection to Verona, PA, IIRC?

Apple is not abandoning the Lightning connector cold turkey.

All the brand new iPhones still using the Lightning port and 5 years and 10 distinct models of iPads still use the Lightning connector, as well.

So far, the USB-C port has stayed exclusive to MacBook/Pros and iPad Pros for the foreseeable future.

Thanks for posting the video. The thing that I love about the iPad is the portability of the device. The less that I have to tag along, the more I like it. I have never used an external keyboard with my iPads either. I never felt the need to use one. I would love to find a thumb drive that works without the need for the adapter.

Like I said, my goal is to upgrade my iPad and find a drive that will work without power, if such a drive even exists.