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Just got my new iPad Pro 11, and when I connect my hard drive, nothing happens. No lights on hard drive, and it doesn’t show up in the Files folder. The drive works fine with my MacBook & iMac, and came with its own USB C cable. Thanks
iPad Pro 11-inch Wi-Fi
Providing power doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some options:
Use the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter:
https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/MUF82ZM/A
Consider use of a powered USB hub - to which you connect both your iPad and external storage device. The Hub provides power to both the external storage and iPad.
Consider use of a dedicated multi-port hub designed for iPad. Here is link to some examples:
https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/2/20750137/apple-ipad-pro-usb-c-hubs-hyperdrive-belkin-satechi-kanex
Providing power doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some options:
Use the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter:
https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/MUF82ZM/A
Consider use of a powered USB hub - to which you connect both your iPad and external storage device. The Hub provides power to both the external storage and iPad.
Consider use of a dedicated multi-port hub designed for iPad. Here is link to some examples:
https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/2/20750137/apple-ipad-pro-usb-c-hubs-hyperdrive-belkin-satechi-kanex
External drive support for iPads/iPadOS is still in its infancy.
If this a conventional mechanical spinning platter hard drive, iPads may not have a powerful enough internal power supply to supply enough power to the drive to get it spinning.
You may need to plug that drive into its own separate power source using the hard drive's own power adapter or using an externally powered USB-C hub.
NO iPad, even the more expensive iPad Pro, is a complete a full replacement for a MacBook/laptop computer.
In addition the external drive needs to be formatted into one of these file/data formats
Apple native macOS format
APFS
FAT 32
ex fat
Apple Website external drive help link here.
Connect external devices or servers with Files on iPad - Apple Support
Best of Luck to You!
Thanks. That was very helpful.
Ok. Guess I’ll have to figure out some sort of power supply. The drive doesn’t have its own power supply, or need one with other computers. It’s also already formatted ex fat, and works fine on other Apple computers. Apple shouldn’t advertise that the iPad can connect to an external hard drive if it can’t. Thanks
You’re very welcome. I’m delighted help.
My new iPad Pro won’t read my external hard drive
