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I want to use an external ssd connected to iPad Pro 10.5 in (lightening connector). I have an Apple supplied powered USB connector but all I can connect is an sd card via card reader. Is there a limit on disc size and would it be improved with a newer USB C connector on the later iPads?
To be recognised by iPadOS, the attached USB storage device must be formatted to FAT, FAT32, exFAT or APFS+ with a single partition. As the iPad has limited power capabilities, dependent upon the Storage Device, an external power source is often required.
If your iPad Pro has a Lightning port, you will need to use an Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter to directly connect USB devices to the iPad. This adapter has both a USB 3.0 Type-A connector and an additional Lightning port to supply power, from your charger, to both the iPad and connected device. The external charger must be rated at 12W or more.
If you have one of the newest iPad Pro models, with a USB-C connector, you may need to utilise a powered USB hub (i.e., it has its own source of power) - connecting both the iPad Pro and the storage device to ports on the hub.
I hope this is helpful.
To be recognised by iPadOS, the attached USB storage device must be formatted to FAT, FAT32, exFAT or APFS+ with a single partition. As the iPad has limited power capabilities, dependent upon the Storage Device, an external power source is often required.
If your iPad Pro has a Lightning port, you will need to use an Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter to directly connect USB devices to the iPad. This adapter has both a USB 3.0 Type-A connector and an additional Lightning port to supply power, from your charger, to both the iPad and connected device. The external charger must be rated at 12W or more.
If you have one of the newest iPad Pro models, with a USB-C connector, you may need to utilise a powered USB hub (i.e., it has its own source of power) - connecting both the iPad Pro and the storage device to ports on the hub.
I hope this is helpful.
Thanks for helping but I have fulfilled all that you suggest. A powered lightening connector etc and the formatting is exFat but I cannot get the iPad to recognise a 128gb SanDisc USB drive only a 32gb card in an SD card reader. I’m grateful for your assistance though.
So your problem is with an SD Card - not an SSD.
Ensure that your iPad Power Adapter is connected to the auxiliary Lightning port of the Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter - as the majority of external storage devices require more power than the iPad can supply.
If using an SD Card, check that the tiny physical write-protect switch, on the edge of the SD Card itself, has not been locked when inserting the card into your SD Card Reader.
Thanks Lotus. I must not be explaining very well. SD card does work. The SSD which is considerably larger and therefore possibly needing more power, does not work. I am using the same Apple powered USB connector in both cases. Power is on to the adapter.
If your SSD is not recognised - but other devices are recognised - this would imply that your SSD does not meet either the partitioning or formatting requirements for iPadOS.
Size of external SSD connected it ipad via files
