Unable to access SSD on iPad 6th Generation 2018

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Unable to access SSD on iPad 6th Generation 2018

I tried connecting SanDisk Extreme 500GB SSD to my iPad 6th Gen with the Camera USB adapter which I bought from Apple Online Store itself because it required extra power supply. Transferred few documents and it worked!

But just after that I moved a 2GB movie to the SSD and right after that a message popped up saying the device needs too much power and disappeared from the files app.

Works completely fine with my laptop which I think is because it gets proper power supply.

But I’m using the adapter and also attaching it to the power supply, still doesn’t show up on my iPad. If I delete the movie, it shows up in files app or else it doesn’t.

Is there issue in my iPad or how to deal with this?

iPad, iPadOS 14

Posted on Aug 9, 2021 8:04 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MichelPM

Level 10

81,278 points

Aug 9, 2021 12:28 PM in response to G_Akash

If using the the genuine Apple Lightning to USB-3 camera adapter dongle with the external Lightning power port

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0W2AM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter

Then, the external power bank should have worked.

Also, ANY Apple MFi ( Made For iPhone, iPad, iPod ) certified cables and power/charging adapter blocks can be used, but must be 12 W of power, or greater.

Also, there are other external drive requirements for external drives to be used with iOS/iPadOS devices.

External drives need to be formatted using a single data partition into one of these file/data formats below.

Apple Mac computer native drive formats - APFS ( Apple Proprietary File System ) OR Apple HFS+ ( Hierarchical File System+ )

FAT 32

Ex Fat

Apple Website external drive help link here.

Tap on the link below.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/ipad/ipad1c415e32/ipados

https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/external-storage-devices-ipad75b7b23f/14.0/ipados/14.0

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Answer 2

MichelPM

Level 10

81,278 points

Aug 11, 2021 3:49 PM in response to G_Akash

You must use a full Mac or Windows PC computer to do the re-formatting of any external drive to use with iPad/iPhone/iOS/iPadOS.

My experiences have recommended that any external drive needing to be used with ANY Apple iPadOS device really needs to be formatted on an Apple Mac computer to ensure/insure correct operation.

If NO Mac computer, find and family member or friend that owns a Mac to possibly help you format this drive

OR

You need to search online for your nearest, “local” Apple store location and call contact phone numbers and call to make an appointment to ANY external drive you have properly format by Apple employees who have access to a Mac.

They will be glad to assist you.

In addition, the external drive needs to be formatted using a single data drive partition into one of these file/data formats below.

Apple Mac computer native drive formats - APFS ( Apple Proprietary File System ) OR Apple HFS+ ( Hierarchical File System+ )

Fat 32

exFAT

Apple Website external drive help links here.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/ipad/ipad1c415e32/ipados

https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/external-storage-devices-ipad75b7b23f/14.0/ipados/14.0

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Answer 3

G_Akash Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 10, 2021 8:35 PM in response to MichelPM

Yes Sir, I’m using the genuine Apple Lightning to USB-3 camera adapter w the external Lightning power port bought directly from Apple online store!

I tried with the power bank again, the min output reads as 5.1V—2.4A but still a message pops up saying- ‘Cannot Use Accessory Extreme 55AE: This accessory requires too much power.’

This is the reason I don’t know if I should get the 12/18W adapter because if it still doesn’t work, I’d have spent a good amount on nothing.

The SSD had already come with exFAT format so I didn’t do any more formatting.

The SSD works only if I put few documents but even a small movie of about 1.5-2GB makes it difficult to run and cannot use accessory message pops up.

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Answer 4

G_Akash Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 11, 2021 9:02 AM in response to G_Akash

Update:

I got my friend’s 20W Apple adapter and tried to connect my SanDisk Extreme SSD and still it showed accessory needs too much power. (Attaching a screenshot)

Just to be sure, I tried connecting a Pendrive instead and it works so the possibility of the Lightning to USB 3 Cam adapter being faulty is ruled out.

This leaves us w the dilemma that it might be either iPad that has some issue or it’s the SSD that’s faulty.

I really require an external storage device but don’t know what to do now.

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Answer 5

MichelPM

Level 10

81,278 points

Aug 9, 2021 9:18 AM in response to G_Akash

Is your Apple power/charging adapter a 10W or 12W power adapter block?

You need, at least, Apple's 12W power/charging adapter block.

The Apple 20W USB-C adapter is even better but you will need to purchase a USB-C to Lightning cable to use Apple's 18W power charging adapter block with your model iPad.

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Answer 6

G_Akash Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 9, 2021 11:43 AM in response to MichelPM

I am using the Apple power/charging adapter that came with the box and it is a 10W block.

Didn’t know one has to use 12W block! Because even my PowerBank isn’t able to provide enough power to the SSD. Probably due to similar reasons.

Does buying a 12W block help me with using my SSD to its full (500GB) storage? Or for higher storages, I’ll need to go for even bigger 18/20W block?

Also, is it necessary for it to be Apple’s 12/18/20W block or any other reputed make will do?

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Answer 7

G_Akash Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 13, 2021 11:29 AM in response to MichelPM

I did go to the Authorised Apple Service Centre today but the person said that their Macs are for diagnostic tests only and totally refused to help.

Also, would like to point out that in all the YouTube videos out there, they’ve been using the older SSD (550MB/s one) which was SATA apparently and I got the newer version (1050MB/s) which says it’s an NVMe drive. Maybe this is the reason it doesn’t work anymore with our iPads when using a lot of storage space.

And regarding the format, I’ve mentioned it before and I’m mentioning it again that my SSD came with exFAT format already! Do I really need to reformat it? Anyway, I’ve decided to go to a different service store and will check if they can help me reformat it.

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Answer 8

MichelPM

Level 10

81,278 points

Aug 13, 2021 11:40 AM in response to G_Akash

There have been issues here reported when Ex fat formatted drives have been done on a PC, rather than a Mac.

It maybe either Macs or Windows formats the Fat 32 or Ex fat formatting slightly differently.

Those that had external drives formatted using a Mac have reported success using these external drives with iPads.

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Answer 9

G_Akash Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 19, 2021 11:27 AM in response to MichelPM

Update:

Took help from a friend who has a Mac and got my SSD formatted to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) but iPad didn’t read it. Formatted it once again to APFS and then iPad showed it in files app.

Was glad it was working but then like before, same issue surfaced. Whenever I tried to use more than 1GB of the SSD, the message ‘Cannot Use Accessory, This accessory requires too much power’ came up.

I’m fed up of making rounds to service centres as none seem to be able to help. Not even Apple Support over call helped. Not even formatting did.

Is there anything else that could be done? I’d like to give it one last shot because otherwise this expensive SSD would go waste as I can’t even return it.

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Answer 10

MichelPM

Level 10

81,278 points

Aug 19, 2021 11:46 AM in response to G_Akash

I am not sure what is going on with this SSD.

I purchased a Samsung T5 SSD and formatted it with my older Mac ( which uses Apple's older HFS+ format, using a single partition and this SSD appears to be working just fine, although I have not tried transferring a 1 GB of data to that SSD in one shot.

So, I do know if I would encounter the issue you are experiencing, or not.

The way I use my SSD, I have not encountered any issues.

Why can you not transfer data in smaller chunks, less than 1.0 GB.

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