Can’t Connect my iPad Pro 5th Gen to my Windows PC for file transfers.

Question

Level 1

11 points

Can’t Connect my iPad Pro 5th Gen to my Windows PC for file transfers.

I USED to be able to connect my iPad Pro 5th Gen (running 15.4.1) to my Windows PC 10 in the Files app and transfer files back and forth. A couple weeks ago that STOPPED WORKING. I made NO CHANGE to ANY of my settings. Since then I’ve been trying to fix the problem. I made sure the folders and drives I want to access on Windows 10 are Shared. I’ve tried to connect from PDF Expert which has it’s own file connect service through the SMB protocol like the Files App and IT won’t connect either. I CAN use the PDFWifi version of PDF Expert to connect but it’s through my Chrome browser on my Windows 10 PC and it’s VERY clunky. I REALLY want to fix my SMB connection to Windows 10 from the Files App on my iPad. HELP! PLEASE HELP!

The exact error I KEEP GETTING is “There was a problem connection to the server. Check the server name or IP address, and then try again. If you continue to have problems, contact your system administrator.” I’ve check, re-checked, double-checked, triple checked, and MORE…… and the credentials are fine. I JUST WON’T CONNECT!

Paul

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Apr 23, 2022 8:00 AM

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Answer 1

ProustGiulio

Level 10

208,584 points

Apr 24, 2022 2:20 AM in response to TrumpetMan17

Paul,

You're not addressing Apple here. This is a user-to-user tech support forum and we, just users like you, try to help those who have difficulties using Apple products.

Since the configuration you are using is rather complex (and, at least for me, not easy to evaluate remotely), I would suggest you contact Apple Support directly using this link:--> Get Support , or make an appointment (*) and explain your problem at an Apple Store or AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider), where Apple technicians can offer you the appropriate answers.

Thanks and regards.

Giulio

(*) You can do it:

Online:--> Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple;
Contacting a local Apple Store or AASP among this list:--> Apple – Location Selector
Using the "Apple Store" app, available and downloadable from AppStore.

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Answer 2

TrumpetMan17 Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 24, 2022 8:43 AM in response to ProustGiulio

ProustGiulio,

Yes, I figured out that you are a User like me. Apple employees monitor this forum and I’ve seen posts from Apple employees from time to time.

I don’t know what the exact problem was but, in my research I found a suggestion to do a network reset on my Windows 10 PC which I did. That cleared the problem and I can now connect between my iPad Pro and Windows 10 PC using the SMB protocol to transfer files back and forth. That’s one thing I always hated about Windows back when I was developing in Windows, that communication from the Windows machine and others would all-too-frequently hang up or just plain stop working. All you need is one handshaking sequence to fail or not complete and BOOM it all stopped. A computer restart SOMETIMES reset the communication interface and all was good. But, sometimes, like this time, it did NOT and I had to do a NETWORK RESET to clear the issue. I hadn’t had to do this in a very long time so, I had forgotten about it. Every time there is a Windows Update I cringe and hope that something ELSE I’m using doesn’t break!

Paul

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Answer 3

ProustGiulio

Level 10

208,584 points

Apr 23, 2022 8:49 AM in response to TrumpetMan17

After checking that you're using the latest PDF Expert app version, did you already try to contact Readdle developer/support team about that? Use these instructions:--> How to contact an app developer - Apple Support

Regards

Giulio

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Answer 4

TrumpetMan17 Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 23, 2022 9:09 AM in response to ProustGiulio

It’s not a Readdle issue. It’s an iPad connection over SMB to Windows 10 issue for ANY files.

I used Files to connect. Then I tried through PDF Expert to see if that would connect especially since it has a network browser and Files does not.

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Answer 5

TrumpetMan17 Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 23, 2022 10:24 AM in response to ProustGiulio

ProustGiulio,

Are you an Apple employee?

I just looked over the article. However, I have already used PowerShell to confirm that my Windows 10 PC is running SMB V2 and that it is ON.

FYI, I’m on XFinity xFi WiFi network. Is there somewhere on the Router that I can confirm that it’s NOT blocking SMB connections? I have not been able to find such a setting.

I was able to determine that my Avast Virus SFW on Windows 10 I NOT blocking SMB connections. I don’t know if there is a way to verify this on my iPad.

Again, this ALL was working fine until a few weeks ago. Something changed. There were iPad updates and new versions. There were updates to Windows 10. And we upgraded to xfinity xFi from the normal WiFi. So, the problem is PROBABLY somewhere in all these changes.

Paul

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Answer 6

TrumpetMan17 Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 23, 2022 8:25 AM in response to TrumpetMan17

One additional point. The PDF Expert Connection routine has a ‘Browse” button to browse the network for a device to connect too. NO DEVICES on the network show up on that list.

Paul

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