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Do I need to format a new Usb intended for ipad use?

Format Usb to use as external device with ipad?

iPad, iPadOS 16

Posted on Jul 2, 2023 4:22 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 2, 2023 4:39 AM

To be recognised by iPadOS, the attached USB storage device must be formatted to FAT, FAT32, exFAT, APFS or HFS+ with a single partition. Microsoft NTFS and other proprietary device formatting are not supported by Apple devices.


Formatting and partitioning, if required, must be performed using a separate computer; iPad does not provide any facilities to format an external storage device.


Unless explicitly intended for Mac computers, most USB storage devices will be formatted during manufacture as FAT32 or exFAT - these storage formats being largely universal between computers.


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 2, 2023 4:39 AM in response to M3-az6

To be recognised by iPadOS, the attached USB storage device must be formatted to FAT, FAT32, exFAT, APFS or HFS+ with a single partition. Microsoft NTFS and other proprietary device formatting are not supported by Apple devices.


Formatting and partitioning, if required, must be performed using a separate computer; iPad does not provide any facilities to format an external storage device.


Unless explicitly intended for Mac computers, most USB storage devices will be formatted during manufacture as FAT32 or exFAT - these storage formats being largely universal between computers.


Do I need to format a new Usb intended for ipad use?

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