I am trying to backup an iPad Pro 2017 (Model MPDY2LL/A) Generation 1 with a SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 1 TB. I have purchased a USB-C to Thunderbolt cable and formatted the drive ExFat, but it did not recognize the drive in the File structure when attached. I also tried switching the format to APFS and again it did not recognize this drive in the file structure. Any thoughts??
To use your SSD with your iPad, you will require an Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter - as this provides the necessary USB Controller/Root Hub that is otherwise missing from all iPads that feature a Lightning port:
https://store.apple.com/xc/product/MK0W2ZM/A
You cannot use Thunderbolt cables with your current iPad. You will require a certified USB3 Type-A to USB-C data cable. These are available from good computer stores - and from Apple:
https://store.apple.com/xc/product/HN892ZM/A
You should note that you must connect your iPad Power Adapter, rated at 12W or greater (i.e., 2.4A @5V) to the Lightning port of the Camera Adapter.
Some additional information can be found here:
Connect external devices or servers with Files on iPhone - Apple Support
https://www.imore.com/how-use-external-hard-drives-your-iphone-or-ipad
To be recognised by iPadOS, the attached USB storage device must be formatted to FAT32, exFAT, APFS or HFS+ with a single partition. Microsoft NTFS and other proprietary formats are not supported. Formatting and partitioning, if required, must be performed using a separate computer; iPad does not provide any facilities to format an external storage device.
You should note that FAT-based formats are perhaps most useful for portable storage - in that they are generally universal are supported by most computers; APFS will only be accessible by compatible Apple devices.
As for backing-up your iPad, natively supported iOS/iPadOS backup and restore processes are dependent upon iCloud, or connection to either Windows PC (with iTunes for Windows installed) or a Mac (with iTunes or Finder - as appropriate for the installed version of macOS).
Native backup methods offer full system backup - consisting of data and device settings.
How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support
It is possible, however, to use a third-party App to backup data (not device settings) to a variety of external storage options - including third-party Cloud services, external media devices and network storage. One App that comes readily to mind is FileBrowser Professional by Stratospherix:
https://apps.apple.com/app/filebrowser-professional/id854618029
You would be well advised to review the extensive online Manual and help files to determine suitability for your needs.
To use your SSD with your iPad, you will require an Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter - as this provides the necessary USB Controller/Root Hub that is otherwise missing from all iPads that feature a Lightning port:
https://store.apple.com/xc/product/MK0W2ZM/A
You cannot use Thunderbolt cables with your current iPad. You will require a certified USB3 Type-A to USB-C data cable. These are available from good computer stores - and from Apple:
https://store.apple.com/xc/product/HN892ZM/A
You should note that you must connect your iPad Power Adapter, rated at 12W or greater (i.e., 2.4A @5V) to the Lightning port of the Camera Adapter.
Some additional information can be found here:
Connect external devices or servers with Files on iPhone - Apple Support
https://www.imore.com/how-use-external-hard-drives-your-iphone-or-ipad
To be recognised by iPadOS, the attached USB storage device must be formatted to FAT32, exFAT, APFS or HFS+ with a single partition. Microsoft NTFS and other proprietary formats are not supported. Formatting and partitioning, if required, must be performed using a separate computer; iPad does not provide any facilities to format an external storage device.
You should note that FAT-based formats are perhaps most useful for portable storage - in that they are generally universal are supported by most computers; APFS will only be accessible by compatible Apple devices.
As for backing-up your iPad, natively supported iOS/iPadOS backup and restore processes are dependent upon iCloud, or connection to either Windows PC (with iTunes for Windows installed) or a Mac (with iTunes or Finder - as appropriate for the installed version of macOS).
Native backup methods offer full system backup - consisting of data and device settings.
How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support
It is possible, however, to use a third-party App to backup data (not device settings) to a variety of external storage options - including third-party Cloud services, external media devices and network storage. One App that comes readily to mind is FileBrowser Professional by Stratospherix:
https://apps.apple.com/app/filebrowser-professional/id854618029
You would be well advised to review the extensive online Manual and help files to determine suitability for your needs.
You cannot perform a real device backup to any iPad model, to a portable SSD.
You maybe able to transfer the data manually from iPad to the SSD, though.
For that much older 2017 iPad Pro, the SanDisk SDD needs to have direct mains power plugged into it for that year and model iPad to recognise and “see” the drive to be able to use it with that year and model iPad.
Good Luck to You!
SSD drives work differently with that much older iPad Pro.
You must follow the instructions the both I and Lotus Pilot have given you.
Best of Luck to You!
Thank you for your response. When I take this San Disk Pro Extreme SSD and attach is to my iPad Pro 11 Gen 3 the SSD is recognized immediately through the USB-C. There are also plenty of YouTube videos that support that transfer and creation of file folders in the SSD.
My issue is to enable the iPad Pro 1st Generation (2017) to recognize the SSD by utilizing a USB-C to 'Lightening' connector.
Thank you.
iPad Pro 2017 1st Generation backup to San Disk Pro Extreme SSD
