External iPad Storage

DIGITAL SKILLS
IPAD SERIES
Using external
storage

External iPad Storage
for iPads with lightning connection
Problem: Need to store files to an external device outside of the iPad.
Solution: Connect a USB drive to the iPad (recommended for transferring files
to a laptop/desktop computer)
1. First, check your iPad is running iPadOS 13 (the latest iOS system). iOS 13
version is only compatible with external storage. If you have an older iPad it is
possible to store all of your files in the cloud. From the cloud, you can access all of
your iPad files and photos from a desktop computer/laptop.
To check the version of your operating system:
• Select ‘Settings’ on your iPad
• In ‘Settings’ select ‘About’
• In ‘About’ check ‘Software version’, this should show 13.
If you need to update your iPad:
• Select ‘Settings’ on your iPad
• In ‘Settings’ select ‘Software Update’. Your iPad will tell you if you need an
update.
2. Select a USB stick/USB device you want to use. USB sticks are ideal for smaller
files, though if you have a lot of large files e.g. video, photos consider an external
hard drive. These are stronger, tougher and less likely to break compared to a USB
stick.
USB stick
2 TB LaCie Drive
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3. If you need to use Apple’s lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, you can buy one
from Amazon, the Apple store or other electrical outlets.
4. Insert the lightning cable into the lighting port on your iPad and insert the USB
stick into the port on the left.
5. Select ‘Files’ on your iPad, this should be an icon on your iPad:
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6. When you select ‘Files’, in the left-hand menu you will see ‘Locations’. In
‘Locations’ you should see the name of your USB stick.
7. You can now transfer files on your iPad to your USB stick. To do this, select
‘Files’ and ‘On My iPad’
8. Now select all of the files you want to transfer, by selecting ‘Select’ in the righthand
corner.
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9. Now tap the files you want to move, when you have selected all of the files select
‘Done’ (in the top left corner of the screen).
10. Now click on the upload icon (bottom left of the screen) and select ‘Copy’ from
the options. This will make a copy of your files which you will be able to copy to your
USB storage device.
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11. Now select ‘Locations’ at the top left of the screen and select your USB drive.
12. When you have selected your USB stick, you then need to hold your finger down
on the screen. This will give you the option to ‘Paste’, ‘New Folder’, ‘Scan
documents’.
You can either paste your files from your iPad by selecting ‘Paste’, or you can create
a Folder (‘New Folder’) for your files to go into. I would recommend creating a new
folder e.g. ‘Photos’, so you can easily find your folders.
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You can get these options, by holding
your finger on the screen (not on an
existing folder) for 1-2 seconds.
Then choose either ‘Paste’ your files or
create a ‘New folder’ for your files.
If you want to put the files into a new
folder, enter a name for your Folder and
click ‘Done’ (top left-hand corner).
Tap your new Folder with finger twice to
open it.
When you’re in the new Folder, hold
your finger on the screen to bring up the
‘Paste’, ‘New Folder’ menu. This time
select ‘Paste’ to put your files in your
new folder.
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CONGRATULATIONS! You have now successfully copied and pasted your iPad
files to your USB stick! When you are ready, just pull the USB stick out of the
iPad and put the stick in a laptop/desktop to view them.
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Other external storage devices that do not require an adapter, though they work in
the same way as described above:
Lightning storage (useful if you just want to expand your iPad’s memory)
USB-Lightning adapter – useful for transferring files between iPad and Windows
desktop computer/laptop.
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