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All Devices Apple Lightning to USB (not USB 3) camera adapter and iOS 13. Does it work with external drives?

EugW

EugW

macrumors P6
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
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I have the Apple Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter and it works with iOS 13 using the Files app with external drives, but only if I provide external power.

Does the old Apple Lightning to USB adapter (without power pass-through) work at all with any external USB drives? I assume no, but I thought I'd ask since it's rather annoying having to plug in an external power source just to use a USB flash drive. I'd give up USB 3 speeds to be able to use the adapter without external power.

Lightning+to+USB+Camera+Adapters.jpg


Old USB 2 model on left and new USB 3 model on right, the latter with Lightning power pass-through port. I'm wondering if the old USB 2 model uses less power and thus potentially could work with some low powered USB drives without external power.
 
I'm struggling to get this working on an iPad Pro 10.5 with iOS 13 Public Beta. It doesn't recognise anything I plug in the USB 3 port, with 12w power connected. Does an iPad Pro 10.5 need the fast charger for it to work?
 
Fozziebear40 said:
I'm struggling to get this working on an iPad Pro 10.5 with iOS 13 Public Beta. It doesn't recognise anything I plug in the USB 3 port, with 12w power connected. Does an iPad Pro 10.5 need the fast charger for it to work?
Click to expand...
Works for me with 12 W charger.

What devices are you trying?
 
Fozziebear40 said:
I'm struggling to get this working on an iPad Pro 10.5 with iOS 13 Public Beta. It doesn't recognise anything I plug in the USB 3 port, with 12w power connected. Does an iPad Pro 10.5 need the fast charger for it to work?
Click to expand...

What format is the drive in? For example NTFS will not work, fat32 should

Scottie
 
Well that’s weird. As mentioned, drives work for me as long as I have external power, but I was able to get the old Apple USB nipple mouse to work without power. Again through that Lightning to USB 3 adapter.

Note though I believe it was all tested under Public Beta 1. I don’t think I tested the more recent Public Beta 2 with USB. which beta build are you using?

FAT32 works. I didn’t try NTFS but my guess is that may work read only.
 
I must have been on Beta 1, I’m on Beta 2 now and it’s just the same. I have a magic keyboard connected by Bluetooth but the space bar registers as return haha.
I’m just trying to make my iPad good enough to stop me buying a MacBook.
I’m thinking I’m better of getting the MacBook and using the iPad as a second screen in sidecar
 
Fozziebear40 said:
I must have been on Beta 1, I’m on Beta 2 now and it’s just the same. I have a magic keyboard connected by Bluetooth but the space bar registers as return haha.
I’m just trying to make my iPad good enough to stop me buying a MacBook.
I’m thinking I’m better of getting the MacBook and using the iPad as a second screen in sidecar
Click to expand...
Well, these just are betas, and it should be noted I can't make Sidecar work yet with my 2017 MacBook 2017 and my 2017 iPad Pro 10.5".

In Public Beta 1, Sidecar could see my iPad Pro, but couldn't connect to it. In Public Beta 2, Sidecar can't even see it. (Both devices are officially supported.)
 
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EugW said:
Well that’s weird. As mentioned, drives work for me as long as I have external power, but I was able to get the old Apple USB nipple mouse to work without power. Again through that Lightning to USB 3 adapter.

Note though I believe it was all tested under Public Beta 1. I don’t think I tested the more recent Public Beta 2 with USB. which beta build are you using?

FAT32 works. I didn’t try NTFS but my guess is that may work read only.
Click to expand...
Well, I just tried this on Public Beta 2. Now nothing works at all. :( Worked fine in PB1.

My old Apple USB nipple mouse is not seen, and two USB flash drives I've tried are completely invisible. Arggh! :mad:

Feedback submitted.
 
Last edited:
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EugW said:
Well, I just tried this on Public Beta 2. Now nothing works at all. :( Worked fine in PB1.

My old Apple USB nipple mouse is not seen, and two USB flash drives I've tried are completely invisible. Arggh! :mad:

Feedback submitted.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that EugW, sorry it's broken for you now, but at least I know it's not me :D

I spent a bit on a 30W charger and lead to see if it was that, but at least I have fast charging now!
 
EugW said:
USB adapter working again now with Public Beta 3 / Developer Beta 4.

Sidecar is now also working.

:cool:
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was scared that it wouldn’t work again for some reason haha. I hurried and downgraded to PB1/Dev2 again after minutes of being on PB2/Dev3. Glad to see it fixed now and have safely upgraded.

If a flash drive/whatever else doesn’t work, try out a USB hub with the USB 2 Camera adapter. For some reason it works with a few drives to do that, doesn’t even need to be a powered USB hub. Like my 256GB Samsung Bar drive for example doesn’t work without the USB hub, but at least I get a bonus of having a mouse plugged in at the same time. You might’ve saw me say this before on here, but might as well spread that information around for people who don’t know.
 
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