Resolved How do I rename an external device on iPad Air 3?

[revmacian]

I have an iPad Air 3 and I purchased a Lightning to SD Card Adapter. The card and adapter work perfectly, but there is one thing I can’t figure out. As you can see in the screenshot below, the SD card shows up in the File app with the title of “Untitled”. I would like to learn how to rename the SD card so that the “Untitled” reads as “Backups” in the Files app.

 

[Shirasaki]

You have to rename your device using either macOS or Windows. iOS detours not support remaining the device yet.

 

[revmacian]

You have to rename your device using either macOS or Windows. iOS detours not support remaining the device yet.

That’s kinda what I figured, thank you for the confirmation.

 

[Aditya rathee]

I have an iPad Air 3 and I purchased a Lightning to SD Card Adapter. The card and adapter work perfectly, but there is one thing I can’t figure out. As you can see in the screenshot below, the SD card shows up in the File app with the title of “Untitled”. I would like to learn how to rename the SD card so that the “Untitled” reads as “Backups” in the Files app.

View attachment 868421

Yu have lightning to sd card adapter can yu tell me if yu can connect any usb drive with it too or not ??

 

[revmacian]

Yu have lightning to sd card adapter can yu tell me if yu can connect any usb drive with it too or not ??

That depends on the USB drive. Many USB drives require too much power and it won’t work with the iPad Air models - I’m not sure about the iPad Pro models. That is why I had to get the Lightning to SD Card adapter.

 

[Aditya rathee]

That depends on the USB drive. Many USB drives require too much power and it won’t work with the iPad Air models - I’m not sure about the iPad Pro models. That is why I had to get the Lightning to SD Card adapter.

So only usb 2.0 pendrives can be connected to ipad air 3 if we only have lightning to sd card adapter right ?

 

[revmacian]

So only usb 2.0 pendrives can be connected to ipad air 3 if we only have lightning to sd card adapter right ?

I don’t know what the specs are. And, you will need a separate adapter for USB 2.0 pen drives.. the Lightning to SD Card adapter won’t work with pen drives.

 

[muzzy996]

If connecting external drives via lightning port is important to you I suggest the Lightning to USB 3.0 Camera Adapter. It will let you power the drive and charge the ipad while accessing it. I can't speak towards the power limitations though. I use it with my external SSD drives and my IPP 12.9 2017.

 

[revmacian]

If connecting external drives via lightning port is important to you I suggest the Lightning to USB 3.0 Camera Adapter. It will let you power the drive and charge the ipad while accessing it. I can't speak towards the power limitations though. I use it with my external SSD drives and my IPP 12.9 2017.

That lightning port does not power the USB drive itself, it powers the iPad/iPhone only.. it’s a common misconception. The iPad Pro can handle more power-hungry peripherals but the IPad Air cannot. If that Lightning port provided power directly to the USB device, then I could use any USB device with my iPad Air 3 but that simply isn’t the case.

 

[Cayenne1]

To read/write to external cards or drives you may need a powered USB hub. Unlike the iPad Pros the Air 3 doesn't have the power to access anything but an SD card.

So, if you want to access USB drives, XQD cards, thumb drives, etc., get a powered USB hub (they are not that expensive). You also need a lightning to USB dongle to connect the Air 3 to the hub. USB devices can then plug into the powered hub and will show up in the Files app.

However, it's USB2 speeds, i.e. slow, and you still cannot rename connected devices to my knowledge. Its a bit convoluted but it works.

 

[revmacian]

To read/write to external cards or drives you may need a powered USB hub. Unlike the iPad Pros the Air 3 doesn't have the power to access anything but an SD card.

So, if you want to access USB drives, XQD cards, thumb drives, etc., get a powered USB hub (they are not that expensive). You also need a lightning to USB dongle to connect the Air 3 to the hub. USB devices can then plug into the powered hub and will show up in the Files app.

However, it's USB2 speeds, i.e. slow, and you still cannot rename connected devices to my knowledge. Its a bit convoluted but it works.

Right, a powered hub works with the iPad Air 3 and is needed even with the USB 3 Camera Adapter.

 

[muzzy996]

That lightning port does not power the USB drive itself, it powers the iPad/iPhone only.. it’s a common misconception. The iPad Pro can handle more power-hungry peripherals but the IPad Air cannot. If that Lightning port provided power directly to the USB device, then I could use any USB device with my iPad Air 3 but that simply isn’t the case.

Interesting. I was under the impression that plugging that particular adapter into any iPad and then applying power to the adapter using a lightning cable would provide power to whichever USB device was plugged into the adapter. Didn't realize that a brand new lightning based iOS device such as the Air 3 would not support such functionality.

If one needs not just that adapter but a powered USB hub plus it's power plug that sucks. Dongle hell as it is but even worse in that situation.

 

[revmacian]

Interesting. I was under the impression that plugging that particular adapter into any iPad and then applying power to the adapter using a lightning cable would provide power to whichever USB device was plugged into the adapter. Didn't realize that a brand new lightning based iOS device such as the Air 3 would not support such functionality.

If one needs not just that adapter but a powered USB hub plus it's power plug that sucks. Dongle hell as it is but even worse in that situation.

Yeah, it’s a common misconception. The Lightning port on that particular adapter is so you can charge/power the iPad while using an external peripheral. I think I’ll buy a powered USB hub like @Cayenne1 mentioned.

 

[Aditya rathee]

To read/write to external cards or drives you may need a powered USB hub. Unlike the iPad Pros the Air 3 doesn't have the power to access anything but an SD card.

So, if you want to access USB drives, XQD cards, thumb drives, etc., get a powered USB hub (they are not that expensive). You also need a lightning to USB dongle to connect the Air 3 to the hub. USB devices can then plug into the powered hub and will show up in the Files app.

However, it's USB2 speeds, i.e. slow, and you still cannot rename connected devices to my knowledge. Its a bit convoluted but it works.

So buying a hub is necessary??
Cant i just insert lightning to camera adapter and attack power to it plus my external drive ???
I heard on this site few months back that 30w charger can do the trick
If yu use 30w charger tp power the usb 3 adapter then it can show external hard drives without that power message

 

[revmacian]

So buying a hub is necessary??
Cant i just insert lightning to camera adapter and attack power to it plus my external drive ???
I heard on this site few months back that 30w charger can do the trick
If yu use 30w charger tp power the usb 3 adapter then it can show external hard drives without that power message

The Lightning port does not send power to the peripheral, it only powers the iPad/iPhone. Perhaps the 30w charger sends enough power to the iPad so you can use the USB peripheral, but I wouldn’t trust it on the iPad Air 3. Keep in mind it’s an iPad Air, not a desktop computer.

 

[AutomaticApple]

You have to rename your device using either macOS or Windows. iOS detours not support remaining the device yet.

That's extremely unfortunate...

 

[muzzy996]

Yeah it's probably best to assume that a USB hub might be necessary and then at least try without. In my case I'm lucky enough to be able to use the external SSD's that i purchase so I'm all good. Using the USB 3.0 camera adapter I'm able to get enough power for the Sandisk Extreme SSD's by using an external USB battery w/ lightning cable. I'm no longer going to assume though that every drive is going to be able to get enough power . . .

 

[sparksd]

The Lightning port does not send power to the peripheral, it only powers the iPad/iPhone. Perhaps the 30w charger sends enough power to the iPad so you can use the USB peripheral, but I wouldn’t trust it on the iPad Air 3. Keep in mind it’s an iPad Air, not a desktop computer.

I tried a 500GB WD HDD on my 10.5 iPP with the Apple dongle without power and it didn't show up. I added power from a 12W source and it works fine.

Edit - Apple's own description of the adapter seems to imply that it supplies power to the peripheral:

"Add even greater capability and versatility to your iPad Pro by powering the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter with a USB Power Adapter. Then you can connect USB peripherals like hubs, Ethernet adapters, audio/MIDI interfaces, and card readers for CompactFlash, SD, microSD, and more."

 

[revmacian]

I tried a 500GB WD HDD on my 10.5 iPP with the Apple dongle without power and it didn't show up. I added power from a 12W source and it works fine.

Edit - Apple's own description of the adapter seems to imply that it supplies power to the peripheral:

"Add even greater capability and versatility to your iPad Pro by powering the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter with a USB Power Adapter. Then you can connect USB peripherals like hubs, Ethernet adapters, audio/MIDI interfaces, and card readers for CompactFlash, SD, microSD, and more."

The quote you supplied implies that it works on an iPad Pro, this did not work on my iPad Air 3. Keep in mind that “implies” does not equal “does”. Let me know when you find a statement from Apple that specifically says the USB 3 Camera Adapter’s Lightning port sends power directly to the USB peripheral.. I may be able to get a free iPad Air 3 exchange out of it

 

[sparksd]

The quote you supplied implies that it works on an iPad Pro, this did not work on my iPad Air 3. Keep in mind that “implies” does not equal “does”. Let me know when you find a statement from Apple that specifically says the USB 3 Camera Adapter’s Lightning port sends power directly to the USB peripheral.

OK - didn't realize you meant only the non-Pro models.

 

[jt1968]

That depends on the USB drive. Many USB drives require too much power and it won’t work with the iPad Air models - I’m not sure about the iPad Pro models. That is why I had to get the Lightning to SD Card adapter.

All of my external drives, whether mechanical or SSD, require power to work in iOS/iPadOS 13. All of my USB thumb drives also require external power. The only thing that didn’t require external power is a tiny microSD card reader I have.

 

[sparksd]

The quote you supplied implies that it works on an iPad Pro, this did not work on my iPad Air 3. Keep in mind that “implies” does not equal “does”. Let me know when you find a statement from Apple that specifically says the USB 3 Camera Adapter’s Lightning port sends power directly to the USB peripheral.. I may be able to get a free iPad Air 3 exchange out of it

So you'd need a splitter cable that you can connect a power supply to for the drive itself. I've used this one on Android devices with uUSB ports with low-power output -

StarTech.com 3 ft. (0.9 m) USB to Micro USB Cable With Power Delivery - Dual USB 2.0 A to Micro-B - Power and Data - Y-Cable - Micro USB Cable (USB2HAUBY3)

StarTech.com 3 ft. (0.9 m) USB to Micro USB Cable With Power Delivery - Dual USB 2.0 A to Micro-B - Power and Data - Y-Cable - Micro USB Cable (USB2HAUBY3)

www.amazon.com

But you end up with a real lashup of cables, adapters, power inputs, etc.

Apple really does need to be very clear on this limitation on these iPads.

 

[revmacian]

Apple really does need to be very clear on this limitation on these iPads.

I think it helps to remind myself that iOS/iPadOS devices are not desktop computers, they won’t be able to do everything that a desktop computer can do. That way when I am met with a limitation it isn’t quite as jarring. Sometimes our expectations can be too high without our realizing it, so it helps to keep our expectations in check.