Connect external storage devices to iPad
On iPad, use files stored on USB storage devices and SD cards.
support.apple.com
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"External hard drives often require an external power source when used with iPad." No "only" there.
Can an exFat drive be encrypted and still be accessed (read/write) by Windows and iOS? I’m using an unencrypted thumb drive right now because I seem to recall it wouldn’t work encrypted.
Bah ok thanks. I hope they change that. I’m only supposed to use encrypted drives for work, so I’m going rogue (but not often and I’m careful when I do)
Yeah, it's a pretty critical shortcoming of the iPad's handling of external storage.
There’s been FileVault support since iOS/iPadOS 14. Obviously, this won’t help with drives that need to be used with Windows, however.
Apple adds encrypted drive support to Files with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14
You'll be able to access encrypted drives in APFS format, with a password of course...
www.imore.com
Connect external storage devices to iPad
On iPad, use files stored on USB storage devices and SD cards.
support.apple.com
Yeah, I should have been clear that I was addressing Window compatible devices.There’s been FileVault support since iOS/iPadOS 14. Obviously, this won’t help with drives that need to be used with Windows, however.
Apple adds encrypted drive support to Files with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14
You'll be able to access encrypted drives in APFS format, with a password of course...Connect external storage devices to iPad
On iPad, use files stored on USB storage devices and SD cards.support.apple.com
truth is it's not often, it's hardly ever (tested with a dozen external HDDs up to 5TB)
Maybe Apple has some statistics somewhere that there are more people using 3.5" external HDDs rather than 2.5" portable ones?
3.5" drives might indeed be the exception, but my guess is that these statements are not really based on proper testing but are just there as a general warnings. The 7.5watts the iPads output (which is more than any Android tablet) are enough for essentially and 2.5" drives, let alone SSDs
Using an Anker dock to connect a CFast card and 4TB Sandisk SSD to copy RAW files from card to drive, with no issues at all. In fact once I’ve done that, I connect a second 4TB Sandisk and copy files between them so I have a backup. This ability has enabled me to leave my laptop at home for some shorter jobs on the road.