Data corruption? I sold my iPad Pro 12.9 2nd gen a while ago and haven't really looked at iPadOS in a while. How bad an issue is this?
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iPad SSD drive and the iPad 10.2" 2020
- Thread starter lungbutter
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Sorry I only saw this post now. I could have saved you time and money if I saw it earlier since I know the answer to your problem.... We did some tests with another forum member a couple of years ago.
So the issue is that devices with USB 2.0 lightening have a power limit (even when plugged in). Most portable SSDs are fine, but Sandisk only works with the 500GB drive. 1TB and above and... nada.
So you either need a USB 3.0 lighting device (every iPad pro except the 9.7) or, of course, a USB C iPad, unless you are ready to go with another brand. USB 3.0 lighting can support anything, including mechanical hard drives, just like USB C.
Personally I have a T5 and T7, but I also have and prefer a Sandisk extreme 500GB and a Sandisk extreme 4TB. The are more rugged, have ring and have what I consider a better cable. So I use them much more than the Samsung ones.
PS there is a solution to the problem, but it's very cumbersome, it's buying a powered hub, which only works at home, since you need to plug the (generally proprietary) power source of the hub, not just lightning.
So the issue is that devices with USB 2.0 lightening have a power limit (even when plugged in). Most portable SSDs are fine, but Sandisk only works with the 500GB drive. 1TB and above and... nada.
So you either need a USB 3.0 lighting device (every iPad pro except the 9.7) or, of course, a USB C iPad, unless you are ready to go with another brand. USB 3.0 lighting can support anything, including mechanical hard drives, just like USB C.
Personally I have a T5 and T7, but I also have and prefer a Sandisk extreme 500GB and a Sandisk extreme 4TB. The are more rugged, have ring and have what I consider a better cable. So I use them much more than the Samsung ones.
PS there is a solution to the problem, but it's very cumbersome, it's buying a powered hub, which only works at home, since you need to plug the (generally proprietary) power source of the hub, not just lightning.
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Hi Digitalguy,
No worries. I’m happy you found this thread. Thank you for the information. It makes sense. The YT vids use the 500 GB SanDisk Extreme SSD. It was really baffling.
So I am looking at the 1TB Samsung T7. Do you use a Samsung provided USBC to USB cable with the Apple adapter and power input?
Thank you so much for posting! I’ll give my son the SanDisk for his PS4.
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Might be simpler to return your regular iPad and pick up a 2018 11" iPad Pro; either used or refurbished. It's USB-C port will have no problem with SSDs.
besides the unreliability of iPadOS 15.2 to copy data TO the external drive (affects of course lightning-iPads too;copying FROM any external media isn’t a problem).
I may do that. Not finding many 11” iPad Pros 2018. I keep seeing 10.9” and 12.9”. I’ll keep hunting. I’d rather have a Pro anyhow. Especially the USB-C port!
Arg. This is concerning. I don’t believe ExFat has journaling. I’m guessing that iPadOS 15.2 doesn’t support other file systems for external drives. That could be something that Apple may avoid to force sales of additional internal storage.
as far as I know these FS are supported:
Mac OS Extended Journaled (MBR/GUID): read/write works
Mac OS Extended Case-sensitive, Journaled (MBR/GUID): read/write works and properly supports case sensitive filenames
APFS (GUID): read/write works
APFS Case-sensitive (GUID): read/write works and properly supports case sensitive filenames
MS-DOS FAT (MBR/GUID): read/write works
ExFAT (MBR/GUID): read/write works
in any case FileBrowser Professional or FileExplorer instead of Apple’s Files are highly recommended.
Mac OS Extended Journaled (MBR/GUID): read/write works
Mac OS Extended Case-sensitive, Journaled (MBR/GUID): read/write works and properly supports case sensitive filenames
APFS (GUID): read/write works
APFS Case-sensitive (GUID): read/write works and properly supports case sensitive filenames
MS-DOS FAT (MBR/GUID): read/write works
ExFAT (MBR/GUID): read/write works
in any case FileBrowser Professional or FileExplorer instead of Apple’s Files are highly recommended.
It supports other file systems such as FAT32, APSF. It supports NTSF as read-only. This is the long thread I started on the corruption problem -
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/file-corruption-on-copy-to-external-storage.2235171/
I see them refurbished frequently, try using this:
Watch Apple Refurb deals and save up to 40% - Refurb Tracker
With Apple Refurb, save up to 40% on Apple products. Refurb Tracker offers e-mail alerts to be notified when new Apple refurbished products pop up.
Guessing you’re not in the US? There’s been constant stock of the 2018 and 2020 Pro 11” on the Apple Certified Refurbished store for the past few months.
Mind, the 10.9” Air 4 is a decent USB-C option as well if it’s priced similarly to the 2018 Pro 11”.
Cool. Thank you!I see them refurbished frequently, try using this:
Watch Apple Refurb deals and save up to 40% - Refurb Tracker
With Apple Refurb, save up to 40% on Apple products. Refurb Tracker offers e-mail alerts to be notified when new Apple refurbished products pop up.refurb-tracker.com
Thanks for the link. I'll go through that.
What file system do you all generally use? I'd like to use APFS or something Journaled.
Thanks!
exFAT as my laptop & desktop are Win11. It's also the format generally used for camera memory cards, an area where this problem could really bite you with the loss of images.
The USB cable doesn't really matter, it's the power requirement that matters (and of course genuine lightning, since non genuine ones are made unreliable by Apple verification system) so any USB C to A cable should work. Beware of C to A adapters however. If you plug it the wrong way (since USB C can be plugged in 2 ways) it will default to USB 2.0 (as you can see Sandisk prevents this possibility)
Concerning the file system, as I said in another thread, I use a mix of exfat and NTFS but I am going more and more with NTFS since it prevents corruption (can write from it but not write to it from iPad) as I never copy from iPad to the drive, while I often copy files to the iPad. Also it's the default Windows file systems and can be fully enabled on Macs too
I read that thread. I can see you all have been working on this for some time. Very eye-opening. And disappointing on Apple’s part.
My use case is not as critical as many users here. No photography, etc. primarily read and writing FLAC and some Office files. I don’t need to worry about Windows integration.
I’m open to NTFS. It’s a decent file system. Will have to enable the ability to write to NTFS but that shouldn’t be an issue. Is the recommended file manager Filemanager Business?
Thanks for your help all!
My use case is not as critical as many users here. No photography, etc. primarily read and writing FLAC and some Office files. I don’t need to worry about Windows integration.
I’m open to NTFS. It’s a decent file system. Will have to enable the ability to write to NTFS but that shouldn’t be an issue. Is the recommended file manager Filemanager Business?
Thanks for your help all!
Not sure what you mean with "enable the ability to write to NTFS" - not possible on the iPad. I use FileBrowser Pro as a general file manager - works great and has the functionality I want.
Ah, I meant on macOS. However, you make a good point. So no utilities to write to NTFS on iPadOS. It sounds as though ExFAT is still the most popular FS For read and write on iPadOS?
APFS may be more popular as it is Mac-native and works well with iPadOS. exFAT is more for compatibility with Windows devices (and camera cards).
Cool. That’s what I’m currently formatted as on the SanDisk that won’t work.
Still wondering if it’s worth the effort when I can use iCloud or Google drive. I have a Samsung T7 in my cart but still haven’t figured out if it’s worth buying.Cool. That’s what I’m currently formatted as on the SanDisk that won’t work.
I don't use the cloud for other than backup for general file storage as my travels have often taken me to places where Internet access is unavailable or very poor. I do use Dropbox for the occasional transfer of relatively small amounts of data - an SSD is just so much faster.
So, for fun this AM, I plugged in the 20W charger block into the USB 3 Camera adapter and he SanDisk 1TB drive that’s formatted as ASFP. I let it sit for a few minutes and it popped up. Working, no issues. LOL. I guess power is the key here. I don’t believe I did anything different except maybe let it sit. Now to look at File Manglers.
Meanwhile I have an iPad Air 2020 4th gen on the way. Now I can connect directly via USB-C. Phew.
Thanks all for your feedback.
Thanks all for your feedback.