This means you can copy files from your iCloud Drive, Dropbox, a connected SMB server, or any app you add to the “Locations” section in the Files app.
RELATED: Everything You Can Do With the Files App on Your iPhone or iPad How to Copy Files to External StorageĪfter you connect your external drive, you can copy data from any location in the Files app to it just like you did above. Select the folder you just created, and then tap “Copy.” The files are transferred to the folder. Tap “On my iPhone” or “On my iPad” to expand the local storage option. This opens a menu with all the available locations in the Files app. Here, tap “Select” in the top toolbar, and then choose the files you want to move. Now, from the “Locations” section, select your USB flash drive. Name it, and then tap “Done” to create a new folder for the files you want to transfer. Here, tap and hold the empty space, and then select “New Folder.” First, in “Locations,” tap the “On My iPhone” or “On My iPad” section. Let’s move some data from your external drive to your iPhone or iPad’s local storage. You can open text and audio files, or even watch video from your drive without exporting it to an app. When you see your drive in the “Locations” section, tap it to see all the files and folders on your drive. First, connect your USB flash drive or SD Card using one of the methods outlined above, and then open the Files app.
We use the Files app to copy data to and from external storage. You can get these to work with iPhones and older iPads with a Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, which lets you power your device (and the drive) via a Lightning port. If you connect a drive and see a message that says, “This accessory requires too much power,” you’ll have to use a connector with a power pass-through.