While AirDrop andiCloudmake quick work of transferring files from one Apple device to another, external storage opens up several different possibilities for iPhone users. Connecting an external hard drive or thumb drive to an iPhone enables easy backups without cloud subscriptions. Apple iPhone users can even connect to a camera or SD card to offload photos without bringing a laptop along.
Which cloud storage service is right for you? iCloud vs Google Drive vs OneDrive vs Dropbox
To help you optimise your mix-and-match approach, or better understand the pros and cons of each service, Pocket-lint has answered all your questions.
However, connectingan external hard drive, thumb drive, orSD cardin many cases requires an adapter. And if you want to transfer both files and photos, you’ll need to use two different apps. We’ve sorted out what iPhone users need to know to best understand how to use an external storage device with an iPhone.
What you’ll need to connect an external storage device to your iPhone
To connect a storage device like a USB drive, external hard drive, or SD card to your iPhone, you’ll need the iPhone and the device itself, but you’ll also need the correct cord or adapter for the two devices to communicate. The cord that you need willdepend on which model iPhoneyou have as well as which device you want to connect to.
If you have an iPhone 15 or newer, you’ll needa USB-C cordthat matches the port on the external storage device. If you are using an external hard drive with a USB-C connection, you may already have a USB-C to USB-C cord that will work. With the iPhone 15 Pro, you may alsorecord video straight to an external drive.
Apple USB-C to USB-A adapter
The Apple USB-C to USB-a adapter allows USB drives to be used with USB-C devices like the iPhone 15 and the MacBook Pro.
Apple USB-C to SD Card Reader
This adapter allows you to plug an SD card into a USB-C port on a MacBook or iPhone 15.
If you have an iPhone 14 or older, you’ll needa Lightning port adapterthat matches the external storage device.
Apple Lightning to USB-A Cable
This cable allows Apple Lightning port devices to read USB drives.
Apple Lightning to USB-C Cable
This adapter allows certain iPhone and iPad models to read USB drives.
Apple Lightning to Camera Adapter
This Lightening to Camera SD card adapter allows an iPhone or iPad to read a camera’s SD card.
How to connect an external storage device with an iPhone
Whether you are connecting to a USB thumb drive or an external hard drive, using external storage with an iPhone follows a few basic steps, no matter what device you are using. If you are using a desktop external hard drive that comes with a power cable, the drive will need to be plugged into an outlet using the cord that came with the drive, as well as into the iPhone. If, however, you are using a portable hard drive, the USB cord supplies both the power and the data connection.
First, however, ensure your iPhone is running current iOS software. Apple introduced support for external storage devices with iOS 13 - which means you’ll need an iPhone running iOS 13 or later. As iOS 13 was introduced in 2019, most users won’t need to install any updates, but if you haven’t updated your operating system in a few years, you may need an update before connecting to external storage.
How to connect to external storage devices from an iPhone
You’ve now connected to an external drive, but what about saving files from the iPhone to the drive? What about uploading photos from an SD card? The process differs slightly depending on whether you are exporting files or photos, so we put together instructions for alternate processes below.
How to save photos to an external hard drive from an iPhone
Transferring photos from an iPhone to an external hard drive or USB drive allows you to create backups or clear up some much-needed space on your phone. The easiest way to do that is to transfer albums to save lots of photos at once. Here’s how:
Alternatively, you can save one image at a time by opening the image in the photos app, tapping the share icon, then following steps seven through nine above.
How to save files to an external hard drive from an iPhone
Files are also easy to transfer to an external hard drive or thumb drive, but the steps differ slightly because this process starts in the Files app rather than the Photos app.
How to transfer files or photos from external storage to an iPhone
Along with transferring files off of the iPhone, you can also use external storage to add files to your phone. For example, you can offload an SD card, saving the photos on your iPhone, so you can share them without a laptop. This process is the same whether you want to connect to an SD card, thumb drive, or external hard drive.
Do you need to format a drive before using it with an iPhone?
The iPhone supports external hard drives and USB devices in several different formats, but if the drive that you currently have is not in the correct format, you may need to reformat the drive. If you have already used the drive on a MacBook, chances are, the hard drive will also work with your iPhone. To use on an iPhone, an external drive should be formatted as APFS, APFS (encrypted), macOS Extended (HFS+), exFAT (FAT64), FAT32, or FAT. The iPhone also cannot currently support drives that have more than one data partition.
Whenever formatting a drive, ensure you have another copy of any desired files elsewhere. If you need to reformat the external hard drive, follow this tutorial.
Can you backup an iPhone to an external hard drive without a laptop?
While iOS supports transferring files to external storage, Apple doesn’t support creating a backup file this way without a computer. You can transfer individual files and images, but you cannot create a backup file for your entire phone at once. To back up your iPhone, you’ll need a laptop. Another option that doesn’t require a computer is to create an iCloud backup.
