Export photos to USB drive from iPhone/iPad

How to copy and export your photos, videos and other files from the photos app in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 to a USB flash drive.

Need a Lightning to USB 3 adapter?

In this video, I show you the easiest way to use a Lightning to USB 3 adapter to copy your photos, videos and any other files to a USB drive to free up space and back up your photos.

Covered in this video:
- What gear you will need (Lightning to USB 3 adapter, USB flash drive formatted as FAT, lightning to USB cable)
- How to select and copy photos and videos to a USB drive
- How to add photos to an album to copy to a USB drive

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Note - Links provided in this video description may be affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase products using these links, a small commission may be paid to me for referring you.

== Web & Social ==

[tokesnationpropagandaminis]

Your instructional videos were good to begin with Pete, but over the last while you’ve really gone up to the next level. I think they are first class and easily understandable at a pace that is not boring. You don’t skip things but you take each step methodically and explain things crystal clear. I think you’ve found a new groove, Pete. You make world class instructional videos. Kudos and congratulations! 🏆

[Modern_shinobi]

Thank you because I don’t trust having to down load a separate app with the thumb drives for iPhones in order to save them

[loganberi]

I used inexpensive lightning adapter from Amazon and transferred very heavy files from IPad to Kingston 128GB SD card ( US$20) Worked perfectly. Unexpectedly fast. Perfect answer to storage problems.

[kens.]

Thanks for the Great video. Do you have a Choice of a File App from the App Store ? Thanks! 👍🙏

[beansrgd]

Ok so I love your explanations: appears wireless Apple has gone BACK TO the early 2000s. I’m okay with that, I remember much of attaching this port to that port.. it is the only way I feel in control of what I’m working with. Remembering passwords on every electronic tablet etc is exhausting.
I’m old school - put this to that, then press done. Ty so much. I’ve been away from my fun projects because of wifi latency, this is my morning oatmeal. Ty again!!! Subscribed

[thegreenwoodelf]

🙏🏻 thank you for the info.. just bought one of these cables... iphone so full can't budge... now if I delete the original photos in my iPhone ... will that delete action on my Iphone then cause the photos (copies ie backups ) in the cloud to also delete when they synch and update .🤔🤔🤔 which storage has priority

[mushroomlasers]

Ipad mini 5 note: You don't get options when you get the "save to files" button. Just press it and when it is ready it takes you to the files page and then you choose to save to the connected USB and then press save on top right. Little different but I might have saved someone an hour 🙂. Thanks for this video.

[CarmenandBrian]

Thanks I think your video is the only one out there with correct information on how to do this!

[deborahmurthwaite]

Pete do you have a video for this please for iPad version 12 as mine is a mini 2 and just bought camera adapter as I want to get photos from Dropbox onto USB. I would be most grateful thank you

[celuft]

I picked up the ORICO usb 3.0 4 port hub on amazon, also a SanDisk T5 1 TB SSD drive and an Anker micro sd usb card reader and iPadOS will mount both and you can copy files back and forth to your heart’s content.

[DaniMacYo]

I normally use the Sandisk iXpand but my new one had suddenly gotten loose on the lighting connector. Everything else connects to my phone so it's the iXpand usb that's busted, so I was looking for an alternative this will be great I think. This is the best video I've seen you explain everything I was googling and more in great detail. Much appreciated mate. Thank you.

[sarathtamma]

Thanks for the video . The amazon link u shared is currently unavailable

[billmac]

Thanks a bunch. Great explanation, easy to understand. But i notice that all the pics i transfer do not show the date they were originally taken. Solution? I have 50 gb of pics / videos / screen shots that i am trying to get off my icloud so I can stop paying every month for the storage.

[HeyitsSyed]

Hey man I have ipad pro gen 4 and updated to the lasted iOS 16 and I've tried everything but can't get the flash drive connected what am I missing?

[ingridbrouwer]

Thank you so much Pete. Finally I have had success in transferring all my photos thanks to you. Much appreciated

[TheSyko]

Doh! I got so excited to learn I could use external memory devices that I completely forgot about the fat32 format for apple interchange.. 🤦‍♂️ been using my phone for so much for so many years, not using my pc in forever.. I’ve overlooked some basic knowledge I already had. Thank you as once again, having your videos to reference has saved me major aggravations. I will get back up to speed and catch up with this new media age… I swear 🙄✌🏻

[lenora]

I have the first iPad pro that came out. I followed your instructions/equipment and haven’t a clue where I’m to go from there. I’ve searched through my settings and don’t find anything that looks like you are showing. Help!

[smooth]

Hi
Once you transfer photos do they stay at the original high resolution and quality?

[danieltay]

Can I use a normal lightning cable on one end to iPhone and connect to a powered usb hub, with my thumbdrive on the usb hub?

[sharmilachakraverty]

How do I transfer photos f rom my Samsung phone to any flash drive? Thanks.