How to Move Photos to USB Drive with iPhone using Adapter (Best Method)
4To move photos from your iPhone to a USB drive using an adapter, you’ll need a compatible adapter (like Apple’s Lightning to USB Camera Adapter or a Lightning to USB-C Adapter) and a USB drive formatted for compatibility with iOS.
This process allows you to transfer photos directly to a USB drive without a computer, which is useful for freeing up space or preparing to sell your iPhone. Below are the steps for iOS 18 or later, along with troubleshooting tips.
Requirements
iPhone: Running iOS 18 or later (check in Settings - General - About).
USB Adapter: Apple’s Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter (for Lightning iPhones) or a USB-C to USB Adapter (for USB-C iPhones, like iPhone 15 or later).
USB Drive: Formatted as FAT32, exFAT, or APFS for iOS compatibility (FAT32 or exFAT are most reliable).
Power Source (Optional): For Lightning adapters, a power source (Lightning cable connected to a charger) may be needed for high-power USB drives.
Steps to Move Photos to a USB Drive
Prepare the USB Drive:
Ensure the USB drive is formatted correctly (FAT32 or exFAT is recommended):
On a computer, use Disk Utility (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows) to format the drive. Back up any data on the USB drive first, as formatting erases everything.
Create a folder on the USB drive (e.g., “iPhone Photos”) to organize transferred files.
Connect the USB Drive to Your iPhone:
Plug the USB adapter into your iPhone’s Lightning or USB-C port.
Connect the USB drive to the adapter’s USB port.
If using a Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, connect a Lightning cable to the adapter’s power port and plug it into a charger if the USB drive requires additional power.
The Files app should automatically detect the USB drive. If prompted, allow access to the drive.
Open the Files App:
Tap the Files app on your Home Screen or find it via Spotlight Search (swipe down and type Files).
If the Files app is missing, check the App Library (Utilities folder) or ensure it’s not hidden or restricted (Settings - Screen Time - Content & Privacy Restrictions - Allowed Apps).
Locate the USB Drive:
In the Files app, under Locations, tap the USB drive (it may appear as “Untitled” or the drive’s name).
Navigate to the folder you created (e.g., “iPhone Photos”). If no folder exists, create one: tap the More button (three dots) - New Folder.
Copy Photos from the Photos App to Files:
Open the Photos app.
Select the photos you want to transfer:-
Tap Select in the top-right corner, then tap the photos or albums.
For all photos, go to Albums -All Photos, tap Select, then Select All.
Tap the Share button (square with an arrow).
Choose Save to Files.
In the Files app, navigate to On My iPhone or iCloud Drive, select a temporary folder (e.g., “Downloads”), and tap Save. This moves the photos to the Files app as JPEGs or HEIC files.
Move Photos to the USB Drive:
Return to the Files app.
Navigate to the folder where you saved the photos (e.g., On My iPhone - Downloads).
Long-press a photo or tap Select to choose multiple photos.
Tap Move, then select the USB drive and the folder (e.g., “iPhone Photos”).
Tap Move to transfer the photos to the USB drive.
...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourSixStudios?lang=en
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/yoursixstudios
Discord: https://discord.gg/6DfFDnK6
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoursixstudios/ -
((( Subscribe to my LIVE STREAMING )))
((( Gaming Channel "YourSixGaming" )))
/ @yoursixgaming ...
((( Subscribe to my ADVENTURE CHANNEL )))
((( Travel, Cameras & More "YourSixAdventures)))
/ @yoursixadventures