iPadOS 26 not seeing SD card on iPad A16

Question

Level 10

214,543 points

iPadOS 26 not seeing SD card on iPad A16

I have a 64GB Micro SD card with some photos and files on it, that works fine on my iPhone (iOS 26) and on my Mac (macOS 26 Tahoe) using a 3rd party USB-C card reader / dock.

Anybody know why the SD card would not be showing up on the iPad at all?

It's formatted as ExFat and can be used fine as said on iPhone and Mac.

External SSDs and USB-c drives seem to work o.k on the iPad.

And yes, I've restarted the iPad multiple times, makes no difference.

iPad, iPadOS 26

Posted on Sep 15, 2025 03:11 PM

Reply

Answer 1

brbo

Level 8

38,155 points

Sep 15, 2025 08:56 PM in response to Phil0124

Re: iPadOS 26 not seeing SD card on iPad A16

Wondering just where are you looking for, and not seeing, the SD card ... or whether you may need an adapter.

Wondering too, whether Apple Support's online article for iPadOS26 may help:

Transfer files from iPad to a storage device, a server, or the cloud - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"Access an external storage device

You can open, rename, erase, and get information about a connected external storage device.

Go to the Files app on your iPad.
Tap at the top of the screen.
Touch and hold the name of the storage device below Locations, then do any of the following:

- View the contents of the storage device: Tap Open in New Window.
- Rename the storage device: Tap Rename [device].
- Erase the storage device: Tap Erase.
- Get information about the storage device: Tap Get Info."

More info: (including tips on adapters) : Connect external storage devices to iPad - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 2

Phil0124 Author

Level 10

214,543 points

Sep 16, 2025 07:39 AM in response to brbo

brbo wrote:

Re: iPadOS 26 not seeing SD card on iPad A16

Wondering just where are you looking for, and not seeing, the SD card

Well obviously, I'm looking in the Files App on the iPad to access the SD card.

... or whether you may need an adapter.

Why would I need an adapter?

The SD card is plugged into a USB-C dock with an SD card and Micro SD card slot.

I can plug it into the regular SD slot with an SD sleeve adapter, or directly in the micro SD slot.

The dock works with the iPhone and macOS and shows the SD card in the Files app and the Finder respectively regardless of where the card is plugged in on the adapter.

I can plug it directly into all 3 devices as all 3 devices have USB-C ports.

As I said it works on my iPhone fine using the same card, same dock and same slots and ports. It appears in the Files App fine there. I can access it and copy files to and from the card fine on iPhone.

This is clearly an issue on the iPad, and the iPad only.

Reply