External Drives

Yes. You can use the Files App on the iPad to access the external drive, create folders, and move files from another location to the external drive.

click here ➜ Connect external storage devices to iPad - Apple Support

and here ➜ View and modify files and folders in Files on iPad - Apple Support

You might want to test the process before you commit. You have 14 days after purchase directly from Apple or an authorized reseller to return the iPad for a full refund.

You can also ask at an Apple Store to test out the option and see if it works for you.

Another note/caveat,

You must use a full Mac or Windows PC computer to do the re-formatting of any external drive to use with iPad/iPhone/iOS/iPadOS.

My experiences have recommended that any external drive needing to be used with ANY Apple iPadOS device really needs to be formatted on an Apple Mac computer to ensure/insure correct operation.

If NO Mac computer, find and family member or friend that owns a Mac to possibly help you format this drive

OR

You need to search online for your nearest, “local” Apple store location and call contact phone numbers and call to make an appointment to ANY external drive you have properly format by Apple employees who have access to a Mac.

They will be glad to assist you.

Any SSDs used with iPads that still use Apple's Lightning port connection need a special adapter sold by Apple to be able to connect the SSD to external power source for Lightning port equipped iPads to see the drive and make it active.

The Lightning port cannot supply enough power from iPad to SSD to make the SSD operate.

On an 2022, iPad Air 5th gen, the USB-C port alone will be sufficient to power the SSD, alone without an external power source.

In addition, the external drive needs to be formatted using a single data drive partition into one of these file/data formats below.

Apple Mac computer native drive formats - APFS ( Apple Proprietary File System ) OR Apple HFS+ ( Hierarchical File System+ )

Fat 32

exFAT

Is it formatted properly per my posting?

The drive needs to be a single partition, also. NOT multiiple partitions.

Single partition? NOT multiples?

Were were you looking for it on the 9th gen iPad and the iPad Air exactly?

It should appear as a device directly in the Locations section of the Files App under whatever name it has, and only in the Files App.

Also note, that some drives may need more power than the iPad can provide as as such you may also need a powered hub or adapter between the iPad and the external drive and a power source. Though in my experience most SSD drives have worked fine without extra power.

As I stated, the 9th gen iPad uses Apple's Lightning connection port.

You need Apple's Lightning to USB-3 adapter and an external power source to, power any SSD, with ANY iPad model that still uses Apple's Lightning connection port.