SD card reader not working with new iPad Air 11
I am trying to download photos to the Photos app on my new iPad Air 11 using the new USB-C to SD Card reader I just bought from Amazon. The iPad Air is not acknowledging the card reader at all, even though it is plugged into the USB-C port.
iPad Air, iPadOS 26
In my experience, USB-C external devices can be more difficult to power via an iPad or iPhone's USB-C port. Lightning external devices pretty much work as intended. It may be that that particular card reader is demanding more power than the iPad is capable of delivering to it. When this happens, the external device will simply not operate correctly & the device that it's plugged into will not see it. In this case, an externally powered USB-C hub will help, although it adds to the clutter and requires it to be plugged into a USB-C power adapter. An example:
If it is in fact a genuine Apple reader, it *should* work as intended without a hub. However, it could also be defective (this does happen).
Have you verified that the reader works correctly using an altogether different USB-C capable device (if you have one)?
In my experience, USB-C external devices can be more difficult to power via an iPad or iPhone's USB-C port. Lightning external devices pretty much work as intended. It may be that that particular card reader is demanding more power than the iPad is capable of delivering to it. When this happens, the external device will simply not operate correctly & the device that it's plugged into will not see it. In this case, an externally powered USB-C hub will help, although it adds to the clutter and requires it to be plugged into a USB-C power adapter. An example:
If it is in fact a genuine Apple reader, it *should* work as intended without a hub. However, it could also be defective (this does happen).
Have you verified that the reader works correctly using an altogether different USB-C capable device (if you have one)?
Given your description - and lack of visibility within the Files App sidebar - the logical explanation is a problem with the USB-C SD Card Reader.
As a check, move the SD Card to your older Lighting to SD Reader - and verify that the same SD card itself can be read by your iPad 8.
Speaking from experience, sourcing Apple hardware from Amazon is a lottery. Unless you carefully verify that the item in your basket is new and being "sold by Amazon" itself - and the order is not being "fulfilled by Amazon" (on behalf of a third-party retailer or Amazon Marketplace) - you might not be purchasing what you think. Returned goods or counterfeit items are sadly not uncommon.
Evidence suggests that the SD Card reader that you have is defective. Hopefully the replacement that you have purchased will resolve your immediate difficulty.
Verifying that the suspected faulty Adapter with another host device - as suggested by both myself and SergZak - is a valid diagnostic test.
Yes, absolutely! Fortunately, the second USB-C card reader I ordered
the day after this one just arrived! Tried it out and it works perfectly! One strange anomaly, though: the contact is turned ninety degrees as compared to normal. But, so what? It works like it's supposed to! :)
Some reports have been seen here of difficulties with third-party SD Card readers under iPadOS 26.1/2. However, issues commonly with how you access files from the USB-connected card reader.
Start here:
Connect external storage devices to iPad - Apple Support
Direct import of photos and videos from your camera SD Card to your Photo library is possible - subject to a couple of caveats:
Import photos using Apple camera adapters - Apple Support
If you are unable to use the direct photo import feature, you can still manually access and copy photos from the SD Card using the iPad’s built-in Files App. To do so, just open the Files App - and in the Sidebar you will see your SD Card in the list of Locations. If necessary, open the sidebar by tapping the sidebar icon at top-left of the Files App Window. Photos can be copied to the iPad Photo Library, or copied to a folder of your choice either on your iPad or elsewhere.
Understood. I am unable to replicate the problem that you describe.
Are you certain that the SD Reader is not shown in the Files App sidebar (noting that the sidebar itself must be exposed to see connected USB storage)?
Clearly your only options are to verify operation of the USB-C to SD Card Reader with another Apple device - and/or return the reader to Amazon for exchange or refund.
It's not a third party card reader, it's made by Apple. It is brand new and is correctly formatted. The photos are stored in the expected DCIM folder. I do this every day on my iPad 8 with no problem at all. It is only on my new iPad Air 11 that this issue occurs, so it's the new card reader and/or the iPad Air that is the problem. The card reader I have been successfully using every day for years with my iPad 8 has a lightning connector and that is the only difference between the two card readers. The new card reader has, of course, a USB-C connector because it's for use with the iPad Air, which has a USB-C port. This is the only difference. The iPad 8 works perfectly with the card reader that has a lightning connector. For some reason, the USB-C connection on the iPad Air seems to be the problem. The Photos app is the same as it is on my iPad 8.
It might be worth noting that anything that you purchase directly from Apple's physical or online stores are (a) assured to be genuine - and (b) is unconditionally returnable within 14-days of purchase. Items may lack Amazon's potentially lower price, but can save you a whole lot of inconvenience and trouble.
Sometimes you get what you pay for. Cheaper isn't necessarily better.
GRea60 wrote:
I don't have a USB-C hub, unfortunately. I've been using Lightning.
SergZak perhaps missed my troubleshooting advice already offered - including the earlier made suggestion that you verify functioning of your USB-C SD Card Reader with another device that supports USB-C.
While it is quite true to observe that powering via a USB hub can resolve power issues for connected USB storage, it is actually Lightning-equipped host devices that tend to struggle in providing adequate power in some instances. You USB-C iPad, having capacity to source considerably greater power than Lightning-equipped devices, is more than capable of providing sufficient power for your Apple SD Card Reader and installed SD Card.
Excellent - although I don't understand your comment as to the connection being rotated by 90 degrees; the USB-C connector is fully reversible. Perhaps there is just a harmless twist in the pigtail cable - this accounting for a 90 degree offset in the USB-C plug?
Your replacement, being fully functional, demonstrates that you were misfortune in originality receiving a dud. Hopefully the defective item can be returned to the retailer (Amazon) for refund. Amazon's returns process is generally not too onerous to navigate.
I am aware of the non-Apple knock-offs, but Amazon does say it's an Apple SD Card Reader. Of course, there is still a chance it may not be. As for the SD card, itself, it's the same card I use daily and it works just fine in my lightning card reader with my iPad 8.
Unfortunately, I don't think I still have the original packaging, so a return will probably not be possible. There is still the other card reader I'm expecting today. If it works, great. If not, I'll save the packaging for return.
Well, if the iPad Air provides enough power to run the card reader, why is it not doing so? I can't use it with my iPad 8 because it uses Lightning, of course. That's why I bought the USB-C card reader. If the USB-C card reader isn't working when connected to the iPad Air, is this a power issue or what? If it's intended to work with the iPad Air, then why is it not doing so? I'm confused with what you're telling me.
Yep, unless they give me a hard time about the packaging. I don't doubt they will, though. The one I just received today was in nothing more than a sealed plastic sleeve, which I had to open by cutting the end off of it with a pair of scissors.
SD card reader not working with iPad Air 11
