5 Ways to Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive

This article covers 5 methods of how to transfer photos from iPad to external hard drive. You can find effective ways to transfer photos stored in Camera Roll and any other albums.

Way 1. Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive via File Explorer

File Explorer, formerly known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application to help users easily access file systems. When you connect your iPad to computer, it will take your device as a storage device. You can open your device to find photos/videos and copy them to external hard drive. However, you can only find photos saved in Camera Roll.

1. 1. Connect iPad device to computer via USB cable. Enter passcode on device to trust the computer.
2. 2. Click This PC or Computer > Find your device under Devices and drives > Double-click to open your device.
3. 3. Go to Internal Storage> Click DCIM > You will see one or more folders, labeled 100APPLE, 101APPLE, 102APPLE, etc.

Picture 1 of 5 Ways to Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive

1. 4. Open these folders to find the needed photos > Copy and paste photos to external hard drive.

Way 2. Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive via Photos App

Photos app is one built-in photos manager for Windows 10 PC. It can help users export camera roll photos from iPad to PC. To help you free up iPad storage space, it is able to delete photos from device after they have been transferred to computer.

1. 1. Connect your iPad to computer via USB cable > Tap Trust or enter passcode on device if asked.
2. 2. Open Photos > Click Import option > Select From A USB device.
3. 3. Click Import Settings to select the destination and other options.
4. 4. Uncheck photos and videos that you do not want to transfer to computer.
5. 5. Click Import Selected to start the transfer.

Picture 2 of 5 Ways to Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive

Way 3. Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive via AOMEI MBackupper

AOMEI MBackupper is one professional iOS backup tool specially designed for Windows PC users. Besides, it also supports data transfer between iPhone/iPad and computer. Whether it is File Explorer or Photos, they can only help you transfer photos stored in Camera Roll. If you want to transfer photos saved in other albums, you can let AOMEI MBackupper help you achieve the goal.

1. 1. Download, install and launch AOMEI MBackupper.
2. 2. Plug in your iPad. Enter passcode on home screen so that the software can access your device.
3. 3. Click Transfer to Computer option> Choose the photos you want to transfer to external hard drive > Click OK to continue.
4. 4. Choose your external hard drive as the destination to save your photos > If everything is OK, click Transfer to make it.

Picture 3 of 5 Ways to Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive

Way 4. Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive via Files App

Files is a file management app that allows users to browse local files stored on iPad and files stored in cloud storage services. Users can save, open and organize files within it. In addition, since iOS 13/iPadOS 13, Files app can help users transfer files between iPad and external hard drive directly.

1. 1. Connect external hard drive to iPad using a lightning to USB adapter.
2. 2. On your iPad, open Files app > tap Browse to have a check whether your external hard drive has been connected to device.
3. 3. Open Photos app > Choose the photos you need > Tap the Share
4. 4. If you want to select photo options, just tap Options.
5. 5. Tap Save to Files> Choose your external hard drive as the destination > Tap Save.

Picture 4 of 5 Ways to Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive

Way 5. Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive via Google Drive

Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service. It allows users to store files in the cloud and the files can be accessed on any device. We can take this advantage to transfer photos from iPad to external hard drive. First upload photos to Google Drive on iPad > Then download photos from Google Drive on computer > Finally, copy and paste photos to external hard drive.

1. 1. Download Google Drive from App Store > Open it and log in with your account.
2. 2. Tap the Plus icon > Tap Upload > Tap Photos and Videos> Choose the photos you need.

Picture 5 of 5 Ways to Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive

1. 3. On your computer, open a browser and go to Google Drive website > Download the photos you uploaded before.

David Pac

Update 01 May 2021