How to Transfer Photos/Videos from iPad to External Hard Drive?

Apple fans often use iPad for photo taking or photo post-processing. Sometimes, the device may be running out of space. And in this juncture, it's urgent to transfer photos to a hard drive, flash drive, computer, etc., for safekeeping before deleting pictures on the iPad to make room for it.

So, here comes a question - how to transfer photos from iPad to external hard drive? OK, we will gather the top 6 ways to resolve this issue in this passage.

Way 1: How to Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive with Assistant for iOS

Would you like to preview all the detailed info of iPad photos and albums on a computer before selecting your desired items for transfer? Well, MobiKin Assistant for iOS (Win and Mac) is such a handy program for you. This incredible tool is designed to help transfer, back up, restore and manage your various iOS data in a well-rounded way.

Why choose MobiKin Assistant for iOS:

• Transfer photos from iPad to computer/external hard drive/flash drive without quality loss.
• Copy data between iOS devices and iTunes/computers.
• Back up and restore iPad/iPhone/iPod in one click.
• Manage iOS content on a PC/Mac directly.
• Ad-free, clean interface, easy to handle, etc.
• Work properly on various iDevices, including iPhone 12/12 Pro (Max)/12 mini, iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max, iPhone X/XR/Xs/Xs Max, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6/6S/6 Plus, iPods, iPads, etc.
• Come with a free trial.
• It never lets out your privacy.

How to transfer photos from iPad to external hard drive via Assistant for iOS?

Step 1. Install and run Assistant for iOS on your computer. Link your iPad to this computer through a USB cord and then the hard drive. Then follow the prompts to get the linked devices recognized by the program.

Step 2. Select "Photos" from the left panel. View and tick on the pictures you want to transfer. Finally, tap "Export" from the top screen to move and save them onto the portable hard drive.

Read Also:

• [Very simple] How to Transfer Photo Albums from iPhone to Computer
• [Easy Guide] How to Transfer Files from Mac/MacBook/iMac to iPad?

Way 2: How to Transfer Photos from iPad to Hard Drive via Windows/File Explorer

File Explorer in Windows 10 (named Windows Explorer in Windows 8/7) is capable of saving iPad photos to external hard drive. Yet, it can process photos from iPad Camera Roll only. Here are the steps:

• Connect both the iPad and external hard drive to a computer.
• Open "This PC"/"My Computer".
• Find your iPad under Devices and drives.
• Unlock your iPad.
• Go to "Internal Storage" > "DCIM" > "100APPLE".
• Open the folder, and you will see all the pictures.



• Drag and copy your desired images to your external hard drive.

Way 3: How to Move Pictures from iPad to External Hard Drive via Photos App

The Photos app (termed iPhotos in earlier versions) is built in Mac OS X 10.10.3 or later. It gives you the option to transfer photos from iPad to Mac or external hard drive.

To save photos/videos from iPad to external hard drive with the Photos app, you should:

• Link your iPad and hard drive to a computer.
• Run the Photos app and start your iPad.
• Press "Trust" on the Pad to trust this computer as a reminder prompts.
• Click "Import from the Photos app" on the upper-right corner.
• Tap "Import from a USB" or "Import from Camera".
• Select the pictures you want from your iPad to import and hit "Import" > "Continue".



• Find the external hard-disk drive as the location and save the images there.

Further Reading:

• Can't Delete Photos from iPhone/iPad? Here are Solutions!
• How to Retrieve Deleted Photos on iPad with/without Backup - 4 Easy Ways

Way 4: How to Transfer Photos/Videos from iPad to External Hard Drive via iCloud

By toggling on the iCloud Photos option on your iPad, you are enabled to upload the pictures to iCloud. Then it's easy to download whatever you want from the Cloud to the external hard drive.

Pick up your iPad to transfer photos to hard drive via iCloud as follows:

• Go to "Settings" > [your name] > Apple ID on the iPad.
• Touch "iCloud" > "Photos" > enable "iCloud Photo Library".



• This will upload your iPad photos to iCloud automatically.
• Log in to icloud.com on a Web browser.
• Go for "Photos" > "Albums" > "All Photos".
• The pictures on your iPad will appear in the folder.
• Connect your hard drive to your PC/Mac.
• Choose your desired photos and click "Download".
• Save the items to your external hard drive.

Way 5: How to Transfer Photos from iPad to Portable Hard Drive via Image Capture

Image Capture facilitates you to take photos and upload them to a Mac from DCs, iDevices, and other devices with a camera. Next, you can copy your required images to your hard drive without a hitch.

How to transfer photos from iPad to hard drive via Image Capture?

• Attach the external hard drive and iPad to your Mac.
• Make sure the Mac computer can identify it.
• Open "Image Capture" on your Mac.
• Select your iPhone from the "Devices" section.
• Click the "Import" from the menu.
• Handpick the images you want to transfer from your iPad.
• Choose "Import Selected "/"Import All New Photos" to move photos to the external hard drive. (can't import photos from iPhone/iPad to Mac or hard drive?)

Way 6: How to Transfer Photos from iPad to Hard Drive without Computer

If your iPad is running iPadOS 13, you can directly move pictures from an iPad to a self-powered external hard drive. To start things off, you need to establish a connection between the devices via a powered hub or Apple's Lightning-to-USB3 Camera Adapter.

How to transfer photos from iPad to external hard drive without a computer?

• Connect the hard drive to the iPad via a lightning to USB adapter.
• You can also make the connection with an adapter/hub that supports both your iPad's and hard drive's connector.
• On your iPad, open the Files app.
• Click Browse to check if your hard drive has been connected or not.
• Go to Photos app > choose the photos you need to transfer.
• Tap "Share" at the bottom left corner.
• Hit the Options to choose your photo options.
• If everything goes well, tap Save to Files > choose your hard drive as the destination > tap Save.
• The screen will pop up a message saying that it's saving your items to the external hard drive.

Extra Tip: How to Transfer Photos from External Hard Drive to iPad/iPhone

Well, is there any way to move photos from a portable hard drive to an iPad? Of course! Follow the directions below to do the transfer for your photos reversely:

• Link your external drive to your iPad. (you need an external power source for the hard drive.)
• Open the Files app > tap the Browse button.
• Tap "open the external drive" under the list of Locations.
• Open the photos and videos folder.
• Select the pictures you'd like to move to your iPad.
• Tap the Share icon.



• Choose Save Image from the share sheet.
• Save external drive images to the Photos app on your iPad.

Summary

That's all for today's post. You can take any of the techniques above to save photos from iPad to external hard drive at your disposal.

Personally, to make the trip of transmission easier and faster, you might as well pick MobiKin Assistant for iOS, the full-fledged iOS data transfer and management software. This tool categorizes all your iPad photos by critical attributes and is much more labor-saving in selecting and copying what you want from your iPad to a hard drive.

Related Articles:

How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to External Hard Drive? [6 Ways]

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3 Ways to Transfer Photos from Android Phone to USB Flash Drive

How to Transfer Photos from iPhone/iPad to PC Windows 10?

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Best 5 Ways to Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone/iPad in Minutes