iPad User Guide
- Welcome
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- Supported models
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad mini (6th generation)
- iPad (5th generation)
- iPad (6th generation)
- iPad (7th generation)
- iPad (8th generation)
- iPad (9th generation)
- iPad (10th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Air (4th generation)
- iPad Air (5th generation)
- iPad Pro 9.7-inch
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
- What’s new in iPadOS 16
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- Set up FaceTime
- Create a FaceTime link
- Make and receive calls
- Take a Live Photo
- Turn on Live Captions in a FaceTime call
- Use other apps during a call
- Make a Group FaceTime call
- View participants in a grid
- Use SharePlay to watch, listen, and play together
- Share your screen
- Hand off a FaceTime call to another device
- Change the video settings
- Change the audio settings
- Add camera effects
- Leave a call or switch to Messages
- Block unwanted callers
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- Intro to Home
- Upgrade to the new Home architecture
- Set up accessories
- Control accessories
- Control your home using Siri
- Configure HomePod
- Control your home remotely
- Create and use scenes
- Create an automation
- Configure cameras
- Face Recognition
- Configure a router
- Share controls with others
- Add more homes
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- Set up Messages
- Send and reply to messages
- Unsend and edit messages
- Keep track of messages and conversations
- Forward and share messages
- Set up a group conversation
- Add photos and video
- Send and receive content
- Watch, listen, or play together using SharePlay
- Collaborate on projects
- Animate messages
- Use iMessage apps
- Use Memoji
- Send a Digital Touch effect
- Send recorded audio messages
- Send, receive, and request money with Apple Cash
- Change notifications
- Block, filter, and report messages
- Delete messages
- Recover deleted messages
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- View photos and videos
- Play videos and slideshows
- Delete or hide photos and videos
- Edit photos and videos
- Trim video length and adjust slow motion
- Edit Live Photos
- Edit Cinematic videos
- Edit Portrait mode photos
- Use photo albums
- Edit and organize albums
- Filter and sort photos and videos in albums
- Duplicate and copy photos and videos
- Merge duplicate photos
- Search in Photos
- Find and identify people in Photos
- Browse photos by location
- Share photos and videos
- Share long videos
- View photos and videos shared with you
- Use Live Text to interact with content in a photo or video
- Use Visual Look Up to identify objects in your photos
- Lift a subject from the photo background
- Watch memories
- Personalize your memories
- Manage memories and featured photos
- Import photos and videos
- Print photos
- Shortcuts
- Tips
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- Share your internet connection
- Make and receive phone calls
- Use iPad as a second display for Mac
- Use a keyboard and mouse or trackpad across your Mac and iPad
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Wirelessly stream video, photos, and audio to Mac
- Cut, copy, and paste between iPad and other devices
- Connect iPad and your computer with a cable
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- Transfer files between devices
- Transfer files with email, messages, or AirDrop
- Automatically keep files up to date with iCloud
- Transfer files with an external storage device
- Use a file server to share files between your iPad and computer
- Share files with a cloud storage service
- Sync content or transfer files with the Finder or iTunes
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- Get started with accessibility features
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- Turn on and practice VoiceOver
- Change your VoiceOver settings
- Learn VoiceOver gestures
- Operate iPad when VoiceOver is on
- Control VoiceOver using the rotor
- Use the onscreen keyboard
- Write with your finger
- Use VoiceOver with an Apple external keyboard
- Use a braille display
- Type onscreen braille
- Customize gestures and keyboard shortcuts
- Use VoiceOver with a pointer device
- Use VoiceOver for images and videos
- Use VoiceOver in apps
- Zoom
- Hover Text
- Display & Text Size
- Motion
- Spoken Content
- Audio Descriptions
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- Use built-in privacy and security protections
- Keep your Apple ID secure
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- Sign in with passkeys
- Sign in with Apple
- Automatically fill in strong passwords
- Change weak or compromised passwords
- View your passwords and related information
- Share passkeys and passwords securely with AirDrop
- Make your passkeys and passwords available on all your devices
- Automatically fill in verification codes
- Sign in with fewer CAPTCHA challenges on iPad
- Manage two-factor authentication for your Apple ID
- Use security keys
- Create and manage Hide My Email addresses
- Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay
- Use a private network address
- Use Advanced Data Protection
- Lockdown Mode
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- Important safety information
- Important handling information
- Find more resources for software and service
- FCC compliance statement
- ISED Canada compliance statement
- Apple and the environment
- Class 1 Laser information
- Disposal and recycling information
- Unauthorized modification of iPadOS
- ENERGY STAR compliance statement
- Copyright
Connect external storage devices to iPad
You can use the Files app 
and other supported apps to access files stored on external devices, such as USB drives and SD cards, connected to your iPad.
Connect a USB drive or an SD card reader
Attach the USB drive or SD card reader to the charging port on your iPad using a compatible connector or adapter.
Depending on your iPad model and external device, you may need the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, USB-C to SD Card Camera Reader, or Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader (all sold separately).
With iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) or iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), you can connect multiple USB drives and other Thunderbolt devices to each other, then connect the chain of devices to the charging port on your iPad.
Note: An external storage device must have only a single data partition, and it must be formatted as APFS, APFS (encrypted), macOS Extended (HFS ), exFAT (FAT64), FAT32, or FAT. To change the formatting of a storage device, use a Mac or PC.
Do any of the following:
Insert an SD memory card into a card reader: Don’t force the card into the slot on the reader; it fits only one way.
Note: You can import photos and videos from the memory card directly to the Photos app. See Import photos and videos to iPad.
View the contents of the drive or memory card: In a supported app (for example, Files), tap Browse at the bottom of the screen, then tap the name of the device below Locations. If you don’t see Locations, tap Browse again at the bottom of the screen.
Disconnect the drive or card reader: Remove it from the charging port on iPad.
External hard drives often require an external power source when used with iPad. If an external hard drive doesn’t supply its own power, and your iPad has a USB-C or Thunderbolt / USB 4 connector, you can use a powered USB hub. If your iPad has a Lightning connector, you can use the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter connected to a USB power adapter.