Photos wont import from sd card to ipad

May 20, 2022 • Filed to: SD Card Solutions • Proven solutions

Unlike Android devices that have an in-built ability to add and increase storage capability by using microSD cards, iPhone and iPad require an adapter to import your data that includes photos as well as videos. But when the iPad SD card reader not working, you may get frustrated. But don't worry! We are here to get you out of this situation. This article will provide you the best solution in case your SD card reader not working. So, let's start our solutions.

The first solution to look for is to check if your iPhone or iPad model and iOS versions are compatible or not.

If you are using an Apple iPhone version 5 or more, you will need iOS 9.2 or later. Whereas, if you are using iPhone 4S, you may need iOS version 9.3. 

To use a lightning to USB 3 adapter, you will need the iOS 9.3 version. Thus, it is very important to check for compatibility if your iPhone SD card reader not working.

Solution 2: Check if SD card is supported

The camera adapters of Apple can import different media files from an SD card or a digital camera. But if the file format is not compatible with iOS, you will not be able to view it on your device. Thus, it is important to check if the SD card is supported or not. Some of the SD card and image transfer protocol includes:

  • Picture Transfer Protocol
  • Mass storage device protocol
  • SDSC
  • SDHC
  • MiniSD
  • MicroSD
  • MMC
  • SDXC

Thus, check if the SD card is supported or not.

Solution 3: Check if the SD card reader is defective

If you think that there is a possibility that your SD card reader is not working, you need to check the device with a working SD card. You can run a test to verify if the SD card is damaged or not. You can't use a damaged SD card and get the best result. Thus, run a diagnostic test to verify if your SD card is in working condition or not.

Solution 4: Check if picture files are in the correct folder

When your iPhone SD card reader is not working, you also need to check if picture files are in the correct folder or not. You can't select picture files into an SD card and then plug that SD card into the lightning card. Thus, the picture must be in the sub-directory or a DCIM folder. This is important because your camera will format the SD card automatically directly from the Sub-directory. Thus, when you are sure that there is no problem related to incompatible iOS or anything else, it's important to check if the picture is stored in the correct folder or not.

Solution 5: Factory resetting your iPhone or iPad

If none of the above-mentioned give you the expected result, it is time to factory reset your iPhone or iPad. The following are the steps needed to factory reset your iPhone or iPad.

Step 1: Open "Settings" on your iPhone/iPad and tap on "General".

Step 2: Go to "Reset" and choose "Erase All Contents and Settings".

Photos wont import from sd card to ipad

Solution 6: Upgrade to the latest iOS

Sometimes your iPhone or iPad SD card may not work if it is not updated to the latest version. Thus, you need to upgrade it. Follow these steps:

Step 1 – Connect the device to Wi-Fi or any other form of internet connection you have.

Step 2 – Go to the "Settings" option.

Step 3 – Then click on "General" and tap on the "Software update" option.

Step 4 – Tap on the "Download and install" option.

Photos wont import from sd card to ipad

Step 5 - Once the update is completed, you will receive a pop-up that says that the update is completed.

Solution 7: Format SD card to FAT32

The next solution that you can look for is to format the SD card to FAT32. There are different ways to do it but we will follow the easiest one i.e. using Powershell. Follow these steps to format the SD card to FAT32 in Windows:

Step 1 - Start the step by inserting the SD card into your PC.

Step 2 – Start with the "Windows + X" keys combination and choose "Windows Powershell (Admin)" from the menu.

Photos wont import from sd card to ipad

Step 3 – In the command box, type "format /FS:FAT32 H:" and press the Enter key.

Photos wont import from sd card to ipad

Step 4 – Sit back and relax and the PC will format it.

What to do if it's the fault of a corrupt SD card?

If it is the fault of the SD card, you need to fix it. And fixing usually involves the formatting of the card which thereby results in data loss. Hence, you will need to look for how to recover the lost data, won't you? We recommend you using the Recoverit Data Recovery tool. It is a data recovery tool that has been trusted by more than 5million users all around the world. It can help you to recover any type of data you want. You can use this tool to recover data from Windows computer, Mac, or any other external devices like SD card. All types of file types and file systems can be recovered by using the Recoverit recovery tool.

Download | Win Download | Mac

Steps to recover data from formatted SD card using the Recover it Recovery tool:

Step 1: Connect the external device.

Before starting the recovery program, it is important to connect the external device to your computer. Once it is recognized, you can start the next step.

Step 2: Select the external device.

Now, you need to select the external device. You need to select the external device as the target location. Then click the "start" button to move to the next step.

Photos wont import from sd card to ipad

Step 3: Scan the external device.

It is very important to scan the external device to get back the lost data. The scanning process will get completed within a few minutes. During this scanning process, you will locate the target file, and you can stop it.

Photos wont import from sd card to ipad

Step 4: Preview and recover files

Once the scanning process gets completed, you can preview the file that you got from the scanning result. To recover the file back, just click on the "Recover" button. And save the file to a safe location.

Photos wont import from sd card to ipad

Conclusion

No matter what kind of file or data you've lost, no other recovery program works as good as the Recoverit recovery tool. It is one of the most highly-rated data recovery programs in the industry. This tool also works well when the iPhone x SD card reader not working and you end up losing data.

Download | Win Download | Mac

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Apr 22, 2013 8:31 AM in response to yostitch In response to yostitch

you use the camera connector kit for that?

Apr 22, 2013 8:31 AM

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Apr 22, 2013 8:32 AM in response to yostitch In response to yostitch

Have you tried to give your device a reset? Sometimes that helps with glitches. Hold down the sleep and home keys, past when you see the red power down slider and until you see the silver apple. Let it reboot and try again.

ALso, the card reader will only see files that are formatted correctly. If you just took the images from your computer and put them onto the card, then it won't work. They have to follow a strict naming convention. There has to be a folder named DCIM on the card and then all those images have to have a file name of exactly 8 characters, DSC_3857 for example. Your camera makes this naming structure but if you manually put the photos on that card you may not have replicated it.

Is this a card you've used before? If it's a new card and is empty then the iPad won't read it. Also if it's SDXC it won't read those either (XC cards use a file structure that the iPad can't decipher)

Apr 22, 2013 8:32 AM

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Apr 22, 2013 8:41 AM in response to Skydiver119 In response to Skydiver119

I've used this card multiple times in the past with no problem. I'm giving the iPad a reboot now ...hope this works.

Okay. I tried the reboot, but that didn't seem to solve the problem. What now?

Apr 22, 2013 8:41 AM

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Apr 22, 2013 8:35 AM in response to jesterwylde In response to jesterwylde

Yes, I'm using the kit ... has been working great until now.

Apr 22, 2013 8:35 AM

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Apr 22, 2013 8:47 AM in response to yostitch In response to yostitch

As far as i know, the camera connection kit can only read photos that were directly written on it from the digital camera, so no photos that we transferred from a computer to the SD card. Even photos that were written on the SD card from the digital camera, then transferred to a computer and transferred back to the SD card can't be read by the camera kit.

Does that information help ?

Apr 22, 2013 8:47 AM

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Apr 22, 2013 10:37 AM in response to jesterwylde In response to jesterwylde

You can put images on the card and have them read. I've done it. I've even done it with limited USB drives. The key is to follow the naming convention.

DCIM folder, all files within it with 8 character names

you can also use it with mp4 files and some other movie types. The key is the folder structure and name.

Apr 22, 2013 10:37 AM

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Apr 22, 2013 1:20 PM in response to yostitch In response to yostitch

Are you seeing the photo thumbnails on your iPad but they just won't import?

Try a different SD card & see if it works.

Try this - Reset the iPad by holding down on the Sleep and Home buttons at the same time for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple Logo appears - ignore the red slider - let go of the buttons. (This is equivalent to rebooting your computer.)

 Cheers, Tom 😉

Apr 22, 2013 1:20 PM

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Aug 3, 2013 7:04 AM in response to Skydiver119 In response to Skydiver119

Thank you!!!! I had a similar problem and this workaround was perfect.

Aug 3, 2013 7:04 AM

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Dec 30, 2015 2:47 PM in response to Skydiver119 In response to Skydiver119

Such a shame that the ipad only accepts photos named with an 8-character name! I just purchased my ipad, and love using it to display my photos. But I have renamed all my computer archive of photos (1000's of them) with very explicit names which facilitate word searches. For instance, I might name one "Tom John Mike July 4 beach party.jpg". As such, it is instantly findable in a program such as Picasa. How can I replicate this functionality in the ipad?

David

Dec 30, 2015 2:47 PM

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Dec 30, 2015 2:53 PM in response to David VF In response to David VF

How can I replicate this functionality in the ipad?

You can't directly as IOS will not support the long file names. About all you can do is organize the image files into separate folders. You cannot use sub-folders as only the top level folder is supported. Images in the sub-folders will appear as if they were in the top level folder.

Dec 30, 2015 2:53 PM

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Jan 22, 2016 12:30 PM in response to Skydiver119 In response to Skydiver119

I used the DCIM folder my camera setup on the SD card and loaded my photos into it creating 8 character names of my choosing and was able to download the photos to my IPad with no problems.

Jan 22, 2016 12:30 PM

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Apr 25, 2017 5:53 AM in response to yostitch In response to yostitch

I had to add MVI to an 8 digit reference, place the files in a DCIM folder and add to a suitably formatted SD card (the microSD that was formatted for my Dashcam wouldn't work) I wonder if I can create a automatic workflow to convert all Dashcam videos?

Apr 25, 2017 5:53 AM

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Jun 7, 2017 5:28 AM in response to yostitch In response to yostitch

I had the same issue with my new iPad Pro today with a new Apple card reader. I was trying to import photos from my PC to an sd card, but they would not then import to the iPad. I then tried copying the photos from the PC into the digital camera file DCIM/100 Canon folder in the card rather than directly onto the card. It all then worked as it should.

Clearly the IOS system can only read from such a folder on the card.

Jun 7, 2017 5:28 AM

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Oct 6, 2017 9:54 AM in response to Skydiver119 In response to Skydiver119

Thank you!

Pretty straight forward: Photos exactly 8 characters and inside DCIM folder!! Thank you again!

Common Apple...you can do better! :/

Marco Tavares

Oct 6, 2017 9:54 AM

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