I'm having an issue with my 2TB Seagate Expansion HDD that I formatted as exFAT on my Mac, using a single GUID partition. I'm trying to connect it to my iPhone 14 Pro using the official Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, which I'm powering with a 12W Apple charger. However, the drive isn't showing up in the Files app under Locations. I've tried reconnecting multiple times, ensuring the phone is fully unlocked, and the HDD works fine on my Mac. Is there something I'm missing? Has anyone successfully connected a similar setup?
2 Answers
You're likely running into a power issue here. The 12W charger isn't enough for your HDD; the Lightning port just can't supply the needed power. Apple doesn't really inform us how much power accessories can draw, which can be frustrating. You might want to consider using a USB-C iPhone or switching to a power-efficient SSD instead. It can save you a lot of hassle with adapters that don't work as expected.
It sounds like your hard drive might be too power-hungry for your current setup. I'd recommend trying a higher wattage power adapter to see if that makes a difference. Sometimes, even the official accessories might not provide enough power for larger HDDs.
Thanks for the suggestion! I noticed that when I use a regular USB-to-Lightning cable, the HDD LED turns on, but with the Apple adapter, it doesn’t light up at all.
I really appreciate your insights. It’s good to know there are alternatives, thanks!