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Lightning to USB-C adapter for plugging in USB/USB-C pen drive?

I

iphonefreak450

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 14, 2014
844
155
Hi,

I’m currently looking for a Lightning to USB-C adapter to plug in my USB into my iPhone 13 mini similar to the image shown here.

This is what I need for my iPhone 13 mini.

But I don’t know if the one in this photo is a reliable brand or not.

Can someone perhaps suggest some other ones that are not too clunky?

I need something less bulky or clunky like the from this image.

But my concern is that I don’t know if this is a reliable brand or not.

Exact model is:

Hoco UA17 Lightning - USB-C adapter​

 

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Just placed an order for an Apple lightning to USB adapter in case I need to save files and documents to my iPhone 13 Mini.

Will this work without using a separate power source if I insert the USB pen drive into this adapter?

According to Apple’s site, it’s compatible with the iPhone 13 mini but I don’t see if it mentions any need for an additional USB power hub source.

www.apple.com

Lightning to USB Camera Adapter

Lightning to USB Camera Adapter lets you import photos and videos from a digital camera to your iPad. Get fast, free shipping when you shop online.
www.apple.com
 
Last edited:
iphonefreak450 said:
Just placed an order for an Apple lightning to USB adapter in case I need to save files and documents to my iPhone 13 Mini.

Will this work without using a separate power source if I insert the USB pen drive into this adapter?

According to Apple’s site, it’s compatible with the iPhone 13 mini but I don’t see if it mentions any need for an additional USB power hub source.

www.apple.com

Lightning to USB Camera Adapter

Lightning to USB Camera Adapter lets you import photos and videos from a digital camera to your iPad. Get fast, free shipping when you shop online.
www.apple.com
Click to expand...

It should be OK but you have to just try it out - people have run into exceptions.
 
sparksd said:
people have run into exceptions
Click to expand...
Yup. I've had a few thumb drives not mount due them drawing too much power.

But I do have the powered one so just need to plug in the Lightning cable. And this one works with S/HDDs.

www.apple.com

Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

Transfer photos and videos to your iPad Pro with Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter. Buy now with fast, free shipping.
www.apple.com
 
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I canceled the order for the one I posted.

So, I need to plug the lightning cable from the charging brick into the lightning port that is on the Apple lightning to USB adapter EVEN when the iPhone is fully charged in order to plug the USB flash drive into the USB port that is on the adapter?

I never thought that USB flash drives required power to work when connected to one of these adapters.
 
Last edited:
iphonefreak450 said:
I canceled the order for the one I posted.

So, I need to plug the lightning cable from the charging brick into the lightning port that is on the Apple lightning to USB adapter EVEN when the iPhone is fully charged in order to plug the USB flash drive into the USB port that is on the adapter?

I never thought that USB flash drives required power to work when connected to one of these adapters.
Click to expand...

Again, for some flash drives you don’t have to but it’s hit and miss. The problem is the low amount of power that the Lightning port can provide - charge level doesn’t matter.
 
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sparksd said:
That's charge-only, right? It won't transmit data between devices?
Click to expand...
It supports data. The makers of this say YMMV on data because they couldn’t get MFi certified (or Apple doesn’t offer certification on these kind of adapters 🤷‍♀️). It worked for CarPlay data for me. I haven’t tried a thumb drive. The maker does say it won’t work with external drives.

Edit: I just tried using it with a usb c microsd reader. It doesn’t work with it. Sorry OP, looks like this isn’t a good adapter for your needs.
 
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The adapter arrived and tried it.

It’s just very clunky and I think it’s more suitable for iPad users.

Just out of curiosity, when the iPhone was updating this adapter when I first plugged in the adapter into my iPhone, where did it store the update files so I can remove them?




www.apple.com

Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

Transfer photos and videos to your iPad Pro with Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter. Buy now with fast, free shipping.
www.apple.com
 
Last edited:
iphonefreak450 said:
The adapter arrived and tried it.

It’s just very clunky and I think it’s more suitable for iPad users.

Just out of curiosity, when the iPhone was updating this adapter, where did it store the update files so I can remove them?




www.apple.com

Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

Transfer photos and videos to your iPad Pro with Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter. Buy now with fast, free shipping.
www.apple.com
Click to expand...

No idea on the file(s) - they may have been simply pass-through to the device. If not, I doubt there is access to them given iOS's memory sandboxing.

Clunky? Yes. I, for one, will be happy when Lightning is fully replaced by USB-C. My phone is the last device left using it, all of my iPads are USB-C.
 
I received the same message to update the adapter when I first plugged it into my iPhone.

Is there a way to remove these update files from the my iPhone?

Reason asking, because I’m wondering if these update files may take up a bit of space and even might make the iPhone unstable.




9D583646-393B-4ECF-9454-5E28E165A97D.png
 
Last edited:
iphonefreak450 said:
I received the same message to update the adapter when I first plugged it into my iPhone.

Is there a way to remove these update files from the my iPhone?

Reason asking, because I’m wondering if these update files may take up a bit of space and even might make the iPhone unstable.




View attachment 2118972
Click to expand...
I wouldn't worry about them. If - a big if - they're still on the phone, they would be incredibly small firmware files because the memory capacity of the dongle is likely incredibly small. And you can't find them on the phone as I noted above. They won't make your phone unstable.
 
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