Although Apple doesn’t say it outright, the iPad can be used as an everyday computer instead of a Mac in many cases. Cases where the iPad isn’t suitable often involve more mundane but vital tasks, but it seems Apple is slowly fixing these shortcomings in iPadOS – there’s a new feature in the upcoming iPad OS 18 that’s very useful.
Kaleb Cadle, who writes about Apple topics (among other technical topics) on ByteBits, discovered the ability to erase and format attached storage devices in the iPadOS 18 beta. The feature can be found in the Files app: Long press on the external storage device to see the Erase option, then you will have the option to rename the device and choose one of three formats: APFS, ExFAT or MS-DOS (FAT). The option was also discovered in the iOS 18 beta, according to MacRumors.
iPadOS 18 beta includes the ability to erase and format external storage devices.
iPadOS 18 beta includes the ability to erase and format external storage devices.
Kaleb Cadle/ByteBits
iPadOS 18 beta includes the ability to erase and format external storage devices.
Kaleb Cadle/ByteBits
Kaleb Cadle/ByteBits
While the ability to erase and format disks may not be one you use frequently on an iPad (you probably don’t use it much on a Mac either), it’s a very useful feature . This saves you from having to turn to a Mac if you find yourself in this situation. Cadle wonders if Apple will eventually bring other features of the Mac’s Disk Utility app to the iPad, such as Restore and First Aid – we certainly hope so.
Keep in mind that this is an iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 feature, so it will only be available on compatible devices and may be limited to certain models with specific hardware requirements.
