How much internal storage do the iPad models have? Is it possible to add external storage? Which external storage option is best for my needs?

Each iPad model has a fixed amount of internal storage offered at the time of purchase and this internal storage cannot be expanded or upgraded subsequently.

No iPad models have a SD Card or a MicroSD card slot, but it is quite possible to add external storage to modern iPad devices via its Lightning connector or USB-C port. Wireless solutions were available for vintage models back in the day, but they are difficult to find at this point and physically connected storage is the best option for compatible models now.

Default Internal iPad Storage (Skip)

The amount of default storage is listed on the specs page for each iPad tablet, but also follows:

iPad (30-Pin Connector)	Model	Internal Storage
Wi-Fi (Original/1st Gen)	A1219	16, 32, 64 GB
Wi-Fi/3G/GPS (Original/1st Gen)	A1337	16, 32, 64 GB
2 (Wi-Fi Only)	A1395	16, 32, 64 GB
2 (Wi-Fi/GSM/GPS)	A1396	16, 32, 64 GB
2 (Wi-Fi/CDMA/GPS)	A1397	16, 32, 64 GB
2 (Wi-Fi Only, iPad2,4)	A1395	16 GB
3rd Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A1416	16, 32, 64 GB
3rd Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular AT&T/GPS)	A1430	16, 32, 64 GB
3rd Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular Verizon/GPS)	A1403	16, 32, 64 GB
iPad (Lightning Connector)
4th Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A1458	16, 32, 64, 128 GB
4th Gen (Wi-Fi/AT&T/GPS)	A1459	16, 32, 64, 128 GB
4th Gen (Wi-Fi/Verizon & Sprint/GPS)	A1460	16, 32, 64, 128 GB
9.7" 5th Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A1822	32, 128 GB
9.7" 5th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular)	A1823	32, 128 GB
9.7" 6th Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A1893	32, 128 GB
9.7" 6th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular)	A1954	32, 128 GB
10.2" 7th Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A2197	32, 128 GB
10.2" 7th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, US/CA)	A2200	32, 128 GB
10.2" 7th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, Global)	A2198	32, 128 GB
10.2" 7th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, China)	A2199	32, 128 GB
10.2" 8th Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A2270	32, 128 GB
10.2" 8th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, US/CA)	A2428	32, 128 GB
10.2" 8th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, Global)	A2429	32, 128 GB
10.2" 8th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, China)	A2430	32, 128 GB
10.2" 9th Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A2602	32, 256 GB
10.2" 9th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, US/CA)	A2603	32, 256 GB
10.2" 9th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, Global)	A2604	32, 256 GB
10.2" 9th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, China)	A2605	32, 256 GB
iPad (USB-C Connector)
10.9" 10th Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A2696	64, 256 GB
10.9" 10th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular)	A2757	64, 256 GB
10.9" 10th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cellular, China)	A2777	64, 256 GB
A16 - 11th Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A3354	128, 256, 512 GB
A16 - 11th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cell)	A3355	128, 256, 512 GB
A16 - 11th Gen (Wi-Fi/Cell, China)	A3356	128, 256, 512 GB

Because there are significant differences, EveryiPad.com covers default storage and external storage options for the iPhone, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models separately.

The default internal storage in all of these models cannot be upgraded beyond the amount that was installed at the time of purchase.

External iPad Storage Solutions

If you would like to add storage to your iPad to hold photos and video, the best way to add an external storage drive to modern iPad devices these days is via its Lightning connector or USB-C port.

Best Lightning External iPad Storage

Effectively any external storage that works with an iPhone also will work with iPad models.

Two of the best compact external storage options for iPad models with Lightning ports these days are the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Go and SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe, available from site sponsor Adorama and elsewhere.

Photo Credit: SanDisk (Go - Left; Luxe - Right)

These two USB sticks are similar with the option of 64 GB, 128 GB, or 256 GB of storage and ports on both ends. Both devices have a Lightning port on one end -- so they can be connected to an iPad with a Lightning Port -- and a USB-A port or USB-C port on the other end -- for the Go and Luxe, respectively -- so that they can be connected to an older computer equipped with a USB-A port or a newer computer (or newer iPad) with a USB-C port.

The SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe, in particular, because it has both Lightning and USB-C ports, is an especially convenient option because it can be easily used with both old and new iPad models.

Best USB-C External iPad Storage

Wireless storage also is an option, but because recent -- and all current -- iPad models have a USB-C port, the best solution is to use directly connected storage. In general, USB-C storage should be straightforward, faster, and more reliable.

Just about any USB-C hard drive or SSD should get the job done, but quality, high capacity options include the small OWC Envoy Pro mini and larger, but still compact, OWC Envoy Pro Elektron from site sponsor Other World Computing and the SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD from site sponsor Adorama.

Photo Credit: OWC (Envoy Pro mini)

The OWC Envoy Pro mini is designed to be carried or worn on a lanyard, has both USB-A and USB-C ports and capacities up to 2 TB.

Photo Credit: OWC (Left); SanDisk (Right)

The OWC Envoy Pro Elektron and SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD are each smaller than a mobile phone and packaged in durable cases designed to resist dust and water as well as survive a drop and bounce around in a backpack without issue.

The SanDisk Extreme supports transfer speeds up to 550MB/s and is available in capacities ranging from 500 GB to 4 TB. The OWC Envoy Pro Elektron is faster, with transfer speeds up to 1011MB/s and capacities from 240 GB to 4 TB.

iPad Storage Summary

Whether you use your iPad to listen to music and watch movies or edit your own photos and videos, or both, it seems far too easy to run out of storage space.

However, by adding external Lightning or USB-C storage to your iPad, you can eliminate this capacity problem and get much more out of your tablet.