Apple introduced a number of new features at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 on June 10 along with new operating system updates for its suite of devices, namely iPhone, iPad and Mac. The iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates bring artificial intelligence (AI) features. , a new Calculator app, an improved Photos app, and other quality-of-life updates. However, one feature that Apple did not advertise and has gone under the radar is the ability to format an external drive through the Files app.
Format External Drive Via Files App on iOS 18
The iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates for iPhone and iPad, respectively, bring native support for drive formatting. This means users can now format externally connected drives directly through the Files app. The feature is said to have been introduced with the OS Developer Beta update which is currently available for registered developers.
Disk formatting options in iOS 18
The ability to format an external drive is based on the erase functionality that Apple introduced with iOS 17. While users could only erase drives externally connected to their Apple devices, they can now also format them, enhancing the Disk Utility features present in Apple operating systems. ,
To format a drive, one simply needs to tap and hold on the external drive volume and select erase Option. A new menu appears below the textbox that lists the various formats. Apple allows users to choose from three formats: ExFAT, MS-DOS (FAT) and APPS (Apple File System). APFS also provides options for case sensitive or encrypted formats.
According to the company, APFS is “recommended for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.” It also mentions that MS-DOS (FAT) is compatible with PCs and other devices including cameras. Gadgets 360 staff members were able to confirm the existence of this feature in the iOS 18 Developer Beta update for iPhone.
iOS 18, iPadOS 18 compatibility
Apple says devices including the iPhone XR and new models up to the iPhone 15 Pro Max will get the iOS 18 update. On the other hand, iPadOS 18 compatible models include iPad Pro (12.9-inch) or later, iPad Air (2019) or later, iPad (2019) or later, and iPad mini (2019).
