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Nadeem28230335k4xr
Nadeem28230335k4xr
Known Participant
January 1, 2024
Open for Voting

P: Add support local file browsing on iPad/tablet just like on desktop

  • January 1, 2024
  • 6 replies
  • 909 views

I would like to request that local file browsing, similar to what was added to Lr Desktop recently, be added to the iPad app (and other tablet systems).

 

When traveling without a laptop, or using just an iPad, my desired workflow would be

  1. load images from SD card onto external SSD (I'm already doing this for backup purposes anyways)
  2. cull, rate, and keyword images on my external SSD
  3. load just those images I want to edit into the cloud

 

This is how I've started doing it on my desktop Mac, and would like the same functionality on iPad.

 

This would vastly improve the experience for other users desiring similar workflow as it would save so much time to not have to constantly be importing and deleting images from the cloud.  This is especially useful if you are somewhere where there isn't great wifi.

    6 replies

    melissapiccone
    Community Expert
    melissapicconeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2025

    I would like to be able to edit images from my external HD on my iPad WITHOUT having to import them / upload to the cloud. I want the edits to write to the hard drive, the same way it works on the Desktop. There are others in the community that have expressed this, I have private students that would like this as well. It would be great if there was a local tab to make it super simple. 

    Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
      martinmuriel86
      martinmuriel86
      Participating Frequently
      July 31, 2024

      Culling and editing directly from external drive on lightroom for iPad could make this app really useful 

        manarns
        manarns
        Participant
        June 4, 2024

        It would be awesome if I could edit images directly of my portable SSD on my iPad.

         

        Especially when travelling, I usually don't have the internet connection to upload hundreds of GB to the cloud, just so I can pick up on my iPad where I left of on my Mac.

         

        It would be so great if I could just plug in my external SSD and keep on editing - wherever, whenever.

         

        (I was super happy about editing from local storage being added to the desktop version! Now I am hoping it will soon come to iPad aswell. For all of us who like to travel light)

          Professor Deb
          Professor Deb
          Participating Frequently
          May 27, 2024

          Absolutely agree! That's my beef too… I have the newest iPad, which is technically faster than my M3 MacBook Pro, and yet I can't see my files on Dropbox or an external SSD directly with Lightroom without importing them first. Just give us the full desktop experience, please!

            J
            joanned19729680
            Participant
            May 23, 2024

            I would like to be able to access my external hard drive as "local" on my Lightroom app on my iPhone and iPad so that I can work on them while on vacation. I would like the same availability to my external hard drive as I have on Lightroom desktop. 

              世
              世通36139302mh5e
              Participant
              March 17, 2024

              Supports external hard drive to access and edit photos, iPad's hard drive capacity is limited

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