Last Updated: April 23, 2015

As tablet computers increasingly become mainstream and business devices that are replacing laptops in some uses, users are looking for ways to make their tablets work with their existing accessories, like keyboards and printers. 

Many of these accessories connect using USB. But in typical Apple fashion, the iPad offers only a pair of ports to connect things to the device: the Lightning port (or, on older models, the Dock Connector) and a headphone jack.

Notice the important omission: No USB port.

Other tablets, especially the Microsoft Surface, have USB to connect to accessories, but not the iPad. But does that mean you can't use USB devices with the iPad at all? No. If you have the right accessory, you can use lots of different USB devices with the iPad.

For iPads With the Lightning Port

If you have a 4th generation iPad or newer, or any model of the iPad mini, the accessory you need to use USB devices with the iPad is called the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter. Apple makes and sells this device for US$29. 

With it, you connect the adapter cable to the Lightning port at the bottom of the iPad and then connect a USB accessory to the other end of the cable. As the name might lead you to believe, you can use it to connect cameras to the iPad to import photos and videos. But you can also connect other USB accessories like keyboards, microphones, and Flash drives. Check out this iMore article for some testing of what accessories are compatible and which aren't.

Buy the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter from the Apple Store

For iPads With the 30-Pin Dock Connector

If you have an older iPad with the wider, 30-pin Dock Connector, you're not left out of the fun. You just need the $29 iPad Camera Connection Kit.

This is essentially an older version of the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter mentioned above. It's a little more awkward—it's not a cable, just a dongle that plugs into the bottom of the iPad and sticks out pretty far—but performs basically the same functions. As with the other device, you'll find that some USB accessories are compatible, but some aren't.

Buy the iPad Camera Connection Kit from the Apple Store

Other Ways to Connect Devices to iPad

USB isn't the only way to connect accessories to the iPad. There are many wireless ways to use devices—assuming that your devices support these wireless features. Not all do, so if you want to take this approach, you may need to buy some new accessories. That said, here are some other ways to use peripherals with your iPad:

• AirDrop—An Apple technology introduced with iOS 7 that lets you wirelessly transfer files between iPads, iPhones, and Macs. Learn more about AirDrop
• AirPlay—Apple's technology for streaming audio and video from an iPad to speakers. If you have an Apple TV, you can stream audio and video, as well as mirror your iPad's screen on your TV. Learn more about AirPlay
• AirPrint—Another Apple standard, this time for wireless printing. AirPrint support is built into the iOS, but you'll need an AirPrint-compatible printer to use it. A list of AirPrint-compatible printers
• Bluetooth—A short-range wireless networking standard used for communicating with keyboards, headphones, microphones, and similar devices.