Digital artist and developer Kabel Cadle has uncovered a game-changing new feature in iPadOS 18: the ability to format external drives directly on an iPad. This functionality, previously only available on Mac's Disk Utility app, finally allows iPad users to select between three different format options for their external drives. Cadle has been monitoring the drive erase function since iPadOS 17 betas, anticipating the addition of formatting options. With the introduction of this feature in iPadOS 18, users can now easily reformat external drives by selecting the "Erase" option in the Files app, bringing a seamless experience similar to that of the Mac. Additionally, iPadOS 18 introduces a new 'Keep Downloaded' button in the Files app, solving a common issue where files stored in local cache are unexpectedly removed. This update ensures that crucial files remain easily accessible, even without an internet connection.