Today, modern devices play a huge role in our lives. We are not talking about computers or laptops, which are already beginning to gradually fade into the background. Smartphones and tablets are portable computers that have almost all the functions of laptops. Unfortunately, these modern devices are not suitable for office work. Typing text on a tablet is quite difficult, let alone on regular phones.
People began to wonder how to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone or a keyboard, mouse and other useful devices. It turns out it can be done. However, not everyone knows how to connect additional device to your smartphone. Let's look at this using the example of a regular flash drive. As a rule, this is the device that many people try to connect to their device.
How to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone
Modern devices running under operating system control Android systems, have a standard microUSB connector. For a USB flash drive to work on your device, it must have USB On-The-Go technology installed. Manufacturers began implementing this feature in Android OS from version 3.1.
As a rule, modern tablets, and especially phones, do not have a USB connector. Therefore, you will need a USB-OTG cable. Some manufacturers include an adapter for a flash drive in the kit; if you don’t have one, you’ll have to buy it at any store that sells digital equipment.
The smartphone does not have a micro-USB connector
If you do not find a microUSB connector on your smartphone, you will need to first purchase a USB-OTG cable and then an adapter for it. Of course, this is quite inconvenient: if you need to connect an additional device, you will have to use several cables. But this is the only way that will allow you to connect a flash drive.
How to view the contents of an external drive
So, we looked at how to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone. Now we move on to opening an additional device. How to do it? We need to download a file manager. You may already have it, since in some devices the manufacturer installs a certain set of programs. Of course, if you don't have file manager, will have to install. For smartphones running Android OS, the leading places are occupied by ES File Explorer, FX File Explorer and Total Commander. You can choose the application that you like best.
How to open a flash drive on Android
As we have already found out, we will need After installing it, we can go to this utility and find the flash drive. If you can't find external device, try entering the path to the files (/sdcard/usbStorage). After successfully opening the flash drive, you can view, copy and move files as you would on a regular computer. Now you know how to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone and open it, but, unfortunately, problems arise on some devices. Let's look at them and try to find ways to solve them.
Android tablet or smartphone does not see the flash drive
If you have reached this point, then you are having problems connecting the flash drive to your smartphone. This may be due to various reasons. Now we will look at the most common of them.
First. If the file manager should help him. Now there are applications that can eliminate this problem. The most effective program is a paid one, so we will look at a free alternative. Unfortunately, it requires root rights. StickMount works not only with flash drives, but also with other additional devices.
If you have installed the necessary utility, you can connect an external device. When connecting, you must agree to the StickMount rules, after which it will automatically start and see the flash drive. How to find a device? You can go to /sdcard/usbStorage/sda1 in the file manager. Do not forget to properly disconnect additional devices so that there are no problems with them in the future. To do this, go into the program and click on the “Unmount” button.
It is worth noting another high-quality application - Helper, which works on a similar principle.
The second reason. Before installing additional programs and root rights, you should make sure that the problem is not with the flash drive. What is this connected with? Your device simply does not see the flash drive, since it may be configured for another file system(possibly NTFS).
Let's say you don't have a laptop or computer: how then to connect an additional device? You need to download Paragon NTFS & HTS+ - an application that supports the desired format for reading text data. Unfortunately, this application requires root access. You can get them using the King Root program. However, you may not be able to obtain superuser rights on all devices. Remember: you do this at your own peril and risk. Because of this application your smartphone may not work correctly. If the device is still under warranty, then you do not need to get root rights, since the warranty will be lost in this case.
Conclusion
So, we looked at how to connect an external flash drive to an Android smartphone, and described some problems associated with the connection. As practice shows, issues arise on older devices. If you have a new device, there should be no problems. To use a flash drive, keyboard, mouse or other applications on your device, you must follow the rules and do everything carefully.
USB drives are very convenient, aren't they? But you can't connect them to your phone. Unless, of course, you don't know what is USB OTG.
USB On-The-Go (OTG) technology is a standardized specification for USB connections that allows a device to read data over USB without the need for a desktop computer. In fact, the device turns into a “USB host”. But not all gadgets have this capability.
What applications can be found for this? The most diverse! We will look at them in more detail below. For example, if you want to connect a USB drive to your phone or an old Xbox 360 controller to your Android tablet, USB OTG will do it.
USB OTG is not an exclusive feature of Android, but it is most often used with this operating system, so we will focus on it. Some printers already support this technology. Microsoft is going to integrate USB OTG into Windows Phone 10, but Apple remains silent for now. Another reason to buy an Android phone instead of an iPhone.
The simplest and reliable way check whether your phone or tablet supports USB OTG - inspect the box in which the device was packaged or go to the manufacturer’s website. You will see a logo like in the picture above, or you will find mention of USB OTG in the device specifications.
If you can't find this information, try searching for your device on GSMArena.com. Scroll down the list of features until you find the "USB" section. If the phrase “USB host” is there, then everything is fine.
Another method is to download the USB OTG Checker utility from the Play Store. This free application which will give you a quick answer whether it supports Android given function.
Not every device is suitable Android control USB OTG compatible. The manufacturer must enable support for this technology. This option is located in the core of the phone or tablet, which serves as an intermediary between the hardware, operating system and applications. If USB OTG Checker says you can't use USB OTG, it might be time to change yours. Android firmware to a third party that supports USB OTG for your device.
Your Android device is equipped with a standard micro-USB port. However, most USB devices A full USB port is required. How to solve this problem? Using a micro-USB-to-USB adapter, of course.
You need to find a cable with a micro-USB output and a large USB input. Let's hope that in the future, when the USB Type C standard becomes widespread enough, this can be ignored. In the meantime, many such adapters can be found on Amazon, for example, the popular UGreen OTG Adapter.
In addition, flash drives are now available for sale with both micro USB, as well as with standard USB port. For example, Kingston Micro Duo. Such flash drives are no more expensive than regular USB drives, so they will be a useful acquisition.
What can you do with USB OTG
After preparing USB OTG for Android, a sea of possibilities opens up before you. There is a whole thread on Reddit dedicated to ways to use USB OTG. In this article we will list only the most popular of them.
Of course, external data storage is at the top of our list. Just plug them in and go. The easiest way to do this is with USB drives, while with external hard drives things are not so rosy. Portable drives powered by Android will not always work, but with external drives, equipped with their own power sources, you will not have any problems.
These drives must be formatted with the FAT32 file system, as NTFS does not always work perfectly. To quickly connect and disconnect flash drives, download the StickMount app from the Play Store.
If you still have any questions, check out Christian's full tutorial on the extension Android memory using flash drives.
The Xbox 360 controller works perfectly with Android devices via USB OTG. You just need to plug it in and start the game. Of course, this will require games that support controller controls, such as Asphalt 8: Airborne or Modern Combat 5. The latter is classified as a paid game, but that won't stop you from getting it without paying a penny.
If you have full access to your Android device, you can connect your PlayStation 3 controller too.
One Reddit user even suggested plugging in an old PS2 controller and turning his Android into a retro gaming console!
The openness of Android allows you to connect almost anything to this system. If you want to use your tablet as a laptop, you will definitely need a keyboard and mouse. Luckily, Android works great with most wired and wireless keyboards and mice.
I would recommend purchasing a set of wireless keyboard and mice with a single receiver, because you will only have one USB connection. I have not yet come across USB hubs that can work via USB OTG. But make sure you buy standard equipment.
This means you should choose a standard wireless set that is compatible with all platforms. Don't buy things that require additional installation software, such as the Logitech T400, which requires the SetPoint utility.
As Erez notes, the system's standard layout is QWERTY. If you use other layouts, you will need a special utility called External Keyboard Helper Pro (119.99 rubles).
Like keyboards, printers equipped with standard USB ports work great with Android devices. So you don't have to transfer files to your computer or create wireless connection to start printing.
Oddly enough, the “Storage Devices” mode did not work for me, but things may be different for you. If you want to print photos and documents, switch your USB connection to PTP mode.
Control your DSLR camera
Photographers will love this feature. An Android device can be connected to a DSLR camera and turned into a giant screen capable of taking pictures, as well as the ability to adjust settings like speed, shake control, focus, and so on. This is one of the most creative uses for an Android tablet.
You'll need the DSLR Controller app and, ideally, a Canon camera. The utility also works with some Nikon and Sony cameras, but they are not officially supported. In addition, the utility costs a whopping 243 rubles, so read the instructions on the official website before purchasing it.
Does your phone support USB OTG?
Do you have a phone that supports USB OTG? Tell us about your device model and how you took advantage of USB OTG!
Users Android smartphones or tablets sometimes encounter the problem that the phone does not recognize the USB flash drive. Now we will try to figure out what this is connected with and what to do.
Why doesn't my phone recognize the USB flash drive?
Devices running the Android operating system allow you to connect external storage devices, for example, a USB drive, a hard drive. This is done using a special cable called OTG. So, let's look at why the phone does not see the USB flash drive.
If you need a high-quality and inexpensive USB flash drive, order it.
Reason 1: The device does not support OTG
To connect external drives to the device, it must support On-The-Go technology. Its essence is that the phone supplies power to the storage device or hard drive via an OTG cable. You need to check whether the device works with this technology:
- Let's go to Play Market, enter USB OTG Checker in the search bar.
- Install the first application from the list of results.
- Let's launch it.
- If it shows that everything is fine, you can connect the OTG cable and the drive.
This is one of the reasons why the phone does not see the USB flash drive through the OTG adapter.
Reason 2: Android version
Must be installed on your phone operating system Android versions 3.1 and later do not support USB 2.0 and 3.0.
Reason 3: File system format
Devices on which it is installed official firmware support file systems:
- exFAT;
- FAT32.
Unfortunately, the phone will not work with others. There are two options:
- Format your drive for the desired file system.
- To install an application that supports other file systems, however, you will need root rights.
Of course, the second method is convenient; you don’t have to delete anything from the drive, but not every user has root rights and not everyone knows how to do this. Therefore, the easiest way is to simply format the drive through a computer. This is done quite simply:
Please note that during the formatting process, all data on the drive will be destroyed.
Reason 3: Lack of nutrition
It’s rare, but it still happens that the phone does not provide enough power to operate a flash drive or external hard drive. In this case, there is only one way out - to use an active USB hub to which external power is connected.
In this case, mobility is, alas, out of the question.
Reason 4: The connector is damaged
The connector where the OTG cable is connected may be faulty, and even if charging goes through it, this does not mean that it is working. The contacts responsible for data transfer may not be working. In this case, you need to go to the service center.
Reason 4: The OTG cable is damaged
One of the reasons why the phone does not see a flash drive connected via an OTG cable is a malfunction of the cable itself. You need to connect it to another device and connect a flash drive to it; if the drive goes unnoticed, you need to change the cable.
Reason 5: OTG power controller burned out
Sometimes it happens that an Android smartphone does not supply power or does, but not enough. This can be checked:
In this case, you need to take the device to a service center.
How to connect a USB flash drive to your smartphone
To avoid unnecessary questions, it is worth writing brief instructions How to connect a USB flash drive to a smartphone:
- Take the OTG adapter. It must have a USB connector. To buy an adapter of the required standard, it is better to go to the store with a smartphone, then you will definitely get what you need. If there is an OTG, connect it to the microUSB connector of the phone or tablet.
- You need to connect a flash drive to the USB connector of the OTG cable.
- Then you should go to the address sdcard/usbStorage in your smartphone’s file manager, the contents of the drive will be there.
Here's how to connect a USB drive to your smartphone.
If there is no OTG function
Some users are wondering how to connect a USB flash drive to a smartphone if it does not have the OTG function. Unfortunately, there are no smartphones with USB ports, as they are quite large. The only option is to use an OTG adapter; connecting a flash drive to a phone without OTG is unrealistic.
Conclusion
Now you know why your smartphone doesn’t see the flash drive and what to do if it doesn’t have the OTG function. Study this material carefully and everything will become clear.
Smartphones and tablets are actively replacing not only personal computers, but even laptops. However, some functions, for example, typing a fairly large piece of text, due to the small size of the keyboard mobile device, require some effort, and often hassle.
In this regard, the question arises: is it possible to directly connect the desired gadget to your Android device? It turns out it is possible! Not every user knows that it is possible to connect a keyboard, USB gaming peripherals, external modem, etc. to an Android device.
One of the tools for exchanging information between a smartphone and a PC is a flash drive (USB flash drive), which is connected via a USB interface to any reading device.
Most modern devices with Android OS have a standard micro-USB connector that functions as a communication port. To see devices connected through the port, the smartphone must support USB On-The-Go technology (abbr. USB OTG). This feature is implemented in OS Android versions not lower than 3.1.
To connect a flash drive, you will need a USB OTG cable with a microUSB plug on one side and a USB connector on the other:
If the manufacturer of your device was stingy and did not include it with the phone, then you need to get it by spending a small amount in any specialized store. If your device does not have a USB connector, you will have to purchase an adapter with USB on one end and a connector corresponding to your device on the other, to which the USB OTG cable will subsequently be connected.
How to open a flash drive on Android
To open a flash drive and view its contents, you need a file manager. Many modern smartphone models are equipped with this initially, and if you have a USB OTG cable, all that remains to resolve the issue is to connect the drive. If there is no pre-installed file manager, then you will have to download a third-party one, fortunately similar ones (directly the path to the files: /sdcard/usbStorage).
Android tablet does not see the flash drive - reasons
However, not all Android devices can function in a simplified way. Often the connection is made, but nothing happens at all.
First reason. This situation may arise due to the fact that specific device cannot automatically mount an external drive, so it will need help, which is possible by installing a program that can do this. Perhaps the most popular free one in this segment works not only with flash drives, but also with other equipment, including digital cameras.
True, its installation requires root access, and if you already have it, you can connect a USB flash drive using USB cable OTG. In the pop-up prompt, you need to agree to launch StickMount and the program will automatically detect the drive and mount it accordingly. You can find it along the path /sdcard/usbStorage/sda1. To safely remove the flash drive, go into the program again and select the “Unmount” command.
One more thing worth mentioning good app— USB OTG Helper (root rights are also required). The operating principle is similar to that described above.
The second reason The reason why your device may not see the flash drive is that it simply does not read some file systems, such as NTFS, by default.
In this case, using a computer, you need to reformat the flash drive to exFAT or FAT32.
But what if the PC is in this moment absent? Then you can use the Paragon NTFS & HFS+ application, which supports NTFS format and allowing you to manipulate digital files that have a similar file system (required for installation).
We tried to tell you in as much detail as possible about how to connect a flash drive to an Android device and import files to your device and back to an external flash drive. If after reading the article you still have any questions, please contact us and we will dot all the i's. Good luck!
