Here we can see, “How to Use a USB Flash Drive with Your Android Phone or Tablet”
Ever want to observe a video on your phone or tablet without wasting its storage space? Or even you only got to view a file your friend gave you. Latest Android devices support standard USB drives, so you’ll connect a flash drive a bit like you’d on a computer.
Modern versions of Android have improved support for auxiliary storage devices, but this process may require rooting on some older devices. So we’ll discuss both methods here, starting with the straightforward, non-root method for newer phones and tablets.
What is OTG?
USB OTG is brief for USB On-The-Go. With a USB OTG cable, you’ll connect your smartphone or tablet to other devices. The cable features a connector for your phone on one side and a USB-A connector on the opposite side. If you employ a daily USB cable to attach your phone to a computer, the phone is the memory device and your computer the most device. With an OTG cable, your smartphone is that the main device.
How to Use a Flash Drive on Android
You can connect a USB drive to an Android so that you’ll use it on Android and transfer files comfortably. The question is: the way to connect the USB drive to an Android? Well, the thanks to connecting the flash drive to your Android may depend upon what sort of USB port your Android has.
Check Your Android USB Port
If you’ve got an Android with a USB Type-C port and you’ve got a USB drive with both a USB-C interface and a USB-A interface, you’ll use the USB drive on Android without the necessity for an adapter. Using the normal USB-A flash drive, you’ll need an adapter like the USB On-The-Go (OTG) cable.
However, currently, most Android uses a Micro USB interface (USB Micro-B) for data migration and charging. Although USB type-C port appears on some android nowadays with the maturity of technology, Micro USB interface remains widely utilized in various mobile portable devices, including Android.
So, generally speaking, when people ask how to connect a flash drive to an Android, the USB interface of the Android refers to the Micro USB interface. For these Android users, they need to resort to a USB OTG cable.
In conclusion, if you’ve got an Android with a USB-C port, you’ll buy a replacement flash drive with both a USB-C interface and an A interface or adapt the USB OTG cable if you’re using the normal USB-A drive. If your Android has the normal Micro USB port, you’ve got no choice but to use the adapter USB OTG cable to form the connection.
No matter what, a USB OTG cable is significant, but what’s more important is that your Android should support USB OTG.
Check If Your Android Supports USB On-The-Go (OTG)
USB On-The-Go enables your Android to act as a USB host, allowing your Android to attach additional hardware like a flash drive, keyboard than on.
However, not all Android support USB On-The-Go. So before applying this method, you ought to check if your Android supports USB OTG first. Many USB OTG Checker apps may quickly scan your Android to see it supports USB OTG, and you’ll download one via the Google Play store.
You can also visit your Android manufacturer’s website. If you see USB OTG listed within the specifications, it means the device supports USB OTG. If your Android isn’t compatible, you’re unable to use the USB OTG cable to attach your USB drive to Android.
Prepare a USB OTG Cable
The USB OTG cable features a male Micro USB connector on one side and a feminine USB-A jack on the opposite, enabling you to attach the USB drive to the Android.
You can plug your USB drive into the USB A jack, then plug the opposite end of the USB OTG cable into your Android. during this case, the USB drive is often connected to your Android, which is extremely convenient.
If your Android supports USB OTG, you’ll connect your drive to your Android via a USB OTG cable. However, most Android don’t accompany a USB OTG cable. If you do not have one, you’ll buy a USB OTG cable from Amazon.
Prepare a Flash Drive Formatted as FAT32
Prepare a USB drive to be used on your Android. If the USB drive is formatted as NTFS, you would like to format it to FAT32, as NTFS doesn’t work properly with Android.
If you don’t skill to format a USB drive to the FAT32 filing system, you’ll keep reading.
How to Connect a USB Flash Drive to Android
After having a USB OTG cable and formatting or converting the USB drive to FAT32, you’ll connect the drive to your Android. If you do not skills to form the connection, this guide is useful.
Step 1: Plug your cable into your Android.
Step 2: Plug your USB drive into the feminine connector of the cable.
Step 3: Then the file explorer on your Android should automatically crop up after detecting the USB drive.
Step 4: If the USB drive isn’t properly formatted, you’ll need to erase and format your drive. Suppose your USB drive is correctly formatted with MiniTool Partition Wizard. In that case, you’re ready to tab the notification and open the file explorer to look at the drive’s contents as if they were originally stored on your Android.
Then you’re ready to transfer files from Android to the present removable drive and play media files from the USB drive. Don’t remove the memory device while using it, as this may cause unexpected data loss on the USB drive.
If you would like to repeat and paste certain files from the flash drive to your Android device, you’ll long-press on the things you would like to maneuver and perform the right operation. If you would like to get rid of the Android USB drive, you ought to safely disconnect the Android flash drive to avoid data loss.
How to Safely Disconnect an Android Flash Drive
When you don’t need the Android USB drive, you’ll follow the instructions below to disconnect the USB drive securely.
Step 1: Swipe down from the highest of the screen.
Step 2: Tap the USB mass storage connected. Then you’ll now safely disconnect your flash memory device.
Now you ought to skills to securely disconnect the Android flash drive. It’s not a difficult thing to attach and disconnect a flash drive to your Android.
After knowing how to connect a flash drive to an Android, you’ll use the USB drive on Android comfortably regardless of whether you would like to transfer files or play media files stored on the USB drive.
Conclusion
I hope you found this guide useful. If you’ve got any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to use the shape below.
User Questions:
- Can I connect a USB drive to my Android tablet?
You’ve probably noticed that your phone doesn’t have a traditional USB port. To attach the flash drive to your phone or tablet, you will need a USB on-the-go cable (also referred to as USB OTG). … Once you’ve got it, use the cable to attach your Android phone or tablet and USB drive–that’s it.
- Can you connect a USB drive to a Samsung tablet?
The USB connection between the Galaxy tablet and your computer works fastest when both devices are physically connected. You create this connection happen by using the USB cable that comes with the tablet. … One end of the USB cable plugs into the pc, and the opposite end of the cable plugs into the rock bottom of the tablet.
- Where is OTG in settings?
In many devices, an “OTG setting” must be enabled to attach the phone to external USB appliances. Usually, once you attempt to connect an OTG, you get an alert “Enable OTG.” this is often once you turn the OTG option ON. to try to do this, navigate through Settings > Connected devices > OTG.
- looking for a tablet with a full USB port, what are my options?
looking for a tablet with full usb port, what are my options? from Android
- Can I install android apps from a flash drive onto a smartphone/tablet?
Can I install android apps from a flash drive onto a smartphone/tablet? from AskTechnology
