Android is great at working with USB flash drives; some devices even have a full-fledged USB port. But not everyone is so lucky. Most devices are equipped with a microUSB connector. What to do if you need to connect a flash drive to a smartphone or tablet equipped only with a microUSB port?

Android has USB On - To - Go technology (loosely translated: plug and use). Its essence is that the device is capable of supplying power to external media connected via microUSB. Thanks to this, the user has the opportunity to work with flash drives directly from his tablet or smartphone.

This onetechnology All devices with Android 3.1 and higher definitely have it.. As for the rest, you need to check. Use the program from Google Play Market for this.

Checking your device using USB OTG Checker

To check for OTG on your device, simply run the USB OTG Checker program. She will test the device and show you the result.

Connecting an OTG cable

So, your device is modern enough to support this simple technology. Now you need a USB to microUSB adapter. This cable is also called an OTG cable.

It looks like any regular adapter: on one side there is a flat plug for the microUSB connector, on the other there is a USB port covered with plastic.

Connect one end of the OTG cable to your smartphone or tablet, and insert a flash card into the other. If everything is fine, a corresponding message will appear on the device screen. You will be prompted to open a file manager to view the data from the USB drive.

StickMount: if the device does not see the flash drive through the adapter

Unfortunately, it's not always that simple. On some devices, the USB drive may not be recognized even if OTG is present. If we exclude the possibility of damage to the flash drive (check it by connecting it to the computer), then perhaps your smartphone / tablet does not automatically detect the external media. In this case, the program will help. You can download it from Google Play Market.

1. Download and install the program.
2. Try inserting the flash drive again.
3. Android will now prompt you to launch StickMount. Agree. The flash drive will be detected and you will be able to view the files installed on it.

Please note that StickMount requires Root access.

How to get Root access on a device

How to connect a USB flash drive to Android using an adapter - video

How to view data from a flash drive

In order to work comfortably with an external drive, you will need good file managers. If you have root access, you can choose from a variety of options. But if you are the owner of a Nexus device, then there are at least two applications in the Play Market that allow you to do without root.

Application	Description
Nexus Media Importer	Copying media data from external media. Application Features: Import/export photos, videos and music NTFS support Work without Root rights
Nexus USB 2OTG FileManage.	View files on external media for Nexus devices. Application Features: Full control over files (creating, deleting, editing) File system support FAT32 file system Work without Root rights

These are not the only ones, but perhaps one of the best. Alas, both are paid. In general, they can work on other devices, you need to check here. You can do this using the Nexus Photo Viewer program.

Thus, to connect a flash drive to a device running the Android operating system, you will need a USB to microUSB adapter and several programs. In addition, to fully work with removable media, you need good file managers, which can only be installed on a smartphone or tablet with root access.

If your tablet does not have enough memory to download high-quality videos or large applications, then you can use a “workaround” option, that is, connect a flash drive (USB drive) to your device. This is exactly what today’s article will be devoted to. There are a couple of ways to connect a flash drive, you will learn about them below.

Connecting to a USB port

This method is the simplest, but it can be used if the device has a USB connector. You just need to insert the flash drive into the port and use the file manager to view its contents. Not all devices have such connectors, so the method will be relevant only for some gadgets.

Connection using an adapter

If the device does not have a USB connector, you can try connecting a Flash drive using another port - micro-USB. For this we need a special adapter. The flash drive is connected to a large connector, and a more compact one is inserted into the corresponding port on the tablet. If everything is done correctly, a corresponding indicator will appear on the device, indicating that the flash drive has been connected. Next, as in method No. 1, you can view files located on the drive using any manager (built-in or third-party).

In this way, you can connect not only a flash drive, but also many other devices. For example, you can control your tablet with a mouse if you connect it using an adapter. Or, for example, you can forget about the built-in keyboard and use its computer version. This will allow you to more comfortably control the device when performing certain actions.
Thus, using a flash drive you can “expand” the memory of your tablet for a while. That is, if, for example, you find a cool movie that weighs 10 GB, then it is clear that it may not fit on every device. In this case, load it onto a flash drive and simply connect it using the above methods. By the way, you can also find out whether the Flash drive is connected correctly by looking at the flash drive (the green indicator will blink).

The methods described in this manual are suitable for most modern tablets, so you can safely use them. The most important thing is to do everything exactly as described in the instructions to avoid mistakes. Then, after a few minutes, you will be able to view the data stored on the flash drive using your gadget.

Surely you have more than once had the need to connect a flash drive to your Android tablet or smartphone, but you did not know how to do it. Yes, you won’t find a full-size USB in almost any Android gadget, but you can still connect the drive to your device. Now I'll tell you how.

Instructions: how to connect a flash drive to an Android tablet or smartphone

To open and view the contents of a flash drive, you will need a file manager. If you don’t have a built-in manager initially, you’ll have to download a third-party one. You can find it on our website. The path to the files itself will look like this: /sdcard/usbStorage.

True, tablets or smartphones cannot always detect a flash drive or hard drive. In this case, you will have to download the paid application Nexus Media Importer (works not only with Nexus), or the StickMount application, which is free but requires root (Superuser rights). Read about receiving them in the posts: and. If you have already rooted your device, then you can start. There is another great application for automatically mounting a flash drive. It's called USB OTG Helper and also requires root rights.

How to connect a flash drive to an Android tablet or smartphone via MicroUSB

If your tablet or smartphone uses a MicroUSB port, then connecting such a device will not be difficult. You just need to fork out a couple of dollars and buy a USB OTG cable. That is, you insert the corresponding end of the adapter into the device connector, and connect the flash drive to it. If your Android smartphone or tablet supports the OTG function, then the flash drive will be detected automatically.

How to connect a flash drive to an Android tablet or smartphone without MicroUSB

If your manufacturer was greedy on the USB connector, and instead equipped its device only with a proprietary synchronization connector, then you will have to spend a little more. But even in this situation, there is a solution: you will need another additional adapter, suitable specifically for your connector. You will need to insert a USB OTG cable into it.

That's all, I hope that my post was useful to you.

Information is the most valuable resource. There are many ways to exchange it. Sometimes it happens that someone gives you the necessary files on a USB drive, but you only have a tablet at hand. Most modern models are not equipped with an appropriate connector, so you have to look for other methods. Below we tell you how to connect a flash drive to your tablet, and what to do if it doesn’t see it.

An option that will help in the situation described above is to use an OTG cable. This is the only answer to the question “is it possible to connect a flash drive to a tablet.”

Important! It is worth considering that it only works on Windows and Android devices. Apple technology currently does not understand any external drives.

You cannot directly insert a flash drive into the tablet, so for those who actively use the tablet, it would be a good idea to purchase a special adapter. It is sold at any computer store and is quite inexpensive.

The OTG cable has a microUSB connector on one side and a female USB output on the other. To open files through the adapter, you need to connect the cable to the tablet, and on the other side connect the storage medium. Starting with Android 3.1, the developers have provided support for this connection method, which means there should be no problems, since finding a device with an older version of the operating system is now quite difficult. This method also works on smartphones. After the flash drive is connected to the tablet, it will appear as external memory, and just move the files or just open them. How to do this will be described below.

Important! When connecting via an OTG cable, you should not forget that older models of Samsung tablets did not use a MicroUSB connector, but a wider format developed by a Korean company. An adapter with the appropriate connection is also on sale, you just need to check this point with the sellers.

An OTG cable is a useful accessory that will allow you not only to connect a flash drive, but also use a mouse, keyboard, printer or 3G modem. For the last two, a special driver is required, which must be provided by the equipment manufacturer. Usually the technical documentation describes where and how to download it.

How to open files

At the second stage of work, you need to open the flash drive on the tablet. Most often, the device itself will detect the carrier and display a corresponding message in notifications. Just pull the curtain down and click on it. If this does not happen, it will save file manager, it is in any modern device. If it is missing, one of the file manager applications will help you view the flash drive on the tablet.

The most popular option is Total Commander, many people know it from the PC, and in essence it is no different. Here you can not only access folders and files, but copy them, move them and perform any other actions. The application is free, and you can find it by searching the Play Market. In addition, applications are quite popular Explorer, Root Explorer, ES File Manager. The principle of their operation is completely similar, only the interface changes. Which option is better is a matter of personal preference.

To open a particular file, you will need special software. Many text documents open in Microsoft readers or Office. Videos and music will open in players; if we are talking about PDF files, then you need Adobe Acrobat Reader or Foxit Reader. In other words, everything depends on the situation, so each individual case has its own decision.

Advice! The best way to figure out what program you need is to look at the file type and search the Internet to find the appropriate application.

Why doesn't the tablet see the media?

If the tablet does not see the flash drive, then there may be several options. The most common problem is that the user simply did not find the desired directory (address) of the drive. The easiest way to find what you need is in Total Commader; you need to return to the root location and there find the name of the folder labeled USB - this is the flash drive.

Second option - The device cannot produce enough voltage. Any media and accessory requires power. In the case of a tablet, it is supplied via a USB connector; a flash drive with a large amount of memory may not open due to the fact that the tablet is not designed to provide it with energy. This usually happens when you try to pair the device and an external hard drive. Sometimes a device simply does not support large amounts of memory, and then you need to choose a drive with a minimum capacity. Today it is 2 or 4 GB.

The third possible problem is lack of Root rights on the device. To get them, you need to install the Kingo Android Root application on your PC or laptop, and connect the device itself to the device via USB. Next, on the tablet in the settings we find the “For Developers” item. If it is not there, then it is not activated. Activation is performed as follows.

1. Go to settings and open the “About phone” item.
2. Click on “Build number”. The message “You have become a developer” will appear.

We go to the main settings menu and find the above item. It is necessary to activate “USB Debugging”. After this, we return to the laptop and go back to Kingo Android Root. If everything is done correctly, the program will determine the model and manufacturer of the tablet or smartphone and install the necessary drivers. At some point, a window will appear on the PC screen where you need to click on the “Root” button. Now all that remains is to download the StickMount application, and through it you can see the flash drive on the tablet.

Not every user knows that any USB drive is formatted to a certain operating standard. More often tablets only understand FAT32. In order to check how the flash drive is currently formatted, you need to insert it into the PC and open the properties. If it says NTFS, then simply format it through a special menu item and change the file system type.

Important! Formatting deletes all data, so you should first transfer it to your PC.

Sometimes the problem with connecting a flash drive to the tablet is related to physical damage to the media and cable. It’s very simple to check whether this is true: you need to connect another medium through the same cable. If it opens, then the adapter is working. The drive itself can be opened on a PC or laptop, if it works, then the problem is not there.

Conclusion

In order not to carry a cable and a flash drive with you, you can simply buy a double-sided drive in the store that has both a USB and a MicroUSB connector. They are widespread, and the price differs not significantly. The presence of this accessory greatly simplifies life, because you can simply transfer data from your PC to your phone through it without searching for wires, pairings, or other actions. Another useful accessory is the Hub, which has a microUSB connector on one side and inputs for a variety of storage media on the other.

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Hello.

I've always wondered why tablets don't have a full USB port? It’s clear that you can’t put it on a “small” phone, but on a tablet?

Actually, I think you have had situations more than once when you needed to connect a flash drive to a tablet or smartphone in order to quickly copy (read) data. But you can’t do it that easily and you have to resort to using various “adapters” and adapters (which means there will be “dark” and unclear moments, unnecessary problems with compatibility, errors, etc.). This is what today's article will be about...

In general, I want to say right away that you can’t connect a USB flash drive to every tablet (phone): it shouldn’t be very old, with an Android OS version lower than 3.1. It’s just that older systems (than 3.1) do not support USB host mode (the original name is USB Host, or even more often used USB OTG), which means they won’t see your flash drive.

Connecting a flash drive via USB OTG

The vast majority of tablets and phones have a universal MicroUSB port. You can connect a charger, a flash drive, and other devices to it.

To connect a flash drive, you will need a special adapter from MicroUSB to a regular USB port. Such adapters are called USB OTG adapters . Nowadays you can find a variety of options on sale: with a flexible elastic wire, just like a small adapter (which can be easily lost ) and other options.

Addition!

By the way, very cheap OTG adapters can be found in various Chinese online stores. If you search, you can find similar products for 30-50 rubles! I talked about the cheapest Chinese stores in this article:

Actually, taking such an adapter, connect a flash drive to it and insert it into the MicroUSB port of the tablet (or phone). Example below.

Please note that the LED on the flash drive should start blinking (i.e., it means that power is being supplied to it - a good signal).

Actually, in the “Files” section in Explorer on Android, two “directories” are visible:

1. phone memory (all your photos, ringtones, etc. are here);
2. An external USB drive is our flash drive.

Next, just go to either the phone memory or a flash drive - copy what you need, and then paste it into another desired directory. All actions are performed almost identically to Windows Explorer...

By the way, now universal flash drives with two ports have begun to appear on sale: classic USB and MicroUSB. Name such a flash drive, you don’t need any adapters! It can be connected to both a regular PC/laptop and a tablet. A convenient tool for transferring data from one device to another!

Now there are flash drives on sale that can be directly connected to a PC or tablet.

By the way, I connected such a flash drive to my phone as a test: Windows Explorer on Android sees this drive without any problems and allows you to fully work with it...

Possible problems when connecting a flash drive via an OTG adapter

1) There is nothing in Explorer, I can’t find the flash drive...

Yes, apparently it depends on the version of Android - if it’s older, then Explorer does not always show the flash drive, even if it is visible on the tablet.

But there is an alternative to Explorer, we are talking about the ES Explorer application (on w3bsit3-dns.com). After installing this application, you should see USB Storage in the “Local Storage” section (this is a flash drive). In principle, working with ES Explorer is no different from working with classic (except there are more possibilities).

2) The flash drive is invisible neither in the conductor nor in the ES conductor, but the LED on it blinks. The tablet offers to format the flash drive...

This often happens if your flash drive is formatted with the NTFS file system. Many tablets/phones only accept FAT 32, and therefore cannot read a flash drive, and at best suggest formatting it.

Here you can do this:

1. use the program - it will allow you to mount drives formatted in NTFS and HFS+ (also very useful for Apple users);
2. Just .

By the way, this also sometimes happens with USB 3.0 flash drives (so if you have a USB 2.0 flash drive, try connecting it).

3) If you connected an external hard drive...

It is quite possible that the tablet's power supply is simply not enough to keep the external drive running. This can also happen with some flash drives (by the way, there may be problems with drives that are too large - the tablet simply may not recognize them).

If you want to connect an external hard drive to your tablet, try using a special USB adapter (splitter) with a power supply (an example is shown in the photo below).

USB splitter with power supply

All the best!