How to enable OTG on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: all ways + problem solving

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is still a popular smartphone among users who value reliability and functionality. One useful but often overlooked feature of the device is OTG (On-The-Go) support, which allows you to connect flash drives, keyboards, gamepads and even external hard drives directly to the phone, but many owners are faced with the fact that the feature is either disabled by default or unstable.

In this article, we’ll break down all the activation methods OTG on the Redmi Note 4 (including the Snapdragon and Helio X20 CPU modifications), explain why the device may not see the connected periphery, and give practical tips for fixing typical bugs. We will pay special attention to hidden settings MIUI, which the manufacturer does not advertise in the standard menu.

What is OTG and why you need it on the Redmi Note 4

USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) technology turns your smartphone into a full-fledged host device capable of managing the connected peripherals. For the Redmi Note 4, this means:

• 📁 Connect USB- flash drives and external drives to transfer files without a computer.
• 🎮 Use of gamepads (e.g. Xbox or DualShock) for gaming.
• ⌨️ Keyboard or mouse (convenient for text editing or remote work).
• 📷 Import photos from cameras via USB- cable.

It is important to understand that the Redmi Note 4 supports OTG hardware, but the feature can be locked at the firmware level or disabled in the settings.

• ⚡ Adequate battery level (less than 20% can result in OTG shutdown).
• 🔌 A high-quality OTG- adapter (cheap Chinese adapters are often not recognized).
• 📱 Updated version MIUI (bugs are possible in older firmware).

How to check if your Redmi Note 4 supports OTG

Before you set up the feature, make sure your device is physically compatible with the OTG.

1. Connect the OTG- adapter to the smartphone, and to the adapter - USB- flash drive (preferably formatted in FAT32).
2. Open Settings → About Phone → Kernel and MIUI version.
3. Tap 5-7 times on the kernel version to activate the hidden hardware test menu.
4. In the menu that appears, select the USB OTG Test.

If the test is successful, the screen will show the following message: Passed, otherwise the problem may be:

⚠️ Warning: On some Redmi Note 4 modifications (e.g., with a Helio X20 processor), OTG may not work smoothly due to chipset limitations, in which case only replacing the firmware with custom (e.g., LineageOS) will help.

Method 1: Enabling OTG through standard MIUI settings

In most cases, the OTG function is activated via the settings menu. Instructions for MIUI 10–14:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Additional Settings section (or Advanced Settings in new versions).
3. Select the OTG- connection (in some firmwares it may be called USB OTG).
4. Activate the switch to the position on..

If the OTG- connection is not on the menu, try an alternative route:

Settings → Connections and Sharing → USB → Enable OTG

After activation, connect the OTG- adapter with a flash drive. The USB- notification will appear on the screen, the device is connected, and a new partition will appear in the Explorer (Files).

Charge your phone at least 30% |

Use the OTG- adapter with support for USB 2.0|

Format the flash drive in FAT32/exFAT|

Check the integrity of the USB-port-->

Method 2: Activate OTG through an engineering menu (for experienced)

If standard settings don't work, you can turn on OTG through the engineering menu (hidden mode for diagnosis), which works on most versions of MIUI, but you need to be careful:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###.
2. In the menu that appears, select Hardware Testing.
3. Go to the USB OTG Test section.
4. Press the Start Test and wait for the result.
5. If the test is passed, go back to the main menu and select OTG Switch, then activate the feature.

After that, the OTG should be working, and if the engineering menu doesn't open, it means:

• 🔐 Your firmware has blocked access to diagnostic features (current for global versions MIUI).
• 📱 You have custom firmware installed, in which the engineering menu is disabled.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other parameters in the engineering menu without understanding their purpose! Incorrect settings can cause sensors or communication modules to malfunction.

Method 3: Using third-party applications to manage OTG

If the built-in methods didn’t work, you can use apps from Google Play that force OTG activation.

• 🔧 USB OTG Checker – checks compatibility and helps enable the function.
• 📱 OTG Disk Explorer is a file manager with support for OTG- devices.
• 🔌 Easy OTG Plugin – automatically configures peripheral connectivity.

Instructions for setting up via USB OTG Checker:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Connect the OTG- adapter with a flash drive.
3. Launch the USB OTG Checker and press Check OTG.
4. If the device is supported, the application will prompt you to enable the function through system settings or give instructions for manual activation.

Note that some applications require superuser rights (root) if you don’t have them, use the methods in the previous sections.

💡

Before installing third-party apps, check reviews — some of them may contain ads or unnecessary permissions. Optimal choice: apps with a rating above 4.5 and downloads above 100,000.

Problem Solving: OTG doesn't work after all the manipulations

If you have completed all the steps but the OTG is still not functioning, check the following points:

1. Nutrition problems

Redmi Note 4 can automatically disable OTG- devices when the battery is low or the processor is under high load.

• 🔋 Charge your phone to 50% or more.
• 🔌 Use an externally powered OTG- adapter (if you connect a hard drive).
• ❄️ Close the background applications that consume resources.

2. File system incompatibility

A smartphone may not see a flash drive if it is formatted in NTFS or exFAT (depending on the MIUI version).

• 📁 Format the drive to FAT32 via the computer.
• 🖥️ Use applications like Paragon exFAT/NTFS to support other file systems.

3 Conflict with other USB- devices

If you have a charger or headphones connected to your phone via USB-C, the OTG may not work. Disable all additional devices and try again.

💡

If OTG stopped working after the MIUI update, try rolling back on the previous firmware version or wait for a patch from Xiaomi.Often, OTG bugs are fixed in the next updates.

Alternative ways to connect peripherals without OTG

If you can’t turn on the OTG, consider alternatives:

• 🌐 Cloud storage (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) – for transferring files without a physical connection.
• 📶 FTP- Server (applications like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) - accessing phone files via a computer browser over Wi-Fi.
• 🔄 Bluetooth – for connecting keyboards and mice (albeit with input delay).
• 📡 Adapters Lightning/USB-C → HDMI – to display the image on the monitor (if the purpose was to connect to the TV).

For gamers who need a gamepad, wireless solutions are suitable:

• 🎮 Xbox Wireless Controller (connects via Bluetooth).
• 🎮 8BitDo or Gamesir are universal gamepads with Redmi Note 4 support.

FAQ: Frequent questions about OTG on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4