OTG on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: how to turn on and use flash drives / mouse

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, but many users are faced with the problem of connecting external devices via OTG (USB On-The-Go). Despite the fact that the model officially supports this feature, its activation is not always obvious: in some firmware, the option is hidden in the depths of the menu, and in others – requires additional manipulation.

In this article you will find 3 work-in OTG (including hidden settings MIUI), Device compatibility table, as well as solving common errors – from power outage to file system problems exFAT/NTFS. Particular attention is paid to the nuances of firmware MIUI 12.5, 13 and 14, Where the options may differ.

If you've tried to plug in a flash drive or a gamepad, but your smartphone doesn't respond, don't be quick to blame the cable. In 60 percent of cases, the problem is that the OTG function is disabled in settings or locking on the part of MIUI. Next, we'll take everything from checking hardware support to forced activation through the engineering menu.

1.Test OTG support on Redmi Note 8 Pro

Before you try to activate OTG, make sure your Redmi Note 8 Pro supports this feature at all. Despite the stated compatibility, some regional versions (for example, for India or China) may have different hardware.

There are 3 ways to check:

• 🔍 Official specification: on the Xiaomi website in the section of technical specifications Redmi Note 8 Pro should be indicated "USB Type-C (USB 2.0, OTG)". If this line is not available, your model does not support OTG.
• 📱 Annex USB OTG Checker: Download it from Google Play – the utility will show if the feature is available at the hardware level.

Important: Redmi Note 8 Pro on the chip Mediatek Helio G90T supports OTG only in USB 2.0 (speed up to 480 Mbps). Connecting USB 3.0/3.1 devices is possible, but will work at a reduced speed.

2. Standard way to enable OTG through MIUI settings

In most cases, the OTG function is activated through the settings menu, but its location depends on the version of MIUI. Below are the current paths for different firmware:

If your MIUI version does not have a separate OTG option, try an alternative way:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the line version of MIUI to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → For developers.
4. Find the default USB configuration option and set the File Transfer (MTP) + OTG value.

Check the compatibility of the cable (must support data transmission)

Format the flash drive to FAT32/exFAT (NTFS is not supported without root)

Connect the charger (some devices require additional power)

Reboot your smartphone before the first connection-->

3. Forced OTG Enablement via Engineering Menu (if the option is hidden)

If standard settings don’t work, you can try activating OTG through the Engineering Mode, which works even on custom firmware, but you need to be careful that you can fail in the wrong way.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##3644633## (alternative code: ##4636## → "Phone Information").
2. In the engineering menu, go to the Hardware Testing → USB section.
3. Find the USB OTG Test setting and activate it.
4. Connect. OTG-cable – if the device is determined, press Pass to save settings.

Warning: After leaving the engineering menu, some settings may reset. To fix the changes, restart your smartphone.

4. Solving OTG problems: why a smartphone can't see a device

Even after successful activation OTG The connected devices may not be recognized.-5 causes and ways of eliminating them:

• 🔌 Faulty cable: Use only certified cables OTG-Data-enabled cables (cheap charging cables won't work). Check the integrity of the contacts.
• 💾 Incompatible file system: Redmi Note 8 Pro only supports default FAT32 and exFAT. NTFS root or special applications (e.g. Paragon) are required NTFS & HFS+).
• 🔋 Lack of power: some hard drives or USB-Hubs require an additional power source. Connect your smartphone to charge before use OTG.
• 📱 Conflict with other connections: disable all wireless connections (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and try again.
• 🔄 Failure in MIUI: Clear the cache of system applications (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Show system-based → Clear the cache for "USB-setting").

⚠️ Attention: if after connection OTG-The device starts to warm or discharge quickly, this may indicate a short circuit in the cable.

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Use a Y-cable to connect external hard drives OTG supplementary USB-This will solve the problem of power shortage for storage devices larger than 1 TB.

5. Compatibility of OTG with different devices

Not all gadgets can be connected to the Redmi Note 8 Pro via OTG. Below is a table of compatibility with popular devices and the nuances of their use:

To connect game controllers (such as DualShock 4 or Xbox One), install the USB Driver for Gamepads app from Google Play. Some devices (such as Steam Controller) require manual driver installation via ADB.

6. Alternative ways to connect devices without OTG

If the OTG still doesn’t work, consider alternatives:

• 🌐 Cloud Storage: Upload files to Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex Disk, and then download them to your smartphone.
• 📶 FTP-Server: install FileZilla Server on your PC and on your smartphone — FX File Explorer with support FTP. Connect to the local network.
• 🔗 Wi-Fi Direct: Some flash drives (such as SanDisk Connect) support wireless connectivity via their own access point.
• 🖥️ Remote Access: Use TeamViewer or AnyDesk to control your PC from your smartphone and transfer files.

⚠️ Attention: when used FTP or Wi-Fi Direct, turn off mobile internet on your smartphone to avoid traffic leakage.These protocols can consume up to 500MB per hour when you are actively transmitting data.

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If OTG It does not work in any way, check the integrity. USB-A damaged contact or oxidation can block a function at the hardware level.

7. Frequent OTG questions on Redmi Note 8 Pro