How to open a flash drive on Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways (with photo)

Connecting a flash drive to a Xiaomi smartphone seems like an easy task, but in practice users face errors like “Device is not recognized” or lack of system response. The problem is complicated by the variety of models (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5, Mi 11) and versions of MIUI — somewhere you need a OTG- cable, and somewhere you just need to insert the drive into the Type-C adapter → USB-A. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of connection, including hidden settings MIUI, which the manufacturer does not advertise.

It’s important to understand that not every flash drive is compatible with Xiaomi smartphones. For example, NTFS drives often don’t read without additional manipulation, and older models (Redmi 4X, Mi A1) may not support OTG at all. We tested the solutions on devices from 2020 to 2026 and identified universal methods that work even on custom firmware.

1. Check OTG support on your Xiaomi

Before you buy adapters, make sure your smartphone supports USB OTG (On-The-Go) technology. In Xiaomi, this feature is available on all models since the Redmi Note 5 (2018), but there are nuances:

• 📱 Flagship series (Mi 10/11/12, Black Shark): Support for OTG by default, including power to external hard drives (up to 2.5).
• 📲 Mid-segment (Redmi Note 9–13, Poco X3–X6): OTG works, but manual activation may be required.
• ⚠️ Budget models (Redmi A1, Poco C50): limited support - only flash drives up to 32 GB with the file system FAT32.

To check compatibility without connecting devices:

1. Open the Settings app → About the phone → All the characteristics.
2. Find the USB OTG line – if there is an inscription “Supported”, you can safely buy an adapter.
3. For older models (MIUI 10 and below), download the USB OTG Checker app from Google Play.

⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi with MediaTek processors (e.g., Redmi 9A, Poco M3) OTG may not work smoothly due to chipset limitations, in which case only flashing to custom LineageOS software will help.

2. Ways to connect a flash drive to Xiaomi

There are 5 basic ways to open a flash drive on a Xiaomi phone, and we’ve arranged them from the simplest to the most complex, depending on the smartphone model, the type of drive and your tasks (for example, whether you just need to copy files or write data).

2.1. via OTG- Cable (Universal Method)

The most reliable way is to use a OTG- adapter with a Type-C or Micro-USB connector (depending on your Xiaomi port). Suitable for USB 2.0/3.0 flash drives up to 2 TB (assuming an exFAT file system).

Format the flash drive in FAT32/exFAT (if NTFS)

Buy a quality OTG- cable (we recommend UGREEN or Baseus)

Connect the flash drive to the adapter, then to the phone

Wait for the notification “USB- Drive connected”

-->

Step-by-step:

1. Insert the flash drive into the OTG- cable (USB-A connector).
2. Connect the other end of the cable (Type-C/Micro-USB) to your smartphone.
3. On the screen will appear a notification “USB-drive detected” – tap it.
4. Select the action: Open (to view files) or Transfer files (to copy).

If the notification does not appear:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone and reconnect.
• 🔌 Try another OTG- cable (cheap often don't work with Xiaomi).
• 📱 Check settings: Settings → Connections and Sharing → OTG (turn on the slider).

2.2 via wireless USB- adapter

If you have a Wi-Fi-enabled flash drive (such as SanDisk Connect or Kingston Wi-Drive), you can connect wirelessly, this method is convenient for transferring large files (video, backups) or if the OTG-port is busy (for example, charging your phone).

How to connect:

1. Turn on Wi-Fi on the flash drive (usually the button on the case).
2. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Wi-Fi and find the drive network (for example, SanDisk-XXXXX).
3. Connect to the network (password is usually indicated on the package or instructions).
4. Open your browser and enter the address 192.168.1.1 or use the official application of the flash drive manufacturer.

⚠️ Warning: Wireless flash drives drain Xiaomi’s battery 15-20% faster due to constant Wi-Fi data transfer.

Through card reader (for microSD)

If you have a microSD flash drive, you can insert it directly into your smartphone — all Xiaomi models (except the Mi Mix and Black Shark) have a memory card slot.

• 📁 Maximum supported volume is 1 TB (per MIUI 14+).

How to open it:

1. Insert the microSD into the SIM- card tray (use a clip to extract the tray).
2. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
3. In the "Device" section, select «SD-map».

💡

If your phone doesn’t see a microSD, try formatting it on a PC in FAT32 with a cluster size of 32 KB. Use the SD Formatter utility from the SD Association to do this.

2.4. via computer (if the OTG is not working)

If your smartphone persists in not recognizing the flash drive, you can use your computer as an intermediary, a method that is suitable for transferring files between Xiaomi and the drive without OTG.

Instructions:

1. Connect the flash drive to the PC and copy the desired files to a separate folder.
2. Connect your phone to your computer via the USB- cable (select File Transfer Mode on Xiaomi).
3. Transfer files from your PC to your smartphone to the Download or MIUI folder.

2.5. via Termux (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can plug a flash drive into Termux, a Linux emulator for Android, which requires root or unlocked bootloader permissions, but allows you to work with NTFS and other file systems.

Teams for Termux:

pkg install usb-modeswitch


su




ls /dev/block/ | grep -i "sd" # find the flash drive device




mount -t vfat /dev/block/sda1 /sdcard/usb # mount (replace sda1 on your device)

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect use of Termux may result in data loss on the drive or failure MIUI.

3.Why Xiaomi doesn't see the flash drive: 7 reasons and solutions

If nothing happens after connecting the OTG- cable, the problem may lie in the phone settings, the flash drive itself or the adapter. We collected typical errors and ways to fix them, tested on the Redmi Note 11, Poco F4 and Mi 11 Lite.

Critical information: On Xiaomi models with MIUI 13+ and the Snapdragon processor 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi K50 Gaming) may work protection against connection of uncertified USB-To turn it off, go to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers → Disable the check USB (Developer mode must be activated).

4. Flash Formatting for Xiaomi: Which File System to Choose

One of the main factors of successful connection is the correct file system of the drive. Xiaomi based on MIUI supports three main formats, but each has limitations:

• 📁 FAT32: Compatible with all models, but does not support >4GB files.
• 📁 exFAT: Optimal for flash drives >64 GB, runs on MIUI 11+.
• 📁 NTFS: Reading is possible only with root or through Termux.

How to format a flash drive for Xiaomi:

1. Connect the flash drive to a Windows PC.
2. Open “This computer”, right-click on the drive → “Format”.
3. Select the file system: Up to 32 GB → FAT32. From 64 GB → exFAT.

Start.

5. MIUI settings for working with flash drives

MIUI has hidden options that affect interaction with external drives. For example, by default, the system can block access to flash drives for some applications (for example, VLC or FX File Explorer).

Applicants' permissions

If you have connected a flash drive but cannot open files in a particular application (for example, in a video player), you must manually issue permissions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as MX Player).
3. Go to “Permissions” and turn on “Memory”.

5.2 Developer mode (for experienced)

In the developer mode, you can enable debugging via USB and other functions useful for working with flash drives:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
2. Return to “Settings → Additional → For Developers”.
3. Turn on: “Debugging over USB” (for ADB). “Do not turn off the screen when charging” (if you copy large files).

💡

On Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and later, the flash drives are automatically mounted in the /storage/usb folder. If you use a file manager (such as Solid Explorer), manually specify this path to access files.

6. Alternative ways to transfer files without a flash drive

If you can’t connect a flash drive, consider alternative data transfer options, which are especially relevant for Xiaomi owners without OTG or when working with large files (for example,.tar backups).

• 🌐 Cloud storage: Google Drive, Mi Cloud (built into MIUI), Mega (up to 50GB free).
• 📶 Local area network: LocalSend or Snapdrop applications for Wi-Fi transmission without internet.
• 📱 Bluetooth/FTP: Enable the FTP- server in Settings → Connections → FTP- server and connect from your PC.

Comparison of methods:

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting a flash drive to Xiaomi