How to connect the flash drive to Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: all ways + problem solving

Introduction: Why is Redmi Note 7 an external drive?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, released in 2019, is still a popular budget smartphone with a balance of performance and functionality. However, its internal memory (32/64 GB depending on the modification) often becomes a bottleneck for users who store a lot of photos, videos or install resource-intensive applications. Connecting a flash drive solves this problem, but not everything is so simple: MIUI imposes restrictions on working with external media, and the smartphone itself does not support OTG out of the box without additional accessories.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of connecting, from the classic OTG- cable to wireless solutions, and also tell you how to avoid typical errors like “Device not recognized” or “Flash drive is not formatted.” Particular attention will be paid to compatibility with the exFAT file system, which often causes problems on Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later.

1. Compatibility check: Does the Redmi Note 7 support OTG?

Technically, the Redmi Note 7 is equipped with a USB Type-C port (unlike the microUSB on older models), which is physically capable of working with OTG.

• 🔌 Hardware support: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset in this model has a built-in controller OTG, but its activation depends on the firmware.
• 📱 Software Restrictions: In MIUI 10–14, the OTG function may be disabled by default or require manual activation in the developer settings.
• ⚡ Power: Some flash drives (especially 128GB+ drives) require more power than a smartphone port can provide, leading to the "Power shortage" error.

To check for OTG support without buying an adapter, do:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable.
2. In the notification curtain, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. If the computer has determined the device - OTG will work with the flash drive (only an adapter is needed).

2 Method 1: classic OTG- Cable (the most reliable)

This is a basic method that works on 90% of Xiaomi devices.

• 🔗 OTG- cable with a USB-C (male) → USB-A (female) connector (cost ~150–300 ₽).
• 💾 A flash drive with a file system FAT32 or exFAT (NTFS is not supported!).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-smartphone-mount.
2. Put the flash drive in the cable connector.
3. The notification curtain will show a message saying, "USB- Drive is connected."
4. Select "Open" or "Use as a media device".

The flash drive is formatted in FAT32/exFAT|

OTG- Cable is serviceable (check on another device)|

Developer mode is enabled on the smartphone (if required)|

Battery charge >30% (for stability)

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If the flash drive is not detected:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone with a connected drive.
• 🔌 Try another OTG- cable (cheap often don't provide enough current).
• 📁 Format the flash drive on your PC in FAT32 (via Disk Management in Windows).

💡

If the flash drive is detected but the files are not opened, check it for viruses through the PC. MIUI blocks access to infected media.

Method 2: Wireless Wi-Fi connection (for large files)

If you don't have a OTG- cable or a flash drive that can't be read, you can use wireless data, which is slower but versatile, and works even with NTFS- drives.

• 📶 A router or Wi-Fi hotspot.
• 💻 Computer or laptop (for intermediate copying).
• 📱 The Xiaomi Files Application (preinstalled) or Solid Explorer.

Instructions:

1. Connect the flash drive to the PC and enable Shared Network Access on it (in the properties of the folder).
2. On your smartphone, connect to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Open the Files Application → Network → Add Storage.
4. Enter IP- PC address (learn via ipconfig in the command line).
5. Copy files from a flash drive to a smartphone through a network folder.

The advantage of this method is that there are no file system restrictions, for example, you can copy files from NTFS- flash drives to a PC and then transfer them to a smartphone over Wi-Fi.

Method 3: Powered adapter (for 128+ GB flash drives)

If your 128 GB+ flash drive is not detected through a standard OTG, the problem is likely a power shortage, the solution being to use an externally powered OTG-Hab (e.g., a USB-C Hub with a PD port), which connects to a smartphone and simultaneously to charging, providing a stable voltage for energy-intensive drives.

How to choose a hub:

• 🔌 Look for models labeled "Power Delivery" or "PD."
• 🔋 Minimum power is 5B/2A (for flash drives up to 256GB).
• 📌 An additional USB-A port is desirable for connecting the mouse/keyboard.

Example of working diagram:

Charging (18W)


↓




USB-C → OTG- Hub with PD → USB-A → 256 GB flash drive




↓




Redmi Note 7 (USB-C port)

Not all hubs are compatible with MIUI, and the models we've tested recommend:

• Baseus 6-in-1 Hub (PD 30W support)
• UGREEN USB-C Hub (4 USB-A + HDMI ports)

5. Method 4: Cloud services (if the flash drive is not at hand)

If you don't have physical access to the flash drive, but you need to transfer files urgently, you can use cloud services, which doesn't require OTG, but depends on the speed of the Internet and has limitations on volume.

The following steps are provided for Google Drive:

1. On a PC, upload files from the flash drive to Google Drive (via the browser).
2. On your smartphone, open the Google Drive app.
3. Find the uploaded files and select "Download".
4. The files will be saved to the Download folder of internal memory.

Alternative services:

• 🌩️ Yandex Drive (10 GB free, high speed in Russia).
• ☁️ Mega (20GB free, data encryption).
• 📁 Mi Cloud (5GB, integration with MIUI).

💡

Cloud services are convenient for transferring documents and photos, but are not suitable for large video files (traffic and speed limits).

To accelerate the loading:

• Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile internet.
• Archive files in ZIP before downloading.
• Download at night (if the provider has no-limit nighttime).

6.The solution to the problems: why doesn't the Redmi Note 7 see the flash drive?

Even with the correct connection of the OTG flash drive may not be detected. Consider top-5 causes and ways to eliminate them:

⚠️ Warning! If the flash drive was previously used on Android smartphones from other brands (Samsung, Huawei), it could have been formatted in a proprietary format, in which case it needs to be reformatted to FAT32 via PC.

If none of these methods worked, try:

1. Update MIUI to the latest version (new firmware has improved OTG support).
2. Reset your smartphone settings (pre-make a backup!).
3. Check the flash drive on another device (it may be damaged).

7. Alternatives: memory cards and network drives

If plugging in a flash drive causes persistent problems, consider alternatives:

• 📱 MicroSD card: Redmi Note 7 supports cards up to 256 GB (in hybrid slot) Read/Write faster than OTG- flash drives.
• 🌐 Network Storage (NAS): Connect an external hard drive to a router with a USB- port and configure access over SMB.
• ☁️ FTP- Server on PC: Use FileZilla Server to access files remotely.

Comparison with OTG:

• ✅ MicroSD: Faster, more reliable, but requires a card.
• ⚡ NAS: Access from any device, but router configuration is required.
• 🔄 FTP: Flexible, but dependent on internet speed.

For most users, MicroSD remains the optimal solution, especially if you need to constantly store files on your smartphone. OTG is convenient for one-time operations, and network methods are convenient for backups and sharing.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions