How to connect an external drive to the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 7: 5 working ways

Why is Redmi 7 an external drive?

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7 sooner or later face a lack of internal memory. Even with the modifications to 32/64 GB, free space is melting before your eyes: high-resolution photos, 4K video, heavy games and cache applications take up tens of gigabytes. External drive is an easy way to expand memory without buying a new smartphone.

How to connect a flash drive, hard disk or SSD Redmi 7, if it only has a microUSB connector and a microSD slot? In this article, we will analyze all the current methods - from the classic to the most popular. OTG-Adapter to wireless solutions, and solve typical problems with device recognition.Spoiler: not all drives will work equally well.

It is important to consider that Redmi 7 Released in 2019 is equipped with microUSB 2.0, which imposes restrictions on data transfer speed (up to 480 Mbps) and compatibility with modern drives. For example, NVMe SSD via USB-C will have to connect via a dual adapter, and some HDDs may not receive enough power.

1. Method: OTG-flash-drive adapter HDD

The most universal method is the use of OTG-For Redmi 7, an adapter with a microUSB connector (Type-B) is suitable) → USB-A. It costs a penny (from 100 rubles), but allows you to connect:

• 📁 Normal. USB-flash-drive (FAT32/exFAT/NTFS)
• 💾 External HDD 2.5" powered from USB (up to 1 TB)
• 🖥️ Card readers for SD/microSD (if the smartphone slot is busy SIM-card)

How to connect:

1. Put it in. OTG-adapter in the microUSB port of the smartphone.
2. Connect the drive to the USB-A adapter connector.
3. Wait for the notice "USB-device is connected" (usually appears via 2-5 seconds).
4. Open the Explorer (Mi File Manager) - the drive will appear in the Devices section.

Does yours support you? OTG-Data adapter (not all cheap cables work correctly)

Is the flash drive formatted in a compatible file system (FAT32/exFAT)

Is the smartphone charging enough (HDDs can quickly drain the battery)

Is energy saving modes disabled in settings-->

The important thing is that Redmi 7 doesn't support NTFS out of the box. If your flash drive is formatted in NTFS, your smartphone will see it, but it won't be able to write files, so the solution is to reformat the drive to exFAT (supports files >4 GB) or use apps like Paragon NTFS & HFS+ (requires root rights).

⚠️ Attention: Some external HDD 3.5" requires additional power from the outlet. If the disc is not detected, check if there is enough power. USB-Redmi 7 port (maximum 500mA) Use an externally powered hub.

2. Method: microSD card (up to 256 GB)

If you need to constantly expand memory, rather than connect the drives temporarily, the best option is a microSD card. Redmi 7 supports cards up to 256 GB (officially) and up to 512 GB (unofficially, but at the risk of unstable operation). SIM-card.

How to set up:

1. Put the card in the slot (contacts up).
2. When you first connect, the smartphone will offer to format it as “Portifical storage” or “Inner memory”.
3. Select Portable Storage if you want to transfer the card between devices. To integrate with the system (install applications), select Internal Memory (the data will be encrypted!).

Card selection tip: Redmi 7 is best for A2 class cards (such as SanDisk Ultra A2 or Samsung EVO Plus).They provide read/write speeds of up to 100 MB/s, which is critical for recording 4K video or running games. Class A1 or Class 10 cards will slow down under intense loads.

💡

If your smartphone doesn’t see a microSD card, try formatting it into FAT32 via your computer (use the official SD Formatter utility).

3. Method: wireless drives (Wi-Fi/Cloud)

If wires are annoying, consider wireless solutions, which are slower than OTG, but are convenient for constant access to files.

• 📶 Wi-Fi flash drives (such as SanDisk Connect or Kingston Wi-Drive): create your own network to which your smartphone connects.
• ☁️ Cloud storage (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Disk): files are available over the Internet, but require traffic.
• 📡 FTP-server on PC: you can configure access to the folders of the computer through applications like ES Conductor.

How to connect a Wi-Fi flash drive:

1. Turn on the flash drive (usually there is a power button).
2. On your smartphone, open Settings → Wi-Fi and connect to the drive network (for example, SanDisk-XXXXX).
3. Install the official manufacturer’s app (e.g. SanDisk Memory Zone).
4. Download/upload files through the application interface.

Cons of wireless solutions:

• The data transfer rate is 5-10 times lower than OTG (real ~5-10 MB / s versus 30-40 MB / s).
• The battery consumption of a smartphone increases by 15-20% due to active Wi-Fi.
• Some applications (such as a gallery) will not see files on the network drive.

OTG-adapter|MicroSD card|Wireless flash drive|Cloud storage|Not plugged in.-->

4. Method: Connecting an SSD via USB-C (with adapters)

If you want high speed and high volume, you can plug in an external SSD. But there's a nuance here.

1. Redmi 7 has microUSB 2.0, so even with SSD speed is limited to ~35-40 MB/s (the theoretical maximum for USB 2.0 is 60 MB/s).
2. An SSD requires a USB-C adapter → microUSB + USB-C cable → USB-A (if the SSD has a Type-C connector).
3. Some SSDs (such as the Samsung T7) may not be detected without additional power.

Recommended connection scheme:

SSD (USB-C) → USB-C Cable → USB-A → USB-A adapter → microUSB → Redmi 7

Critical information: SSDs with USB 3.1/3.2 interface will run at USB 2.0 speeds due to Redmi 7 port limitations. The speed difference between SSD and HDD is minimal in this case, but the SSD still benefits in reliability and power consumption.

5. Method: Connection through USB-hub (for multiple devices)

If you need to connect multiple drives at the same time or use other drives USB-Devices (mouse, keyboard), will be useful USB-For Redmi 7, a hub with a hub will suit:

• 🔌 MicroUSB port (entry).
• 🔌 2-4 port USB-A (exit).
• 🔌 External food (required for the HDD/SSD!).

Example of settings:

1. Connect the hub to the network (if there is a power connector).
2. Connect Redmi 7 to the hub via microUSB.
3. Connect the drives to USB-hub-port.
4. In Settings → Additional → OTG, turn on support (if it doesn’t work automatically).

The advantages of the hub:

• The ability to connect the mouse + flash drive + HDD at the same time.
• Stable power supply for energy-intensive devices.
• Some hubs have memory card slots (SD/microSD).

⚠️ Attention: Cheap hubs without power can burn down a Redmi 7 port when connected to multiple devices.Use models with anti-load protection (e.g. Baseus) 4-Port Hub or Anker USB 3.0 Hub).

Solving problems: the drive is not defined

If your smartphone doesn’t see an external drive, check the following:

Advanced diagnosis:

1. Connect the drive to another device (PC, laptop) to check its performance.
2. Try another cable/adapter – 30% of the problems are due to poor quality accessories.
3. Update Redmi 7 to the latest version (newer versions of MIUI have improved OTG support).
4. Reset USB settings: go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset USB settings.

💡

If the drive is installed on a PC, but not on a smartphone, the problem is in the cable, adapter or power saving settings of Redmi 7. OTG-Adapter to a model with a support chip USB 2.0 (e.g, UGREEN microUSB OTG).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions