How to watch the contents of the flash drive on Xiaomi devices: from TVs to smartphones

Connection USB-It seems like a simple task to use a Xiaomi device, as long as you don’t have problems like “the flash drive doesn’t show up,” “files don’t read,” or “the device needs formatting,” the reasons may lie in the settings of the gadget itself, as well as in the features of the storage file system. In this article, we will analyze all working ways to view the flash drive on Xiaomi smartphones (Redmi, POCO), Mi TVs TV and other brand devices – from basic connection to solving complex errors.

It's important to understand that the algorithm of actions depends on the type of device. For example, Mi TV Stick or Mi Box with Android TV work with flash drives differently than smartphones on MIUI. And older TV models (until 2020) may not support modern file systems like exFAT. We took into account all the nuances and put together universal solutions that will work even if your USB drive is formatted in NTFS or has non-standard markup.

Before you go to the instructions, check two key points:

• 🔌 Physical connection: USB-The ports on Xiaomi devices are often "drowned" - make sure the connector is plugged in to the point. USB 3.0 (blue) if you want to transfer large files.
• 📁 File system format: Xiaomi smartphones without root rights will not see flash drives from the NTFS (Additional software is required. The best option — FAT32 (Up to 4 GB per file) or exFAT (for files) >4GB).

1. Connecting a flash drive to a Xiaomi smartphone (Redmi, POCO, Mi)

Modern Xiaomi smartphones support connectivity USB-drive-by OTG (However, even with the adapter, problems can arise, especially if you use a flash drive larger than 64 GB or with a file system. NTFS.

Here is the step-by-step instruction for devices on MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Prepare an adapter: Buy a quality adapter OTG-Adapter (preferably original from Xiaomi or certified by Anker) Cheap adapters may not provide enough current to power the flash drive.
2. Connect the flash drive: Insert the adapter into the USB-C connector (or Micro-USB for older models), then plug the drive in. The screen will display a notification "USB device connected."
3. Open files: Tap on the notification or launch the Files app (folder icon). The drive will appear in the section USB-storage.

If the flash drive is not detected:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone with a connected drive.
• 🔌 Try another one. OTG-Adapter – some flash drives require additional power.
• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version: old firmware had bugs with exFAT support.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and later may trigger a lock "unsafe» USB-If you see a message saying, "This device may damage your data," click "Connect" anyway, this is a false alarm.

2. View flash drive on Xiaomi TV (Mi TV, Mi Box, TV Stick)

Xiaomi TVs and consoles support USB-Multimedia storage, but there are nuances:

• 🎬 File formats: The video should be in MP4, MKV or AVI (codecs H.264/H.265). Music — MP3, FLAC. Photo Photo — JPEG, PNG.
• 📂 Folder structure: Files should lie at the root of the flash drive or in folders not more than 3 levels deep (for example, Flash Drive). → Movies → 2026 → film.mp4).

How to open the flash drive on Mi TV:

1. Put the flash drive in. USB-port on TV or console (for Mi) TV Stick needs a shot. OTG-adapter).
2. On the remote, click Home → select the File Manager (or Media Player) application.
3. In the list of devices, select your flash drive (the name will appear as USB Drive or on the drive model).
4. To play the video, select the file and press OK on the remote.

If the flash drive is not visible:

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If the Xiaomi TV doesn’t see the flash drive, but it works on a PC, try formatting it into FAT32 with a cluster size of 32 KB – these are the optimal settings for the Mi TV.

3. Solving the "Flash Drive Needs Formatting" Problem

The message “Disk is not formatted” or “Should be formatted” appears if:

• 🖥️ The file system is corrupted (for example, after being retrieved without safely shutting down).
• 🔄 The flash drive is formatted in NTFS, Xiaomi device does not support this format.
• 🦠 The drive is infected with a virus that hid files.

How to restore access without losing data:

1. Check on a PC: Connect the flash drive to your computer. If you see the files, copy them, then format the drive to exFAT.
2. Use CHKDSK: In Windows, run the command prompt on behalf of the administrator and type: chkdsk E: /f (replace E: with the letter of your flash drive).
3. Recover files: If data is critical, use Recuva, TestDisk, or R-Studio to recover.

⚠️ Warning: Never format a flash drive directly on a Xiaomi device if it has important files on it! Smartphones and TVs often offer "fast formatting" that doesn't repair damaged sectors, but simply erases data.

4. Setup to display hidden files on Xiaomi

Sometimes there are files on the flash drive, but they are not visible in the file manager. This can be due to hidden folders (for example, system files.android_secure) virus-like.

How to enable the display of hidden files:

1. Open the Files app on Xiaomi smartphone.
2. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Settings → Show hidden files.
4. Reboot the file manager (close and reopen).

For Mi TV or Mi Box:

• Install a third-party file manager (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer) via Google Play.
• In the application settings, activate the option of Show hidden files.

If hidden files don’t show up even after you turn on the option, check the flash drive for viruses using Malwarebytes or Dr.Web CureIt. Some viruses create folders with the “hidden + system” attribute that don’t show up in standard managers.

5.Working with NTFS flash drives on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones without root rights do not support recording on NTFS-drives, but can read them if there is special software. TV never see NTFS just FAT32/exFAT.

Smartphone solutions:

• 📱 Install Total Commander + plugin NTFS Plugin: Download Total Commander from Google Play. Go to Plugins in the app → NTFS Plugin → Install. Connect the flash drive and select it from the list of devices.

Paragon NTFS & HFS+

:

NTFS

For Xiaomi TVs:

• 🖥️ Reformat the flash drive: Copy the data to your PC, then format it to exFAT (supports files) >4GB).

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If you need to work with NTFS on Xiaomi regularly, the best option is to use a dual-markup flash drive: one partition in FAT32 (for compatibility), the second partition in NTFS (for large files).

6. Removal of read/write errors on the flash drive

Mistakes like “I failed to install” USB-The drive or the I/O error is often associated with hardware problems or malfunctions in the USB drive controller:

Step 1. Check on another device

• 💻 Connect the flash drive to your PC or laptop, and if it's not detected, it's a problem in the drive.
• 📱 Try another one. OTG-adapter USB-Hub (especially if the flash drive requires a lot of power).

Step 2: Diagnostics with Windows/Linux Tools

• 🖥️ In Windows, run Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc). If the flash drive appears as "Unknown" or "Uninitialized", try initializing it into MBR.
• 🐧 In Linux, use the command: sudo fdisk -l to check whether the device is being determined.

Step 3: Low-level formatting

If the flash drive is defined but not formatted by standard means, use the utilities to restore the controller:

• 🔧 HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool for low-level formatting.
• 🛠️ Flash Drive Information Extractor – defines the controller model and selects a utility for firmware.

⚠️ Warning: If the flash drive makes extraneous sounds (squeaking, crackling) or gets too hot, remove it immediately! These are signs of physical damage to the memory chips. Further attempts at use can lead to short circuits (especially dangerous for the memory chips). USB-television-port).

7. Optimization of work with flash drives on Xiaomi

To avoid problems in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Safe Extract: Always use the Remove feature in the notification menu (on your smartphone) or in the file manager (on your TV).
• 📥 Regular backup: Store important files in the cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) or on multiple drives.
• 🛡️ Virus protection: Before connecting a flash drive to Xiaomi, check it with an antivirus (for example, Avast for Android).
• 🔋 Food: For flash drives >128GB to use USB-externally powered hubs – they often require more power than a smartphone or TV port can give.

For Xiaomi TVs, it is also useful:

• 📺 Disconnect the energy saving for USB: Go to Settings. → Energy conservation → Regime. USB and choose Always Active.
• 🔊 Set up autoplay: In Settings → Devices → Auto-start USB Turn on the video/music option.

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If you often connect flash drives to a Xiaomi TV, create a MiTV folder on it and put media there, and the system will automatically scan it when you connect.

FAQ: Frequent questions about working with flash drives on Xiaomi