Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to transfer a large amount of data: high-resolution photos, heavy video files or app backups. The device's internal memory is not rubbery, and cloud storage is not always available because of the speed of the Internet. USB-A flash drive that can be connected directly to the phone charging port.
Modern gadgets from the Chinese manufacturer have long learned to work with external drives thanks to the technology of USB On-The-Go. However, simply inserting a flash drive into the connector, the user does not always immediately see their files. Android system, or rather the shell MIUI or HyperOS, requires certain actions to correctly display the content. Often the problem lies not in a physical breakdown, but in the file system or lack of access rights.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the connection process, from choosing the right adapter to formatting the drive into the desired format, you will learn how to make the phone “see” files, why reading may not work, and what hidden features of the Xiaomi file manager should be used for comfortable data work.
USB OTG technology and device compatibility
OTG stands for On-The-Go. It is a standard that allows mobile devices to act as hosts for other peripherals, such as flash drives, keyboards, mice, and even external hard drives. Virtually all modern Xiaomi smartphones released in the last 5-6 years support this feature at the hardware level. However, the software implementation may vary depending on the shell version.
You'll need a special adapter to connect. Standard micro-USB ports are a thing of the past, and now the USB Type-C connector dominates. It's important to understand that not all cables are the same: some cheap adapters are just for charging and don't transmit data. Make sure your OTG adapter supports data transfer, not just charging. If you use a USB flash drive (Type-A), then an adapter is a must.
There's also a power nuance: If you plug in a regular flash drive, the port power of a smartphone is usually enough, but if you're trying to plug in a volumetric external hard drive without power, the phone may make a power shortage error or simply not identify the device. In such cases, active action is required. USB-hub.
In the shells MIUI 12, 13, 14 and new HyperOS support USB-It's built in by default. You don't have to activate special developer modes or use root rights. The system has to automatically respond to the connection with a distinctive sound and a pop-up notification.
Physical Connection Process and Primary Reaction
The first step is to connect the devices correctly. OTG and put it in. USB-Then gently connect the design to the charging port of your Xiaomi smartphone. Try not to stagger the connection too much, as Type-C connectors, although considered strong, can shatter with frequent mechanical exposure.
After connecting, pay attention to the lock screen or the top of the screen (notification curtain «USB-drive connected" or similar message in English, if the interface is not Russifi (for example, «USB storage added. If you are using a file manager from Xiaomi, the notification may prompt you to open the file viewing app immediately.
In some cases, especially on older versions of Android, the notification may not appear, so you can manually launch the File Manager app, which has a yellow folder on the icon and is standard for all devices of the brand, and a new tab or section will appear inside the program interface, usually denoted by a flash drive icon or a USB signature.
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If you plug in a flash drive, the phone makes a connection sound but doesn't show files, try restarting the device with the drive already inserted, which often helps the system re-index the file table.
When you're actively writing or reading large files (like copying a movie in 4K), both the flash drive and the port of the phone can get hot, which is normal, but if the heat becomes excessive, it's best to pause the process so as not to damage the memory controller.
File Manager configuration and access to data
Once you've successfully connected physically, you've got the navigation phase. Xiaomi's standard Explorer is a powerful tool that's often underrated. It can sort files by type, which makes it much easier to search. To get to the flash drive, open the app and go to the Overview or Files tab.
At the top of the screen you will see a switch between “Internal Storage” and «USB-by clicking on the icon. USB, You'll be taken to the root folder of the flash drive, and this shows the entire folder structure, if the file manager is a third party, like Total Commander or ES Explorer, although the latter is better not to use because of advertising, the principle is the same: you need to find a side menu or on the main screen section with an external drive.
For easy work with documents and media files, it is convenient to use the Favorites feature. You can add frequently used folders from a flash drive to your favorites so you do not wander through deep directories each time. You can also sort by date of change, size or name, which is critical if there is a porridge of thousands of files on the drive.
It is important to remember access rights. When you first access files on an external drive, Android may ask permission to access the data. USB-You have to press "Allow" or "OK." Without this step, you can only see the system folders or you won't see anything.
☑️ Checking the connection of the flash drive
Problems with formats: FAT32, exFAT and NTFS
One of the most common reasons Xiaomi doesn’t see the flash drive is file system incompatibility. Android reads FAT32 and exFAT formats perfectly out of the box. These are standards that run on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android without additional drivers.
This is complicated if your flash drive is formatted in NTFS, the native Windows format. Many modern Xiaomi smartphones with new versions of MIUI have learned to read NTFS, but not everyone can write to it. In addition, older models can ignore this format altogether, requiring formatting. The ext4 (Linux) format of the phone will not be read without root rights and special utilities.
If the phone says “File system not supported” or just silent, it will likely require formatting.
⚠️ Attention: Formatting will completely destroy all data on the flash drive. Before you do this, be sure to copy important files to your computer.
The formatting process can be done directly on the phone. Once you plug in the flash drive, the notification curtain often shows a "Configure" or "Format" button. → The phone. → Storage (the path may differ depending on the version) MIUI). Choose. USB-the drive and click on "Clean" or "Format." The system will prompt you to choose the type of use: "Portable storage" (for files) or "Internal storage" (expansion of the phone's memory, runs slower and binds the flash drive to that particular device).