Modern smartphones, especially those from Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, have become so powerful that they often replace full-fledged computers for many tasks. However, even with an impressive amount of internal memory, there is sometimes an urgent need to transfer large amounts of data, watch a movie in high resolution or back up contacts without using cloud services, and it is at such moments that gadget owners wonder how to insert a flash drive into a phone to access files directly.
Fortunately, USB OTG (On-The-Go) technology has long been the standard for the mobile industry, allowing external drives to be connected without unnecessary drum dancing. Unlike older push-button phones, modern Android devices can not only charge from the port, but also act as a host, supplying power to the connected device, which opens up the possibility of instant storage expansion.
The connection process is physically simple, but the software part of the MIUI shell or HyperOS has its own nuances that are worth knowing about in advance. The wrong file system or lack of access rights can lead to the fact that the phone simply “will not see” the drive, although the physical connection is correctly installed. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages of connection, from selecting an adapter to configuring access rights in the system.
Equipment and choice of adapter
Before you start connecting, you need to make sure that you have compatible equipment. USB-A, The one that is present on most flash drives does not physically enter the micro-USB port or USB The Type-C of your smartphone requires a special adapter, often called a "Type-C" adapter, to solve this problem. OTG-cable.
When choosing an adapter, it is important to pay attention to the quality of execution and the declared support for data transfer speeds. Cheap Chinese cables for 50 rubles can work unstable, cause overheating of the power controller or not transfer data at all, limited to charging. It is better to choose accessories from proven brands such as Baseus, Ugreen or original solutions from Xiaomi.
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Pay attention to the labeling of the cable: if the plug says only "Charge", such a cable is not suitable for data transfer, it is designed solely for charging devices.
There are two main types of adapters that you may need depending on the phone model:
- 🔌 USB Type-C to USB-A: The most common option for modern Xiaomi smartphones released after 2017.
- 📱 Micro-USB to USB-A: used for budget or older models where the charging port is trapezoidal.
- 💾 Flash drive with double connector: a convenient hybrid, having at the same time a standard USB Type-C connector, which eliminates the need to carry separate adapters.
Also, consider the power that the port of your smartphone can give, and if you plan to connect not just a flash drive, but an energy-intensive external hard drive, a conventional adapter may not be enough. USB-Hub with its own power so as not to overload the battery of the phone.
Testing of OTG technology support
The vast majority of Xiaomi smartphones, from the budget line of Redmi to the flagship Mi, support host mode. However, in some very old or specific regional versions of firmware, this feature may be software limited or require activation.
To make sure your device is ready to work with external drives, you can use third-party utilities from Google Play, such as "USB OTG Checker." These applications analyze the configuration file of the kernel of the system and give an accurate result about the support of the feature, but most often just try to connect the device.
⚠️ Warning: If your phone doesn't respond to a flash drive, even with a quality adapter, check your energy saving settings. In rare cases, aggressive energy saving algorithms block the current supply to the port. USB standby.
There is also a nuance with the Android version. On devices with Android version below 6.0, OTG support may be unstable or require manual inclusion in the developer menu. Current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS determine the connection automatically, without having to climb into hidden menus.
It is important to understand the difference between protocol support and port physical health. If the phone connector is shattered or contaminated, the contact for data transmission may not be available, although charging will be normal, in which case, before buying an adapter, you should clean the port with a gently wooden toothpick.
Instructions: how to properly connect the drive
The process of connecting is as simple as possible by Xiaomi engineers for the convenience of users. You do not need to search for special buttons on the menu or reboot the device. The algorithm of actions is extremely simple and takes a few seconds.
First, insert the flash drive into the adapter, then gently connect the adapter to the smartphone charging connector. Try not to put too much effort into the socket. If you use a dual-connector flash drive, just flip it over with the right side.
☑️ Procedure for connecting
At the time of connection, the phone should emit a characteristic connection sound. USB-It's a device that's similar to what you hear on your computer, and you'll see a notification at the top of the screen that you're connecting a new device. USB-If this does not happen, try to change the orientation of the plug (if it is not the same). USB Type-C) or check the density of the compound.
Once you're physically connected, the system automatically mounts the drive's file system, and there's an icon in the notification curtain. USB-You click on it and you go straight to the root folder of the flash drive. If the notification is gone, you can find the drive through the standard Explorer app».
In Xiaomi’s file manager, the external drive is usually displayed in the “USB” section or in the list of available storages next to “Internal Memory.”The icon may differ from the standard folder, often marked with a USB icon or the flash drive brand name.
File Manager configuration and access to data
The standard file manager in the MIUI shell has a fairly wide range of functionality, but sometimes users need a more advanced tool to work with files.
To access the contents of the flash drive, open the Explorer app. At the top of the screen, you'll see a switch between file categories (Images, Videos, Documents) and folder structure. Select the folder structure to see the logical structure of the disks.
⚠️ Note: When you first connect a flash drive with a file system NTFS The system may suggest formatting it. Don't agree to formatting if there's important data on the flash drive, because that will cause it to be completely deleted.
If a standard Explorer does not open files of certain formats (for example, specific video codecs or archives), it is recommended to install a third-party file manager, such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer. These applications have their own drivers for working with file systems and can provide access where the standard tool is powerless.
To work with documents or tables on your phone, you can use the Open with Help feature, and when you click on a file, the system will prompt you to select an application to view it, which allows you to edit Word or Excel text documents without first copying to internal memory.
Also worth noting is the ability to work with files in the background: you can play video from a flash drive and switch to another application, such as a messenger. However, when you run heavy games or resource-intensive tasks, access to the flash drive can be temporarily suspended by the system to save resources.
Problems with file systems: FAT32, exFAT and NTFS
One of the most common reasons a phone doesn’t see a flash drive is file system incompatibility. Android, and Xiaomi’s shell in particular, “out of the box” works great with FAT32 and exFAT formats.
With NTFS, which is the standard for Windows, it's more complicated. Many smartphones can't read it without additional drivers or root rights. If your flash drive is formatted in NTFS, your phone may suggest formatting it or simply ignoring it.
To solve the problem with NTFS, you can use driver applications such as "Microsoft exFAT/NTFS for USB by Paragon Software." Once you install such a driver, the phone will be able to read and write data to drives with Windows file system.
Below is a table of file systems compatibility with Xiaomi smartphones:
| File system | Android support | Max. File size. | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAT32 | Complete. | 4GB | Ideal for flash drives up to 32GB |
| exFAT | Complete (Android 6.0+) | No restrictions. | The best choice for large volumes |
| NTFS | Reading (often paid software) | No restrictions. | Only for advanced users |
| EXT4 | Root is required. | No restrictions. | Only for Linux enthusiasts |
How to format a flash drive on a computer
If you need to transfer files between your computer and phone frequently, it is best to format the flash drive in exFAT format in advance.This will ensure maximum compatibility and allow you to store files larger than 4 GB, which is critical for high-quality movies.
Safe removal and disconnection
Unlike computers, where ignoring the Safe Device Removal rule can lead to data loss, on Android, this process is also important, but implemented differently.
To properly disable the drive, lower the notification curtain. Find the notification about the connected drive. USB-There should be a "Disable" button or an extract icon (a triangle with a line) and click on it and wait for the message that the drive can be safely removed.
If you don't have a notification, you can use the settings. Go to Settings. → Memory (or Settings) → The phone. → Storage. Find the connected one. USB-drive and press the button "Disable" or "Extract».
⚠️ Warning: Never remove the flash drive while you are actively recording data (when the flashing flash on the flash drive or in the status bar of the phone is copying.
After a successful shutdown in the software, the phone will stop feeding power to the USB port, only then you can physically remove the adapter or flash drive, and compliance with this rule will extend the life of both the drive and the power controller of the smartphone.