A mobile device that runs on the Android OS, unlike other portable gadgets, can be connected to a computer as a USB flash drive. Many Android smartphones and tablets are initially equipped with features that allow them to be used as flash drives.
This provides the user with the opportunity to record the necessary information, delete files from the product that are not used, but at the same time take up a lot of space in it.
Using an Android mobile device in the form of a flash drive, there is no need to constantly carry a drive with you. Now you do not need to carry out a lot of manipulations with connecting to a laptop or computer, spending a lot of time on it.
Options for connecting a mobile gadget like a flash drive
Let's see how to connect a mobile device like a flash drive. To do this, you need to perform certain sequential actions:
If the shutter is lowered in the menu, it will display USB connection in the form of a flash drive. If it is necessary to turn off the drive, the shutter must also be lowered and click on the corresponding inscription.
Connecting the product with different versions of Android
Now let's look at ways to connect a tablet or smartphone as a flash drive, depending on the version used. Android. First, we determine which operating system is on the device. To do this, go to "Settings", select the section "About device" or "About phone". Often it is located last in the list that opens.
OS Android 2.1 - 2.3.7
If the operating system Android 2.1 - 2.3.7 is installed, you must perform the following steps:
- You need to connect the gadget to the PC using a USB cable.
- The computer should automatically detect the new device. If this does not happen, you need to disconnect the smartphone from the computer, go to "Settings", select "Applications", click on "For Developer", then "Debugging via USB". Now you need to connect to the PC again.
- The drive icon will appear in the gadget. You need to click on "Connect via USB", and the connection itself should be made as a media device.
Android OS version 4 and higher
Since version 4.4 of KitKat, Android does not use USB mass storage mode, a tablet or smartphone can be used as Media Transfer Protocol (MTP). But you can make the gadget work as a drive.
You need to use a special application that will help you connect Android with MTP as a USB drive in a few steps. This will require:
- Install Root rights on Android.
- Download and install the special application "USB MASS STORAGE Enabler".
Then you need to do the following:
- Launch "USB MASS STORAGE Enabler". It will be displayed in the menu as a USB activator.
- It is necessary to grant Root rights. You will be prompted to change how Selinux works. It needs to be allowed.
- If this device is supported, then the application will go to the main menu.
- To solve the "flash drive" in Android was activated, you need to click on "Enable USB MASS STORAGE".
After using Android as a USB drive, you need to disable this mode. To do this, open program"USB MASS STORAGE Enabler" and the corresponding button is pressed there. To connect a mobile device in a different mode, you need to restart Android.
Android does not detect memory card
There are situations when a flash drive in a device does not work. To find it, you can use the ES Explorer file manager or a similar application. With the help of such programs, you can find almost everything. In its functionality, it is similar to the My Computer program.
To recognize the memory card, you should run "ES Explorer". After launching it, a menu will appear on the left side of the screen, where the SDcard (memory card) will be located. It remains only to click on it. After that, the memory card will be detected and available for work.
Almost all the latest (and not so) flagship Android models are equipped with chic widescreen displays with a decent diagonal and high ppi. On such screens it is quite convenient to watch movies and series on the road, but where to record them? Google has a bad tradition of not installing memory card slots in its Googlephones. If this is not so critical for the Galaxy Nexus (16 GB on board), then the younger Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 are already suffering, because you cannot record a lot of video content on 8 GB, and not only Google phones are guilty of this. It remains to use removable external media. But how to connect it to a smartphone and tablet? Very simple.
What you need
- Smartphone or tablet to which we want to connect the USB storage
- Removable USB disk
- USB OTG cable
The USB On-The-Go cable is an adapter that connects to the smartphone's micro USB port at one end, and a standard removable disk USB port is plugged into the other end. Cool DIYers can solder it themselves (maybe they will send us instructions with screenshots, we will publish them with pleasure), the rest can go to the Internet or the nearest specialized store and buy such an adapter there for very funny money. This posting actually opens up a lot of opportunities. With it, you can connect joysticks, keyboards and other devices with a USB interface, as long as your smartphone or tablet understands them.
At the initial stage, this is enough. Now we need to find out if our mobile device wants to be friends with removable media without additional manipulations. Smartphones and tablets from one manufacturer allow you to connect USB drives out of the box. Let's connect and watch. If it was not possible to access the repository, then we go further.
Easy option
If you don’t feel like messing around, then go to the Google Play Store and buy the Nexus Media Importer application there (it works not only with Nexuses) for $3. That's enough.
If your device is rooted, you don't have to pay. Download the free StickMount application (only works with root) and along the way any file manager if you don’t have it installed for one reason or another (we like ES Explorer).
It remains to connect a removable drive and allow StickMount root access.
A corresponding message will appear in the notification area stating that the storage is successfully connected and has the /sdcard/usbStorage address.
We go to this folder through the file manager and enjoy.
Not all mobile devices are equipped with sufficient internal memory. Connecting a flash drive solves this problem and allows you to watch large-volume movies on your phone or tablet, move files, and perform other data operations. Several methods can be used to combine a smartphone and an external drive, and support for a certain standard will also be required. Let's take a closer look at how to connect a USB flash drive to an Android smartphone and solve problems that arise in the process.
How to connect USB flash drive to phone?
Before connecting a USB storage device to a mobile device, you need to make sure that this option is available. You need to inspect the device for the presence of a Micro-USB connector.
note
Almost all modern phones are equipped with a micro-USB connector, but sometimes there are those where the manufacturer used its own connection standard.
Even if the desired connector is found on the phone, it is not necessary that it supports OTG technology. Its essence lies in supplying power to the contacts, which makes it possible to connect not only flash drives, external hard drives, but also keyboards and other electronics. This technology has been implemented since Android 3.1. First you need to check the compliance of the firmware by visiting the "About the device" section. If the version is higher, then you can proceed to the next check point:
According to the result that the application will give out, it will be . You can also see the information in the technical characteristics of the smartphone by finding them through a search engine.
If all conditions are met, the next step is to purchase a special adapter. At one end there is a Micro-USB output, at the other - a USB input. This small device is connected to the smartphone connector, then a USB flash drive is inserted into it. Now flash drives have already begun to be massively distributed, where there are two outputs at once.
Now the most standard connection method has been considered, when the phone has all the necessary technologies and connectors to ensure a smooth procedure. However, this does not always happen. Let's consider other options.
How to connect a flash drive to Android without OTG?
In budget models of smartphones, where they try to save on every little thing, sometimes there is no OTG technology. This problem can be solved, but additional adapters and devices will be required. In general, the process looks like this:
- Take a charger with a USB cable.
- Connect it as a power source to the USB-Hub (in other words, a splitter).
- Connect to the latest drive.
- Insert the output of the splitter into the Micro-USB adapter.
- Connect the latter to your mobile device.
The design will turn out to be quite cumbersome and tied to a constant power source, but by other methods it will not work to connect a USB flash drive and a phone without OTG support.
It's important to know
The smartphone will be able to easily open all files stored on external memory, however, recording may not be supported on some models.
How to connect a flash drive to Android without Micro-USB?
Older smartphones may not be equipped with a Micro-USB connector, since at that time each manufacturer used its own standard for inputs. A special adapter will help to cope with such a nuisance. It is easiest to search for such devices in online stores, since the product is specific and often may not be available in ordinary retail outlets.
When searching, you should specify the full name of the phone or tablet in order to get exactly the adapter that fits the existing connector.
Possible problems and solutions
There may be other problems with connecting flash drives that are not related to connectors and supported technologies. Let's analyze the most common problems and how to fix them:
- The flash drive is not mounted automatically. When you are sure that OTG is present, but the USB drive is still not displayed in the file manager, it means that the device does not have the necessary function. Most often, trouble occurs on devices of the Nexus line and those on which it is installed. The solution is to install the StickMount application (requires superuser rights to work).
- Invalid file system format. A flash drive in FAT format is connected to an Android smartphone via micro-USB. If the drive was formatted to the NTFS standard, then it will not be possible to recognize it using standard OS tools. Two options can be taken as a solution:
- Re-formatting the flash drive to FAT format. You can do this both on a computer and on a smartphone. Please note that all data will be deleted during the process. Therefore, it is recommended to transfer them to another medium in advance.
- Installation . Using the program, you can open a flash drive in NTFS format and manage its contents. There is other software of a similar plan, but in most cases it requires root access to function.
- Too much external memory. Devices with poor performance may have difficulty connecting large drives. This manifests itself in the absence of recognition or freezes when used. Only changing the flash drive will help.
- Damage. This includes failures of the drive, adapters and connectors. To accurately identify the cause, one element should be replaced one by one and the correct operation should be checked.
The presented material describes in detail how to connect a USB flash drive to a smartphone on Android. You can fulfill your plans even if there is no Micro-USB input and OTG support, and special applications will help you recognize incompatible drives.
Bulky USB connectors are not entirely appropriate on compact smartphones. But this does not mean that flash drives cannot be connected to them. Agree that this can be very convenient in many situations, especially when the phone does not provide for the use of MicroSD. We suggest you consider all options for connecting a USB flash drive to gadgets with micro-USB connectors.
First you need to find out if your smartphone supports OTG technology. This means that the micro-USB port can supply power to external devices and make them visible in the system. This technology began to be implemented on devices with Android 3.1 and higher.
Information about OTG support can be found in the documentation for your smartphone or simply use the Internet. To be sure, download the USB OTG Checker application, the purpose of which is to check the device for OTG technology support. Just press the button "Check Device OS on USB OTG".
If the check for OTG support was successful, you will see a picture as shown below. 
And if not, you will see this. 
Now you can consider the options for connecting a flash drive to a smartphone, we will consider the following:
- using an OTG cable;
- use of an adapter;
- using a USB OTG flash drive.
For iOS, there is one way - using special flash drives with a Lightning connector for iPhone.
Interesting: in some cases, you can connect other devices, for example: a mouse, keyboard, joystick, etc.
Method 1: Using an OTG cable
The most common way to connect a flash drive to mobile devices involves the use of a special adapter cable, which can be bought at any place where mobile devices are sold. Some manufacturers include such cables with smartphones and tablets.
On the one hand, the OTG cable has a standard USB connector, on the other, a micro-USB plug. It is easy to guess what and where to insert. 
If the flash drive has indicator lights, then you can determine from them that the power has gone. On the smartphone itself, a notification about the connected media may also appear, but not always.
The contents of the flash drive can be found along the path
/sdcard/usbStorage/sda1
To do this, use any file manager. 
Method 2: Using an adapter
Recently, small adapters (adapters) from USB to micro-USB began to appear on sale. This small device has a micro-USB output on one side, and USB contacts on the other. It is enough to insert the adapter into the flash drive interface, and you can connect it to your mobile device. 
Method 3: Using a flash drive for an OTG connector
If you intend to connect the drive frequently, then the easiest option is to purchase a USB OTG flash drive. Such a storage medium has two ports at the same time: USB and micro-USB. It is convenient and practical. 
Today, USB OTG flash drives can be found almost anywhere conventional drives are sold. However, they are not much more expensive.
Method 4: Flash drives for iPhone
There are several special media for iPhones. Transcend has developed a removable drive JetDrive Go 300. It has a Lightning connector on one side, and a regular USB on the other. Actually, this is the only really working way to connect a flash drive to iOS smartphones. 
What to do if the smartphone does not see the connected flash drive
team "Unmount" used to safely eject media. Please note that StickMount requires root access. You can get it, for example, using the program.
The ability to connect a USB flash drive to a smartphone primarily depends on the latter. It is necessary that the device supports OTG technology, and then you can use a special cable, adapter or connect a micro-USB flash drive.
Despite the support of an Android smartphone or tablet with SD cards up to 32 GB, sometimes you need to connect external "storage" - portable hard drives and flash drives.
The essence of the problem with USB flash drives on Android devices
Modern Flash drives have a capacity of up to 128 GB. This amount of memory is not superfluous, especially when the owner of a smartphone or tablet downloads and distributes many films, music, programs, etc. at once. Additional memory is needed. The essence of the problem is as follows.
To do this, you need to connect additional “flash drives” via microUSB. An ideal option for those who often go on business trips or travel is to carry a tablet and several 32-128 GB flash drives in a bag.
How to connect a flash drive to an Android gadget via OTG
OTG is a USB to microUSB adapter, a replacement for a USB cable with a Card Reader. It takes up little space - no more than a standard flash drive. In this case, the flash drive must be formatted in FAT32 - with the NTFS file system for the Android operating system, not everything is going smoothly yet.
There is a more difficult way: install a special Android application that allows a smartphone or tablet to work with NTFS media. So, it can be exFAT/NTFS for Total Commander, Paragon NTFS & HFS+ and their analogues.
You need OTG with a socket, not with a plug for USB drives
Select USBdisk folder
If the flash drive is not readable, special Android applications are needed. Some of them require Root rights.
How to get root access
Applications that allow you to get Root access without using a computer: FramaRoot, Universal Androot, Visionary +, GingerBreak, z4root, BaiduRoot, Romaster SU, Towelroot, RootDashi, 360 Root, etc.
Applications that "hack" Root via PC: SuperOneClick, Unrevoked, GenoTools, vRoot, MTKDroidTools, etc.
Remember that by obtaining Root rights, you lose the supplier's warranty and risk harming your gadget.
Another way is to change the licensed Android firmware to "custom" firmware with unattached Root access.
View the contents of a flash drive on an Android smartphone or tablet using third-party applications
USB Media Explorer app
Those who want to simplify the process of accessing a USB flash drive can use the paid USB Media Explorer application. The old name of the program is Nexus Media Importer; it was originally developed for Nexus gadgets, but quickly expanded the range of supported Android smartphones and tablets. Root-rights are not needed, the program is paid.
If this solution does not suit you, you will have to work a little.
Solutions based on StickMount
The StickMount app is one of the most famous and requires Root rights. Works in conjunction with any Android file manager, such as ES File Explorer. Both applications are in the Play Market.
Confirm request
Confirm by pressing the Grant key
Displaying information about the load of the flash drive
The flash drive is read/write.
All your files are now available
Connecting USB flash drives to devices that do not have miniUSB/microUSB
A number of firms, not as well known as ZTE, Huawei, Sony and their other competitors, install non-standard interface connectors. OTG adapters with miniUSB / microUSB are absolutely not suitable for gadgets with a narrowly standardized connector without a special OTG adapter. Look on the same Ebay or AliExpress for an OTG adapter that meets the standard of the interface socket of your smartphone or tablet. Further steps to gain programmatic access to your flash drives are the same.
Other ways to connect a USB flash drive to an Android smartphone or tablet
There are the following ways:
Video: Connecting additional devices to a smartphone and tablet, including flash drives: problems and solutions
By connecting flash drives and other drives to an Android-based smartphone or tablet, you free your hands in the matter of organizing the storage of data you carry with you. This can be of great help to you on business trips and travels. Good luck!
