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 support the use of MicroSD. We invite you to consider all options for connecting a USB flash drive to gadgets with micro-USB connectors.
First, you need to find out whether your smartphone supports OTG technology. This means the micro-USB port can supply power to external devices and make them visible to the system. This technology has begun 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 completely sure, download the USB OTG Checker application, the purpose of which is to check the device for support of OTG technology. Just press a button "Check Device OS on USB OTG".
If the OTG support check is successful, you will see a picture as shown below. 
And if not, you will see this. 
Now you can consider options for connecting a flash drive to a smartphone, we will consider the following:
- using an OTG cable;
- using 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: mouse, keyboard, joystick, etc.
Method 1: Using an OTG cable
The most common way to connect a flash drive to mobile devices involves using a special adapter cable, which can be purchased at any place where mobile devices are sold. Some manufacturers include such cables with smartphones and tablets.
On one side, the OTG cable has a standard USB connector, on the other, a micro-USB plug. It’s easy to guess what to insert and where. 
If the flash drive has light indicators, then you can determine from them that the power is on. A notification about the connected media may also appear on the smartphone itself, 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 from USB to micro-USB have begun to appear on sale. This small device has a micro-USB output on one side and USB contacts on the other. Just insert the adapter into the flash drive interface, and you can connect it to your mobile device. 
Method 3: Using a flash drive with an OTG connector
If you intend to connect the drive frequently, then the easiest option is to purchase a USB OTG flash drive. This storage medium has two ports at the same time: USB and micro-USB. It's convenient and practical. 
Today, USB OTG flash drives can be found almost everywhere where regular drives are sold. At the same time, in terms of price they are not much more expensive.
Method 4: Flash drives for iPhone
There are several special media for iPhones. Transcend has developed the JetDrive Go 300 removable drive. It has a Lightning connector on one side and a regular USB connector on the other. Actually, this is the only really working way to connect a flash drive to iOS smartphones. 
What to do if your smartphone does not see the connected flash drive
Team "Unmount" used to safely remove 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. The device must support OTG technology, and then you can use a special cable, adapter, or connect a micro-USB flash drive.
We told you how you can connect USB gaming peripherals, such as a joystick or gamepad, both from a computer and from a game console, to a phone or tablet with the Android operating system. But the USB port installed in your Android device can work not only with joysticks.
Maybe you, like us, have had the thought come into your head more than once; “Why can’t you just connect a USB flash drive to your Android phone or tablet and download files directly?” In fact, this can be done, although sometimes this operation is associated with some difficulties. Today we will tell you, dear readers, how to connect a USB flash drive to your mobile device.
How to connect a flash drive to an Android device via micro-USB
Most modern smartphones and tablets running Android OS have a standard micro-USB connector installed as a communication port. In order for a phone or tablet to see devices connected to it through this port, it must support the technology USB On-The-Go, abbreviated USB OTG(sometimes you can also find the name USB Host). This technology means that the micro-USB port can supply power to external devices, thus allowing them to be visible in the system. The implementation of this technology is present in the Android operating system from version 3.1 and higher, so if your phone or tablet is not completely old-fashioned, then everything should work as it should.
If you are not sure about the hardware capabilities of your mobile device, and do not find the relevant information in the technical documentation for it, you can try installing the USB OTG Checker application on your Android device, available for download on the Google Play store.
Its only function is to quickly check your phone or tablet to see if it supports USB On-The-Go (USB Host) technology.
The only thing you need to connect a USB flash drive to an Android device is a USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) adapter cable.
You can buy it at any computer or mobile store and it is quite inexpensive. Sometimes manufacturers include it in the delivery package of their devices, saving us time and money.
You insert it with the corresponding end into the micro-USB connector of your mobile device, connect the flash drive to the other end, and the job is done, you can look for the files on the flash drive in the usb storage folder (sometimes just USB), which will appear among the drives available in the system. It can be accessed using any file manager.
Unfortunately, not all mobile devices running the Android operating system can work in such a simple way. It often happens that you connect a flash drive to micro-USB via an adapter using the above method, but nothing happens. If you are sure that your device supports USB On-The-Go technology, but nothing happens when you connect the flash drive to your phone or tablet via an adapter cable, do not despair.
This problem occurs because your mobile device does not automatically mount the external drive, and it needs help with this. On the Google Play market you can find several programs that can do this. The most popular is StickMount, which can be downloaded for free. The latest version of the program works with the Android 4.0 operating system and higher. The application can work not only with USB flash drives, but also with digital cameras and other similar equipment.
Please note that this application requires root access! If you have not yet opened root on your mobile device, it's time to do so right now. You can find out how this is done from our database article:
As soon as you install StickMount on your device, you can connect a USB flash drive via a USB OTG cable. When connected, your Android device will show you a pop-up asking if you want to launch StickMount. Agree with this, the program will detect your USB drive and mount it.
You can find your drive along the path /sdcard/usbStorage/sda1.
To safely remove the flash drive back, go to the program and select the "Unmount" command.
How to connect a flash drive to an Android device without micro-USB
Chinese companies, and even famous manufacturers, sometimes sin by installing non-standard connectors on their mobile phones and tablets with the Android OS, to which it is not possible to connect a USB On-The-Go adapter cable directly. If you are the happy owner of just such a device, to use a USB flash drive with it, you will first need to find an appropriate adapter that connects the USB connector to the proprietary connector of your manufacturer.
This can be difficult, since every store around the corner usually does not sell such adapters. But you can always find and order the required adapter via the Internet on Western or Chinese trading platforms.
Otherwise, the algorithm of actions is the same as in the previous section. Connect the flash drive, and if it is not detected right away, try using a special mounting program.
We hope our article helped you figure out the question “How to connect a flash drive to Android”, and transferring files to your mobile device and back to an external drive has become much easier.
Greetings. Now many people do not know how to connect a flash drive to their phone. Because it simply doesn’t fit or there are other reasons why it can’t be done. In today's article I want to take this issue apart. You will learn how to connect a flash drive to an Android phone (smartphone) and how to view files on it.
I don’t think there’s any need to explain why you need to connect a flash drive to a smartphone. The reasons can be completely different and the most unusual. Maybe there are simply no other devices nearby for reading information from a flash drive, or maybe you decided to transfer music to your phone this way.
How to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone?
If you are holding an ordinary USB flash drive and your favorite smartphone in your hands, you see that there is nowhere to insert it. Because the flash drive has USB Type-A, and the smartphone has a micro USB Type-B connector. That's bad luck. (Read more about)
Fortunately, many modern smartphones support this technology. USB On-The-Go, allowing them to use most peripherals directly without the help of a computer or laptop. You can connect a mouse or keyboard, work with flash drives and much more. But for this you will need.
An OTG cable usually has a full USB Type-A on one side, and a micro USB Type-B on the other side. Therefore, if you do not have a micro USB connector on your smartphone, then you should take care of an additional adapter to connect a flash drive. Although the likelihood of this is negligible, now almost all smartphones and tablets have a micro USB Type-B connector.
Eventually, to connect a flash drive to your phone, need to:
- so that your The smartphone supported USB On-The-Go technology. Although almost all smartphones now support it, there are nevertheless exceptions. Carefully read the phone's specifications before purchasing if this parameter is important to you.
- to have in stock. It is inexpensive, so it would be nice if you still have it. You never know when it will come in handy.
Adapter cables for different types of devices
OTG cables need to be selected depending on what connector is available on your smartphone or tablet. It could be microUSB, appleLightning or the most modern USBTYPE-C. The table shows some representatives of these cables.
How to open a flash drive on Android (tablet or phone)?
« How to open a flash drive on a phone, there is no shortcut “ My computer "and nothing similar?- you will be surprised. Naturally, for this we will need some kind of file manager. You most likely have some kind of simple pre-installed file manager. But if it is not there, then you need to install it.
Today, popular file managers on Android OS are: “File Manager”, “ES Explorer”, “Total Commander”, “X-plore File Manager”, “File Commander”, “ASTRO” and others. There are actually a lot of them. For example, I have been using for a very long time X-plore. I have loved it since the days when the Symbian OS operating system was popular on smartphones. X-plore is a convenient, functional and free manager. What else is needed?
X-plore - file manager
Then simply connect the flash drive to the phone and go to the file manager. There it will be displayed with all the contents. Of course, a completely different question is whether a smartphone can work with all files? It's still not a computer. But he can work with the main ones. There are even special programs for working with Excel spreadsheets, but it is so inconvenient that I don’t even know who these programs were written for.
Why can't my smartphone see the flash drive via an OTG cable?
There may be many reasons why your smartphone does not see the flash drive. Let's look at the most common ones.
The flash drive is also often not visible on the computer, why? Read.
Micro USB flash drives
You may not know this, but there are flash drives that fit into a micro USB connector. This information may be useful to you if you plan to often connect a flash drive to your smartphone, then it makes sense to think about such a purchase.
Micro-USB flash drive
There are also combined flash drives that have a USB Type-A output on one side and a micro USB output on the other. You can connect such a flash drive to both a computer and a smartphone. Think maybe this is just what you need.
If you still decide to buy a micro USB flash drive, we recommend that you pay attention to the following models with a large amount of memory. In addition, they can connect to absolutely any type of USB connector.
Conclusion on connecting a flash drive to the phone
In most cases, you will be able to use a USB flash drive on your phone without any problems. Which is good news. However, if you encounter difficulties connecting a flash drive, do not despair. Many of the problems are resolved fairly quickly. I hope you have learned enough about how to connect a flash drive to your phone. If you have any questions, please ask, we will try to help you.
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What to do if the phone does not see the memory card? Since I often get asked this and similar questions, I answered them all at once in this article. It will be useful to owners of cameras, Samsung, Lenovo phones, laptops - in general, all those devices that support a memory card and refuse to read the data on the card.
First, some technical details describing the problem. Let's say, as a result of some manipulations, a mobile device (phone, tablet, smartphone) stopped identifying a memory card (SD card) even through a card reader. All data is written to, bypassing the memory card itself. This is inconvenient because the SD card is not used, while the memory of the mobile device quickly fills up. Productivity decreases accordingly.
So, the problem is described in detail, let’s move on to diagnosing the phone, smartphone, tablet. Let's look at the most common reasons why phones don't see a memory card (flash drive) and how to fix this defect on your own using a card reader.
The phone does not see the SD card due to an incorrect file system format or a damaged file table
Cause of the problem. 1) The file table on the SD card has become damaged and the markings have disappeared. 2) You formatted the memory card yourself, as a result of which the phone stopped seeing the flash drive. 3) SD card file system is unknown (used in another operating system)
How to fix. 1. Find out the size of your flash drive. If the microSD capacity is greater than 32 GB, it is most likely formatted in exFAT. Not all versions of Android support this file system.
2. A quick way to fix the problem is to reboot the phone in recovery mode and select the Wipe cache partition option in the Android service menu. This command will clear the contents of the SD card and format the media in the FAT32 file system - it is best suited for storing files on the phone.
Note. We would not advise inexperienced users to perform this procedure: if you mistakenly format the wrong partition, you will lose all the data on the phone, including files in the internal memory.
3. A safer (and more convenient) method of formatting an SD card is through a computer. You will need a card reader and SD Formatter software. It will help you format the flash drive properly.
4. You can try low-level formatting - however, not all manufacturers offer their own software for this (check the memory card website).
The memory card of the phone (tablet) has failed
Cause of the problem. As a result of mechanical / thermal damage incompatible with life, the phone stopped seeing the memory card or the SD card stopped working. Alternatively, the phone has stopped detecting the flash drive; on other devices the card is also unreadable.
What to do. Alas, nothing can be done with a damaged SD card. All you have to do is purchase a new SD card that is compatible in size and specifications with your smartphone or tablet. The most unpleasant moment is that all the data that was stored on the memory card of an Android or iOS phone is completely lost. You will no longer be able to restore them - neither by connecting your phone with a flash drive via USB, nor through a card reader.
If the flash drive is still under warranty and looks like new (no visible damage), try returning it to the store. If you're lucky, you'll get a brand new replacement card.
Check for bad blocks (bad sectors) via HDDScan
The problem is doubly unpleasant, because the phone was purchased a month ago. I decided to transfer some audio-video files from my old phone. The new smartphone is j7, and the old one is also Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo... The data transfer took place without any emergency situations.
About a week later I looked at the sd, and the card did not appear from my native “my files”. I looked through the xplore file explorer. All folders were displayed there, but turned out to be empty. But it’s important to add this: the phone’s memory also contained music and some video. So, they were displayed, but they were not “empty”, but refused to be reproduced - “reproduction error”. This never happened on an old phone with any sd and different ages, it certainly happened, but not this. And this recorded card can be read normally on the old phone, no problems.
For me, the main thing is, as you understand, the question is the phone, is that the reason? Such refusals to read in a month happened twice with internal memory, and four times with sidishna. Reboot - and everything is fine. But is this not at all the norm for a phone?
Answer. There may be several reasons for this behavior.
Perhaps the cause of the error lies in your method of copying files from internal memory to external memory. Try different methods and test: for example, through a card reader on a PC, through a file manager on a phone, etc. Do the described reading errors occur in all cases?
However, since you noted that there are no problems with other flash drives, then perhaps the problem is with the memory card. Who is the manufacturer, is the SD card compatible with your phone model? Read user reviews.
Third, update the software on your phone and.
Fourth - the SD Formatter utility. Try different file system formats.
1. Last chance to find an answer to my problem. The Samsung galaxy not 5 (china) phone uses only its internal memory, and the flash drive is not detected. What I didn’t do... I checked the boxes, and inserted it into another mobile phone, formatted it, and this and that - it doesn’t help.
2. On the phoneSamsung Galaxy A3 memory card does not workmicrosdvolume 16 GB. For almost six months it was on the phone; all photos from the camera were automatically saved on it. The memory card has not been removed since it was placed in the slot once. I've been using the phone for almost a year. Previously there was another card with a capacity of 8 GB.
R.SI moved the card to another phone - he doesn’t see it either. And the computer doesn't recognize it either. What to do? On the flash drive are all the children's photos and videos taken over six months.
Answer. If your smartphone or tablet does not see the flash drive, the problem may be with an application that does not save files where needed. Check in the settings where the files are saved - on an SD card, flash drive or in the internal memory of your tablet/smartphone. For example, in the Android Gallery settings you can change the storage location for photos.
Re-read the article. If all else fails, then perhaps the phone does not see the microSD memory card because it is faulty.
The phone does not detect the memory card. I transferred everything to internal memory. When the card is disconnected, all files are read, but when connected, they are not. Now, when you disconnect the SD card, the internal memory is also disabled and there is nowhere to save information. Tell me what can be done if the memory card is not readable (if possible).
Answer. Did the memory card work before this time? The phone may not support this card model.
If the SD card worked before, you may need to format your card - and it will be writable again.
The question is formulated incorrectly: you write that when you disconnect the memory card, the files are read, while you say below that the internal memory is turned off. So where are the files read from then?
1. The phone worked with a memory card. They sent me a congratulatory video. You delete it and it appears again. I tried to reflash the phone, but it didn't work. It didn't detect any updates. After some manipulations in the recovery menu, it became different, detected updates, downloaded and installed them. It shows its own firmware, but with a more recent date.
After this, the SD card is not detected. Android does not see it and does not detect its memory. And other sd too. Without a card, the phone sees its memory and works fine. What to do if the phone does not see the SD card after a virus attack?
2. I put an SD card in the computer - everything reads well there, you can see. And the phone displays the message: SECURE REMOVE CARD. Why doesn't my phone see the memory card? What to do?
Answer. If the phone does not see the memory card, this may be due to damage to the file table on it. How this is related to recovery is unclear. Try formatting the SD card. If nothing changes for the better, change the firmware.
1. I bought a 4G micro flash drive for my phone, installed it in my computer via a card reader, copied the files and installed it in my phone (Microsoft Lumia 530). After some time, I installed it again in the card reader and connected it to the computer. Windows issued a message that the device is faulty and does not read the flash drive, but everything works fine through the phone. And this happens with all USB media and devices. I checked flash on many computers before installing it on the phone - everything was OK. After installation, the memory card does not work on the computer - only through the phone.
2. I ordered a flash drive forebay(universal flash drivei- flash device). I received it yesterday, inserted it into my phone - it works, it also works on the computer. Today I tried to transfer a video from my phone to a flash drive, copying started, I left the phone and went away. Upon returning, I discovered that the program was closed, and the flash drive was no longer detected on the phone, nor was the computer detecting it. What to do?
3. I bought a 32 GB flash drive for my phone from AliExpress. It worked fine, then the photos that were saved to it were half cropped or there was a gray screen instead. Eventually it was no longer detected by the phone. The computer seems to detect it, but does not tear it off. It says something like "insert disk". I tried a lot of things that were written on the Internet, a lot of programs. Some don’t see the flash drive, some see it, but still can’t format it.Tell me how to bring her to her senses.
Answer. Format the flash drive using your phone or Recovery (we wrote about this at the beginning of the publication. If this does not help, go to Windows Disk Management and check whether the flash drive is mounted when connected to the PC, whether the volume is displayed in the list. If necessary, you can create a new partition on the flash drive and format in FAT or extFAT using specialized programs.
I turn on music on my phone, it says: no music files. Nokia RM-1035 phone and mirex micro sd (HC) class 4, everything worked yesterday. Probably the memory card is not readable! How to find out if it is working or not?
Answer. Check whether other mobile applications can see the contents of the memory card; to do this, you can install another player. Connect the microSD card to your computer or laptop via a card reader. If in both cases the flash drive is not accessible, try other methods described in the article.
The Samsung Galaxy A3 2015 phone does not read the flash drive. I formatted it in all possible formats, but it didn’t help. Connected it to a PC - everything works great. Why doesn't my phone see the flash drive? Maybe something needs to be changed in the phone settings?
Answer. Go to Settings - Memory. Check the "SD memory card" section. Install a file manager and see if the memory card files are displayed on it.
In addition to standard formatting, you can try low-level formatting - however, not all manufacturers offer their own software for this (check the memory card website).
Another reason why the phone does not see the SD card may be the lack of contact between the memory card and the phone. Check if your device reads other flash drives. If not, take the phone to be repaired.
Doogee x5 phone. The phone didn’t see the memory card, but it was there. Data was transferred to external memory by accident. For some reason the transfer was completed, but the card was still invisible. Pictures, videos, music have safely disappeared somewhere. How to get them back and why doesn’t the phone see the memory card? Is it possible to restore all this somehow? I tried Android Recovery - to no avail.
Answer. If the phone does not see the SD card, then how did you transfer the files to it? Perhaps you simply copied them to another location.
Try connecting the memory card via a card reader to your computer and scanning it with CardRecovery. As for Android Data Recovery, this program is less functional.
After disconnecting the SD card for work in aparted and carrying out manipulations in it, the prestigio phone does not turn on the SD card again. By the way, the laptop does not see the memory card either. Actions in recovery did not help. What to do if the phone does not see the memory card?
Answer. Perhaps the operating system and laptop see the SD card, but the markings have disappeared. You need to create a volume on unallocated space. Start – Run – diskmgmt.msc. Find the unallocated area and use the context menu to create a new volume on the SD card, assign a letter, apply formatting. After these manipulations, the SD card disk should be detected as before.
I connected the camera as in the instructions (via a USB port), but the camera reads it as a Portable device, but it needs a Removable disk. The camera does not see the memory card in connected mode or what is the problem? How can I change the display? Camera Nikon Coolpix S9400.
Answer. Your camera supports SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards. The computer does not see the memory card as a drive. You need to remove the card from the camera and connect it to your PC via a card reader. If you have a card reader built into your laptop, connecting the card will be even easier. After that, you will see the removable drive in the list.
mico sd 32G in an Android tablet. I distort the connector - everything is ok, but after a while the conductor does not see it and through the setup menu, the SD card memory does not turn on. If you take out and insert a memory card, it appears. I cleaned the contacts, wiped them with rectification, but still Android does not see the SD card where the dog is buried?
Answer. Try testing another SD card with your phone. If the situation repeats and the smartphone does not see the flash drive (the memory card disappears from time to time), then most likely the problem is in the phone contacts.
If another memory card works without errors, we recommend formatting the problematic card in FAT32 or exFAT - in case the phone does not see the micro SD flash drive due to errors in the file table.
The phone (Samsung Galaxy S5) does not read the memory card. I inserted three cards, and none of them are read, although they are displayed correctly on other devices. In this case, the inscription “Connect SD card”, the font of which was previously gray, becomes white and clickable, but if you click, nothing happens. All photos and pictures in the gallery (located in the phone memory) are not displayed. And applications that are not in the internal memory, but in the phone memory, do not open. Tell me what to do?
Answer. There may be a failure at the level of the Android operating system or installed applications. Try to manually resolve the conflict by deleting all unnecessary applications from your phone. Update the OS version to the latest through the Android settings.
If the phone still doesn’t see the memory card, check the phone’s contacts: are there any visually noticeable damages on them?
Do you write "on other devices" when you mean a computer? If yes, it is likely that the file system of the flash drive is NTFS, and you need to format it to FAT or exFat.
When I insert an SD card into the phone, the device does not recognize it. No matter what I tried: even inserted it into other phones, I still can’t see or read its contents.
Answer. There is too little information about the memory card (virtually none) to give specific advice. First, check whether your phone supports SD cards of the size that is on your card (see the documentation for your smartphone or tablet). If you just bought a memory card, you can exchange it under warranty for another one of smaller capacity.
If you have previously used this memory card and it is no longer detected on this and other mobile devices, it is most likely faulty.
1. I cleaned the card on the computer. I deleted everything from it. Now there is a new smartphone teXet X-plus TM-5577. I inserted the Sidi card, he sees it, but nothing swings on the Sidi card and I can’t transfer anything to it. Tell me what to do?
2. The phone started to turn on on its own periodically (Lenovo A 526). Then I left the house and plugged in my headphones and noticed that not a single track was playing. Later, when I took out the phone, I discovered that the flash drive was not readable and the saved music did not play. I tried to reboot the phone - it doesn’t help, I put it in the card reader - it sees the memory card, I put it in a friend’s phone - too. But I don’t want it at all. And the most important thing that drives me crazy is the notification after turning on the phone with the phrase “Remove the MicroSD before deleting it so as not to lose data.
Answer. You need to connect the memory card to the computer again (as you did before), format the sd card in the standard way (for example, through Explorer) or using sdformatter. File system - FAT32. Most likely, it is due to incorrect formatting that the phone cannot write data to the memory card.
After a sudden shutdown, the tablet (Android 5.1) stopped normally recognizing memory cards in the card reader. Either it is checking for errors, or it is reading, which lasts indefinitely. At the same time, half of the programs stop responding, everything slows down wildly, and it becomes impossible to turn off the tablet (only when the discharge reaches 0 and turns it off). Sometimes (very rarely) after connecting, he sees it, but at the slightest manipulation with the card (even viewing a photo), he immediately loses it and begins to re-read it again, and this is the end. Tested on 3 flash drives, both clean and not, with different formatting and a lot of dancing with tambourines (all according to recommendations on the forums). The system was rolled back. Nothing helped. He refuses to see the 8 gig card at all, although if you connect it via an adapter to the USB connector, everything works great (like other flash drives). What is the problem, in the card reader or in the system?
Answer. It is best to connect the problematic memory card to a laptop or, alternatively, via a USB adapter, as you mentioned. Next, the SD card needs to be formatted.
Most likely the issue is with the card reader. Many cheap card readers after a short time stop reading memory cards correctly and produce copying errors or read information slowly.
The system (Android) is unlikely to have anything to do with the problem, since you have already tested several memory cards. Perhaps it is a specific application that is slowing down the system, but this can only be determined by resetting the phone to factory settings.
Lenovo vibe shot phone, android 6. There is a 32gb sony sd card in the option as an extension of the main memory (ext4). The phone stopped seeing the file system - it says SdCard0 01/01/1970, 00 kb. Windows 7 sees two partitions - 16MB and 30GB, operational, 100% free each.
How can I return everything to its place by restoring the previous files? or at least how to pull out photos and the WhatsApp folder?
Answer. To recover a deleted partition on an SD card, R.saver or AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition programs are suitable. If the file table on the partitions contains errors, you can try to fix them using the chkdsk utility for Windows. If that doesn't help, try scanning the SD card (unreadable sections) with the Recuva utility. Until you overwrite the information on the flash drive or format it, the chances of getting your files back remain high.
Samsung A3 2017 Samsung memory card 64 GB. I created folders from my computer: photos, ring notes, music, videos, movies, etc. The phone sees only audio, pictures, documents, video. Doesn't see any other folders on the memory card. What needs to be done?
Answer. Install any file manager for your phone (for example, Total Commander or ES Explorer). Create folders directly through these programs and copy everything you need there. Files should be read on the memory card without problems. It is also possible that those folders that cannot be read from the SD card are hidden or damaged. So it would be a good idea to format the card to avoid further errors.
Lenovo A2010 phone does not see the SD memory card. I tried to reboot, it says "Only one SD card is available, it is impossible to switch." Other phones do not have a card. It doesn’t show on the computer through the card reader at all. Is this really the end, so many photos and videos have disappeared? Maybe something can be done?
Answer. It looks like there are reading errors on the card or the markings have come off. Since the memory card does not open on the computer (i.e. the letter/separate drive is not displayed in the file manager), it makes sense to check whether the memory card is recognized as a device at all. To do this, go to diskmgmt.msc (Start - Run) and see if unallocated space appears when you connect the SD card to the PC. If it appears, create a new file volume in this space through the context menu. If nothing happens, most likely the SD card has failed.
Phone model sony xperia m4 aqua dual. For two years, the phone had a microSD memory card installed. Recently, glitches began to occur: at first, in order for the memory card to work, it was enough to restart the phone. Now the phone has completely stopped seeing the map. Failed to format. Installed a new one. The phone recognizes it (it’s in the settings, I managed to transfer the photos to the card), but it’s not possible to download applications from the play store (it still shows the option to download only to the phone’s memory). What needs to be done in this situation with a flash drive?
Answer. Format the memory card with specialized applications - the same SDFortatter is quite suitable. Next, check the card for errors using the chkdsk tool.
However, you clarified that changing the memory card does not help. The problem may be caused by specific applications or software conflicts within the Android OS. In this case, we recommend updating the firmware or, as a last resort, resetting the phone (perform a hard reset).
After encrypting the SD card, Samsung A5 2017 stopped seeing it. Through the card reader on the computer it sees, but does not open. I tried to format (SDFormatter, cmd) - it doesn’t work. Sees other flash drives. I checked for errors - it gives an error, but does not correct it.
Answer. To check the SD card, use the following parameters:
chkdsk (drive letter): /f/r
- /f - fix file system reading errors
- /r - fix bad sectors on the sd card
This should fix errors and allow you to format the SD card in the standard way or through utilities like SDFormatter.
I have a Kingston DTSE3 16G USB drive, the computer doesn’t see it, the flash drive is unreadable. periodically the system displays a message stating that the device can work faster or. Are there any recovery programs?
Answer. The flash drive supports USB 2.0 interface. Your computer (motherboard) may have an older version of the ports, which is why this message appears. Therefore, we advise you to update your PC hardware if you have not done so for a long time.
Recovery programs will not help you, but formatting the flash drive correctly (in NTFS/FAT) and then checking for errors using chkdsk will not hurt.
The Samsung galaxy tab 4 SM-T331 tablet does not see the SD card. available places 0b, free 0b. and I inserted the same SD card into another device, into my phone, and sees the SD card: available 14.57 free 14.57. I insert another SD card into the tablet - again it doesn’t see it, but the phone sees it.
Answer. If there are important files on the memory card, make a copy of them on your computer. After that, format the memory card and check it for errors. If everything is in order, you can use the SD card on your tablet or phone and write files to it. If the situation repeats, update the tablet firmware or perform a hard reset. However, this is already an extreme measure; we advise you to first deal with reading errors.
I made the memory card an internal storage device forZTE blade A510. After resetting the phone (SDthe card was in the phone all this time) it stopped working on all devices, Android does not save to it.
Answer . You need to format and mount againmicroSDas an internal storage. If the memory card is opened on a computer, transfer all the data on it to your hard drive.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 NEO.I bought a 16 gig memory card, but after 5 months of use it suddenly stopped seeing all the games that were on it. And the phone sees videos, photos and everything else without any problems. In settings > memory > memory card, the total volume, free space is written - in general, everything is as usual. Help with this problem!
Answer . The easiest way is to reinstall the games. This can be done through the applicationGoogle Play. If user data is still stored in the phone memory or onSD-map, games will work as before.If not, try restoring them through the appropriate recovery applications.
Connecting a flash drive to an Android device is very convenient, because it allows you to store data on it and quickly access it. Often the connection takes place without complications, and modern smartphones immediately detect removable media. However, sometimes unexpected failures or incompatibilities occur that interfere with normal operation. If you encounter any problem and your phone does not see the flash drive, read the article to the end. In it you will find a solution to your problem, which will allow you to easily view files.
The situations that we will consider are relevant for all phones from different manufacturers, but there are a number of limitations, which we will talk about at the beginning.
The main reasons why the phone does not see the flash drive
Before we begin to analyze the reasons why the smart device does not see the flash drive via the OTG cable, let’s consider an important point - checking the phone’s compatibility with USB Flash. In order to power the drive, the smartphone must support a technology called USB On-The-Go. It helps to apply current to the media, making it visible and can be interacted with.
You can verify development support using the USB OTG Checker application, which is available in the Play Market. If the program indicates that the smartphone is capable of working with flash drives, then read on, below there will be an example of solutions to problems. If the device does not support external devices, then there is no way to fix it.
An Android device may not display storage for one of the following reasons:
- outdated version of the operating system. To work with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, Android 3.1 and higher is required, otherwise the flash drive will be invisible;
- lack of power to supply the drive through the adapter (you can use an active USB hub, but it is not practical);
- incorrect connection;
- the storage capacity exceeds the value that the device can handle;
- unsupported file system;
- mechanical damage to the carrier, adapter or connector.
These are the main reasons that prevent the flash drive from working correctly.
What to do if the phone does not see the flash drive?
Now let's talk about each reason in turn to find out how best to eliminate it.
Reason #1. The connection is not made correctly
Sometimes users incorrectly connect devices to each other. To avoid mistakes, follow the instructions:
- make sure that your smartphone can work with portable storage devices;
- check Android version and compatibility using USB OTG Checker;
- insert the wire into the mobile port;
- insert the second end of the cord into the external flash drive;
- open any file manager, find the removable disk there and work with it.
If after this there is no result, proceed to the next steps.
Reason #2. Ignoring storage limit
Read the instructions. It says whether USB-host is supported or not. If you threw away the documentation, then look for it on the Internet so as not to get confused about how many GB the phone supports.
Also remember that portable hard drives (HDD) are not supported by all mobile phones, since they require a lot of energy to recharge them. Typically, budget models cannot open them and are limited to reading small volumes from a flash drive.
Reason #3. The file system is not supported by the device
The phones support the FAT file system: exFAT and FAT32. Therefore, if the flash drive is formatted in NTFS, then you need to remount it in order to change files. There are two options, let's consider each separately.
Reformatting
Attention! Formatting will permanently delete the data on the media.
This is done via PC as follows:
When the utility reports completion, you can insert the flash drive into your phone or tablet.
Connection through special programs (Root required)
The second method is not suitable for everyone, since you need Root rights, which are not always easy to install, and not everyone is ready to take this step. However, we will talk about one program. This is StickMount, which can be downloaded from the Play Market, and it will work with most flash drives and allow you to read documents from different file systems. In addition, it even helps to interact with cameras and other equipment. 
Reason #4. Damage to the hardware component
The contacts in the phone socket are not the most reliable, sometimes they break. In this case, the user may not even be aware of the malfunction, since the contacts responsible for transmitting data via OTG are not associated with charging. Therefore, the phone can “power” from the network well, but the drive will not see it. In this case, go to the service center to replace the connector. 
OTG cables under the braid often break, which is why the smart device does not see the USB flash drive, but replacing them is cheap. To check its functionality, simply connect it to a 100% working mobile phone and see if there is contact.
A breakdown of the OTG power controller in a smartphone will also not allow it to “see” the media. To check, you will need a voltage meter.
Attention! If you test a gadget, you will have to sacrifice some unnecessary charging wire. If it is not there, immediately take your mobile phone to the service center.
Do this:
If the screen shows less than 5V, then the controller is faulty and you should send the phone in for repair.
Do not forget that there is another reason - a defective OTG cable, adapter or flash drive. So try other storage and cables if possible.
