Connect mouse and keyboard to tablet - is that possible?
You can connect the mouse and keyboard to your tablet for more convenient work. This happens in two ways, USB On-The-Go or Bluetooth. In this practical tip you can read how to connect your input device with the respective method.
Connect mouse and keyboard via USB OTG
With many newer Android tablets you can connect a mouse or keyboard via USB On-The-Go (OTG):
- USB OTG requires an Android device with Android 3.1 or newer installed. In addition, the chipset of your device must support USB OTG, which is the case with most new devices. If in doubt, ask the manufacturer or in relevant forums such as xda-developers.
- You also need an adapter that converts the micro-USB port from the tablet into a conventional USB port.
- Now you can easily connect your peripheral devices such as mouse and keyboard, but also gamepads, for example, to your Android device. The periphery is recognized automatically and can be used immediately.
- If you want to connect mouse and keyboard via OTG at the same time, you need a splitter or a hub. However, you should then choose a hub with its own power connection, since many smartphones do not supply enough power for several devices. Hard drives should also be connected via an active hub if they do not have their own power supply.
Connect mouse and keyboard via Bluetooth
You can also connect your mouse and keyboard to your device via Bluetooth. We'll show you how this works in extra practical tips for iPhone, iPad and Android. Many devices can simultaneously connect the mouse and keyboard via Bluetooth. Occasionally, however, there are disturbances. For safety reasons, ask questions in forums. It is safest if you only connect one peripheral device to each connection, for example the keyboard via Bluetooth and the mouse via USB OTG.
In our next practical tip, we will show you 3 Bluetooth keyboards for your android.