Connect smartphone to USB stick - how it works

In many cases it can be useful to connect the smartphone to a USB stick - especially if you want to transfer photos from your cell phone or camera. In this practical tip we explain how it works.

Connect your smartphone to the USB stick: you need it

First of all, you should note that not every device can be connected to a USB stick. Some smartphones do not have the appropriate technology for this. In general, all smartphones are supported with Android version 4.0+, except the Google Nexus 4.

• To connect a USB stick to the smartphone, you need a so-called "OTG cable". You can find these relatively cheaply at mail order companies. For example, this for 4 euros from the company BIGtec.
• You also need a special app to access the data on the USB stick. You can do this, for example, without root using the "USB Media Explorer" app (this also works on non-Nexus devices). If you are afraid of the price, you can use the limited trial version "Nexus Photo Viewer" for testing.
• Advanced users can also use the "StickMount" app. However, this requires root rights. For this, you can not only access the USB stick and copy files with it, but also mount the USB stick as a Linux-typical folder.
• Some devices, such as HTC One or Sony Xperia Z, don't need any other apps at all. With these it is sufficient to connect the USB stick via OTG cable. Sometimes you have to tap "Make USB storage available" under "Settings" -> "Storage".

Connect USB stick via "USB Media Explorer"

1. Install the "USB Media Explorer" app from the Google Play Store on your smartphone.
2. Insert your USB stick into the OTG cable. If you want to use a card reader, first insert the memory card into the reader and then into the OTG cable. Even with external hard drives, you should first ensure the power supply.
3. Now plug the OTG cable into the smartphone and wait a few seconds. Then open the "Nexus Media Importer" app.
4. In most cases, the app automatically connects to the USB stick. If not, you can select "Connect" in the menu and then select the USB stick.
5. You can now search the USB stick for various media and view them or click through the file system. You can also copy files to your phone by tapping the "Import" icon.
6. If you want to do without the extra cable, we recommend using an OTG stick. You can use it to exchange your data between PC and smartphone without any cables.