The smartphone does not see the USB drive. Connecting an external flash drive to an Android smartphone - a detailed guide to connecting a flash drive with and without OTG support
A mobile device that runs on the Android OS, unlike other portable gadgets, can be connected to a computer as a flash drive. Many Android smartphones and tablets are initially equipped by manufacturers with functions that allow them to be used as flash drives.
This allows the user to record necessary information, remove files from the product that are not used, but at the same time take up a lot of space in it.
Using Android mobile device in the form of a flash drive, there is no need to constantly carry the drive with you. Now you don’t 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 as a flash drive
Let's look at how to connect a mobile device like a flash drive. To do this you need to perform certain consistent actions:
If you lower the curtain in the menu, it will display USB connection in the form of a flash drive. If you need to turn off the drive, you must also lower the curtain 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 “About device” or “About phone” section. Often it is located last in the list that opens.
OS Android 2.1 - 2.3.7
If the Android operating system 2.1 - 2.3.7 is installed, you must complete the following steps:
- You need to connect the gadget to your PC using 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 “USB Debugging”. Now you need to connect it to your PC again.
- A drive icon will appear in the gadget. You need to click on “USB Connection”, and the connection itself should be made as a media device.
Android OS version 4 and higher
Since version 4.4 KitKat, Android does not use USB storage mode; a tablet or smartphone can be used as Media Transfer Protocol (MTP). But you can make the gadget work as a storage device.
Required to use special application, which will help you connect Android with MTP as a USB drive in a few steps. To do this you will need:
- Install on Android Root rights.
- 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.
- Root rights must be granted. You will be prompted to change how Selinux works. It needs to be resolved.
- If this device is supported, the application will go to the main menu.
- To solve the “flash drive” in Android, you need to click on “Enable USB MASS STORAGE”.
After using Android as a USB drive, you need to disable this mode. For this it opens program“USB MASS STORAGE Enabler” and press the corresponding button there. To connect mobile device in another mode, you need to restart Android.
Android does not detect memory card
There are situations when the flash drive in the device does not work. To find it, you can use file manager"ES Explorer" or similar application. By using similar programs you can find almost everything. In its functionality it is similar to the My Computer program.
To recognize the memory card, you should launch ES Explorer. After launching it, a menu will appear on the left side of the screen where the SDcard (memory card) will be located. All you have to do is click on it. After this, the memory card will be detected and available for use.
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.
To begin with - 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 consider the most common reasons, why phones don’t see the 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 was damaged and the markings were lost. 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 Android versions support this file system.
2. Fast way fix the problem - restart the phone in recovery mode and in service menu Android select option Wipe cache partition. 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 data on the phone, including files in 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 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 all the data that was stored on the memory card Android phone or iOS, disappear completely. 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”. Looked through, through file explorer xplore. All the folders were displayed there, but they 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 it different ways and test: for example, through a card reader on a PC, through a file manager on a phone, etc. Is the described reading error observed 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 it different formats file systems.
1. Last chance to find an answer to my problem. Samsung phone galaxy not 5 (china) uses only its internal memory, and the flash drive is not detected. What I didn’t do... I checked the boxes, and in the other mobile phone I inserted it, formatted it this way 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 model cards.
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 recovery menu he became different, discovered the 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?
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 to everyone 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 on it were half cropped or instead gray screen was. Eventually it stopped being 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 via your phone or Recovery (we wrote about this at the beginning of the publication. If that doesn’t help, go to Management Windows disks and check whether the flash drive is mounted when connected to a PC, and whether the volume is displayed in the list. If necessary, you can create on a flash drive new section and format it in FAT or extFAT using specialized programs.
I turn on music on my phone, it says: no music files. Nokia phone RM-1035 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 if others can see mobile applications contents of the memory card, you can install another player for this. Connect the microSD card to your computer or laptop via a card reader. If the flash drive is not accessible in both cases, try other methods described in the article.
Telephone Samsung Galaxy A3 2015 does not read the flash drive. Formatted 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.
Besides standard formatting, you can try low-level - 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 phone x5. The phone didn’t see the memory card, but it was there. Data was accidentally transferred to external memory. 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- uselessly.
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. Concerning Android Data Recovery, then this program is less functional.
After disconnecting the SD card for working in aparted and carrying out manipulations in it, prestigio phone do 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 unmarked area and through context menu create on sd card new volume, 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 as Portable device, but you need 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 this you will see removable drive on 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. At the same time, the inscription “Connect SD card”, the font of which was previously gray, becomes white and available for clicking, 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. Possible level failure operating system Android or installed applications. Try to manually resolve the conflict by deleting all unnecessary applications from the 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 is NTFS flash drives, but you need to format it in 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 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 a 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. It either writes, checking errors, or reads, 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). A system rollback was performed. 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. After a short time, many cheap card readers 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 phone shot vibe, 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 you return everything to its place with restoration? old files? or at least how to pull out photos and the WhatsApp folder?
Answer. Recovery remote partition R.saver or programs on the SD card are suitable AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition. 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. Because the memory card does not open on the computer (i.e. the letter / is not displayed separate disk 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.
Model sony phone xperia m4 aqua dual. For two years, a card was installed in the phone microSD memory. 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 stopped seeing the map completely. Failed to format. Installed a new one. The phone recognizes it (it’s in the settings, photos were sent to the card), but applications cannot be downloaded 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 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 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 (execute 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 reading errors file system
- /r - fix bad sectors on 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. Flash drive supports USB interface 2.0. Your computer ( motherboard) may have more old version ports, which is why it appears similar message. 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 correct formatting Flash drives (in NTFS/FAT) and subsequent checking for errors via chkdsk will not hurt.
samsung tablet galaxy tab 4 SM-T331 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 the memory card has important files– 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 last resort, we recommend that you 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 againmicroSDHow internal storage. If the memory card is opened on a computer, transfer all data on it to HDD.
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 capacity is written, free place- 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.
Surely you have more than once had the need to connect a flash drive to your Android tablet or smartphone, but you did not know how to do it. Yes, you won’t find a full-size USB in almost any Android gadget, but you can still connect the drive to your device. Now I'll tell you how.
Instructions: how to connect a flash drive to an Android tablet or smartphone
To open and view the contents of a flash drive, you will need a file manager. If you don’t have a built-in manager initially, you’ll have to download a third-party one. You can find it on our website. The path to the files itself will look like this: /sdcard/usbStorage.
True, tablets or smartphones cannot always detect a flash drive or hard drive. In this case, you will have to download the paid application Nexus Media Importer (works not only with Nexus), or the StickMount application, which is free but requires root (Superuser rights). Read about receiving them in the posts: and. If you have already rooted your device, then you can start. There is another great app for automatic mounting flash drives. It's called USB OTG Helper and also requires root rights.
How to connect a flash drive to an Android tablet or smartphone via MicroUSB
If your tablet or smartphone uses a MicroUSB port, then connecting such a device will not be difficult. You just need to fork out a couple of dollars and buy a USB OTG cable. That is, you insert the corresponding end of the adapter into the device connector, and connect the flash drive to it. If your Android smartphone or tablet supports the OTG function, then the flash drive will be detected automatically.
How to connect a flash drive to an Android tablet or smartphone without MicroUSB
If your manufacturer was greedy on the USB connector, and instead equipped its device only with a proprietary synchronization connector, then you will have to spend a little more. But even in this situation, there is a solution: you will need another additional adapter, suitable specifically for your connector. You will need to insert a USB OTG cable into it.
That's all, I hope that my post was useful to you.
Despite the support of an Android smartphone or tablet for SD cards up to 32 GB, sometimes you need to connect external “storage” - portable hard disks 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.
For 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 your bag.
How to connect a flash drive to an Android gadget via OTG
OTG is a USB-microUSB adapter, a replacement for a USB cable with a Card Reader device. Takes up little space - no more than a standard flash drive. In this case, the flash drive must be formatted in FAT32 - not everything is going smoothly with the NTFS file system for the Android operating system.
There is a more difficult way: install a special Android application that allows your smartphone or tablet to work with NTFS media. So, these can be exFAT/NTFS for Total Commander, Paragon NTFS & HFS+ and their analogues.
You need OTG with a socket, not a plug for USB drives
Select the USBdisk folder
If the flash drive is not readable, you need special Android applications. 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 when receiving Root rights, you lose the supplier’s warranty and risk harming your gadget.
Another way is to change the license Android firmware to a “custom” one with unattached Root access.
Viewing the contents of a flash drive on an Android smartphone or tablet using third-party applications
USB Media Explorer app
If you want to simplify the process of accessing a flash drive, a paid application is suitable USB Media Explorer. The old name of the program is Nexus Media Importer; it was initially developed for Nexus gadgets, but quickly expanded the line of supported smartphones and tablets to Android based. Root rights are not needed, the program is paid.
If this solution doesn’t suit you, you’ll have to work a little harder.
Solutions based on the StickMount program
The StickMount application is one of the most famous and requires Root rights. Works in conjunction with any Android file manager, for example, ES Explorer. Both applications are available on the Play Market.
Confirm your request
Confirm by pressing the Grant key
Displaying information about the load on 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 companies, 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 highly standardized connector without a special OTG adapter. Look on Ebay or AliExpress for an OTG adapter that matches the standard of the interface socket of your smartphone or tablet. Further actions to be received software access the same for your flash drives.
Other ways to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone or tablet
There are the following methods:
Video: Connecting additional devices to a smartphone and tablet, including flash drives: problems and solutions
By connecting flash drives and other storage devices to an Android smartphone or tablet, you free up your hands when it comes to organizing the storage of the data you carry with you. This can be very useful to you on business trips and travel. Good luck!
On a smartphone you will not find a full-fledged USB port into which you can insert a flash drive. Therefore, connecting a USB flash drive to Android must be done using additional equipment.
Connecting the drive
For your phone to see and open devices connected via USB, it must have On-The-Go (OTG) support. The essence of the technology is that the mobile device supplies power to external equipment via a USB connector. The function is implemented in Android 3.1 and higher, so before you try to connect a flash drive to Android, you need to make sure that this is even possible. First of all, check the OS version:
To make sure there are no problems with the connection, install the USB application OTG Checker. This small program will check for OTG support and, if available, issue a confirmation. 
The next step is to purchase a special adapter (equipment cost starts from 100 rubles). The smartphone has a microUSB port; the flash drive physically cannot fit in it. Therefore, you need to expand the port using an OTG adapter, which can be bought at any store mobile technology. Some phones, like tablets, come with a “native” OTG cable, so manufacturers also assume that they will connect to their devices external drives and other USB devices. 
The connection procedure itself is extremely simple: one end of the adapter is installed into the microUSB connector on the phone, and into the existing one at the other end USB port flash drive is inserted. 
Now you can find universal flash drives with USB and microUSB, which do not require an adapter to connect. 
This is still rare, but it is quite possible that over time the ports will become universal, and users will be able to abandon adapters and other additional equipment.
To open a flash drive on a tablet or smartphone, it is usually enough to have a file manager installed on the device. The flash drive must be formatted in FAT32; data from NTFS cannot be read on Android. This primarily applies to latest models smartphones from Samsung: just connect the flash drive via an OTG adapter and find the drive through any file manager. The data will be located in the /sdcard/usbStorage directory. 
However, the procedure does not always go so smoothly: even if the device supports OTG, the question of how to open a connected flash drive on Android causes difficulties. The problem is that not all mobile devices are automatic mode install external equipment, be it a flash drive, camera or mouse.
The shortcoming can be eliminated using paid application USB Media Explorer, which allows you to copy music, video photos, documents from flash drives connected to smartphones Google Nexus and other devices with Android 4.0 and higher. 
The application has two drawbacks: it is paid and correct work is guaranteed only on Nexus phones and tablets, although the developers claim support for other devices. Among the advantages is file support NTFS systems, that is, you do not have to format the flash drive to FAT32 before connecting.
If you don’t want to spend money on an application for copying data, or you basically can’t install USB Media Explorer on your device due to lack of model support, then the only way To access the data recorded on the flash drive, you will use superuser rights (root).
For each model it is better to look for your own separate instructions to obtain superuser rights. There are also universal methods, type of program use Kingo Root, but it should be borne in mind that obtaining root rights is a potentially dangerous operation, as a result of which the mobile device will be removed from warranty. In addition, performing the procedure incorrectly may damage the system.
If your phone has root rights, you can use free application StickMount to detect a connected flash drive on Android.
- Launch StickMount.
- Connect the flash drive to your phone.
- Set StickMount to open automatically when connected of this drive and give the application root rights.
You can view and copy the contents of the flash drive after mounting through any file manager. The information will be located in the sdcard/usbStorage directory. 