Can I connect a USB drive to my phone?

Yes, if your phone supports USB OTG, you can connect a USB drive using an OTG adapter or directly if your pen drive has a USB-C connector.

How do I know if my phone is OTG compatible?

Check your phone’s specifications or install an app like 'USB OTG Checker' from the Google Play Store. Most modern Android phones support OTG.

Can I connect a pen drive directly to my smartphone without an adapter?

Yes, if your pen drive has a USB-C connector and your mobile uses a USB-C port, you won’t need an adapter.

How to Connect Pen Drive to Smartphone?

Deliver to Select your location

How Do You Connect a Pen Drive to Your Smartphone

In today’s digital-first world, carrying and accessing files on the go is essential. Whether you want to transfer movies, photos, music, or documents, being able to connect pen drive to smartphone makes life easier. If you’ve ever asked, “how can we connect pen drive to mobile” or “how to connect phone with pen drive”, this guide explains everything step by step for both Android and iPhone users.

Requirements for Connecting a Pen Drive

Before you begin, here are the basic requirements to connect your USB On-The-Go smartphone with a pen drive:

A smartphone that supports USB OTG connection.

A USB OTG connection adapter (USB-C OTG or Micro-USB OTG, depending on your phone’s port).

A USB-C pen drive (for modern phones with Type-C ports) or a standard USB pen drive.

A file manager app (some phones have this pre-installed).

For iPhones: a Lightning to USB adapter or Lightning-compatible pen drive.

How to Connect a Pen Drive to an Android Smartphone Using an OTG Cable?

Most modern Android phones support OTG. Here is how to do it:

Plug the OTG adapter into your smartphone’s USB-C port (or Micro-USB on older models).

Insert your pen drive into the OTG adapter.

You see a notification on your phone saying “USB drive connected.”

Open the File Manager app → Go to “USB storage.”

Copy, move, or manage your files as needed.

When done, safely eject the pen drive via Settings → Storage → Eject USB.

This method works perfectly for smartphones like the Nothing Phone (3a) 5G or the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G, which come with USB-C ports and support seamless pen drive file transfer.

How to Connect a Pen Drive to an iPhone?

Apple devices do not utilise USB OTG in the same manner as Android devices, but the connection process is still relatively straightforward.

Get a Lightning to USB adapter (an official Apple adapter is recommended).

Connect the pen drive to the adapter, then plug it into your iPhone’s Lightning port.

On iOS 13 or later, open the Files app.

You will see the pen drive listed under “Locations.”

Browse and transfer files as needed.

For newer iPhones with USB-C ports (like the iPhone 15 series), you can connect a USB-C drive directly.

Conclusion:

Knowing how to connect a pen drive to a phone is particularly useful for offline backups, sharing large files, or simply expanding storage without cloud reliance. If your mobile USB-C port supports OTG, you can connect a pen drive straight away without extra software. Always ensure safe ejection to avoid data corruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

faq1

faqsQuestions: Can I connect a USB drive to my phone?
faqsAnswer: Yes, if your phone supports USB OTG, you can connect a USB drive using an OTG adapter or directly if your pen drive has a USB-C connector.

faq2

faqsQuestions: How do I know if my phone is OTG compatible?
faqsAnswer: Check your phone’s specifications or install an app like “USB OTG Checker” from the Google Play Store. Most modern Android phones support OTG.

faq3

faqsQuestions: Can I connect a pen drive directly to my smartphone without an adapter?
faqsAnswer: Yes, if your pen drive has a USB-C connector and your mobile uses a USB-C port, you won’t need an adapter.