How to open a flash drive with NTFS on Android: a complete guide

File system NTFS is a standard for external drives under Windows, but Android does not support it by default. When connecting a flash drive or hard drive via OTG adapter the system often gives the error “The device cannot be read” or simply ignores the drive. The reason lies in the limitations of the Linux kernel on which Android is built: out of the box it only works with FAT32, exFAT and ext4.

In this article we will look at all the current ways to access NTFS drives on smartphones - from simple applications to manual mounting via Termux. You will learn which methods work without rootrights, and where they are required, how to bypass write restrictions, and what risks exist when working with system files. Let us separately dwell on the nuances for different versions of Android (from Android 10 to Android 14) and popular manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel).

Why Android does not see an NTFS flash drive: technical reasons

Android is built on Linux kernel, which theoretically supports NTFS via module ntfs-3g. However, smartphone manufacturers often exclude this module from the firmware for three reasons:

• 🔹 License restrictions: ntfs-3g distributed under a license GPLwhich requires open source code for modified versions. Many vendors (for example Samsung or Huawei) avoid this so as not to disclose proprietary developments.
• 🔹 Power consumption: NTFS requires more resources to operate than FAT32, which can reduce time battery life.
• 🔹 Risks of data corruption: NTFS is sensitive to sudden power outages (for example, when the battery is low), which can lead to file loss.

In addition, starting from Android 11, Google has tightened its security policy for external drives. Applications now require additional permissions to access scoped storage (isolated storage), which complicates working with NTFS even through third-party utilities.

Method 1: Using applications for reading NTFS (without root)

The simplest method is to install a specialized application that emulates NTFS support via FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace). These apps do not require superuser rights, but have limitations: usually only available reading files, writing is unstable.

Top 3 tested applications:

Instructions for Total Commander:

1. Install Total Commander from Google Play.
2. Download the plugin NTFS Plugin from Paragon (free version with limitations).
3. Connect the flash drive via OTG adapter and open Settings → Plugins to Total Commander.
4. Activate the NTFS plugin and restart the application.

⚠️ Attention: Applications without rootrights may not see NTFS partitions larger than 2 TB. If the flash drive is not detected, check it on your PC via Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) - it may be formatted in exFAT, which Android supports by default.

Format flash drive in NTFS on the PC (if it is empty)

Check the file system via chkdsk /f in CMD

Update the smartphone firmware to the latest version

Use the original OTG adapter (Chinese analogues may not work)-->

Method 2: Mounting NTFS via Termux (for advanced)

If you have experience with Linux-commands, you can manually mount an NTFS partition via terminal Termux. This method does not require root, but gives full access to files (including writing).

Step-by-step guide:

1. Install Termux from Google Play or F-Droid.
2. Update packages and install ntfs-3g:

   pkg update && pkg upgrade
   pkg install root-repo
   pkg install ntfs-3g

3. Connect the flash drive and find its path:

   ls /dev/block/ | grep -i "sd"

   Usually this is /dev/block/sda1 or similar.

4. Create a mount point and mount the partition:

   mkdir ~/ntfs_drive
   su -c "ntfs-3g /dev/block/sda1 ~/ntfs_drive -o ro"

   Flag -o ro mounts in read-only mode. To record, replace with -o rw.

To unmount:

su -c "umount ~/ntfs_drive"

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, MIUI from Xiaomi) the command su may not work even with an unlocked bootloader. In this case, use the alternative method with Magisk (see Method 4).

cat /proc/filesystems | grep fuse

Method 3: Formatting the flash drive in exFAT (an alternative to NTFS)

If the file system is not important to you, it is easier to reformat the flash drive in exFAT —Android supports it out of the box (starting from Android 5.0). exFAT has no limit FAT32 on file size (4 GB) and works with partitions up to 128 PB.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect the flash drive to the PC.
2. Open Disk Management (Win + R → diskmgmt.msc).
3. Right-click on the flash drive partition → Format.
4. Select exFAT, specify the label volume and click OK.

For Linux, use the command:

sudo mkfs.exfat -n "MY_DRIVE" /dev/sdX1

(replace sdX1 with the current partition, for example, sdb1).

Method 4: Obtaining root access and mounting NTFS

If you need full write support on NTFS, the most reliable way is to obtain rootrights and mount the partition manually. This method is suitable for firmware with an unlocked bootloader (Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus etc.).

Steps:

1. Unlock the bootloader via fastboot oem unlock (instructions differ for each brand).
2. Install Magisk (download the latest version from GitHub).
3. In Magisk install the module NTFS-3G Magisk Module via the repository.
4. Connect the flash drive and mount it via Termux (see Method 2), but without the command su —the rights will already be available.

For automatic mounting when connected:

• 📝 Edit file /system/etc/vold.fstab (required root).
• 🔧 Add the line:

  dev_mount ntfs /mnt/usbhost/ntfs auto /devices/platform/soc/78d9000.dwc3/xhci-hcd.0.auto/usb1/1-1/1-1.1

  (path may vary - check via lsusb in Termux).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Dynamic Partitions (for example, Google Pixel 4+) editing vold.fstab may lead to bootloop. Before making changes, make a backup via TWRP or OrangeFox.

Method 5: Connection via network (SMB/NFS)

If the physical connection does not work, you can organize access to the flash drive over the network. To do this:

1. Connect an NTFS drive to a PC or router with a USB port.
2. Set up sharing:
   • 🖥️ On Windows: open Folder Options → Access → Share.
   • 🌐 On the router: enable Samba server in the web interface (for example, on Asus RT-AX88U this USB application → Network server).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔌 No restrictions on the file system.
• 📶 Works over Wi-Fi/4G (no OTG required).
• 🔄 Supports simultaneous access from multiple devices.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Depends on the network speed (slower than a direct connection).
• 🔒 Requires security settings (password for the shared folder).

Problem solving: common errors and their fixes

If the NTFS drive is not detected, check:

Critical information: On devices with Android 13+, some applications (for example, Paragon NTFS) may not work due to the new mechanism Scoped Storage. In this case, the only working options are the root method or a network connection.

FAQ: Frequent questions about NTFS on Android