Modern brand smartphones Honor have excellent multimedia capabilities, but even large internal memory is sometimes not enough for an extensive collection of tracks. Transferring audio files to an external drive is becoming important not only to free up space, but also to play music in a car or on home speakers that support USB drives. This process does not require special computer skills, however, it has its own nuances related to the file system and shell features MagicOS.
In this article we will analyze in detail the entire algorithm of actions: from preparing the equipment to directly copying the data. You will learn how to properly connect a flash drive, which file manager to use and what to do if the device does not see the drive. File system plays a key role here, since not all formats are supported by standard Android tools.
For device owners Honor the procedure is simplified thanks to built-in optimization tools, but requires care when removing media. Improper disconnection can damage the data or the flash drive itself. Below are proven methods that work on most current models, including series Honor X, Honor 50/70/90 and flagship lines with support USB OTG.
Preparing equipment and checking compatibility
The first step before starting work is to check the physical compatibility of your smartphone and flash drive. Most modern models are equipped with a port, while older flash drives have a connector. To connect, you will need a special adapter (OTG adapter) or a flash drive with two connectors. Without this physical connection, data transfer is not possible. Honor equipped with port USB Type-C, whereas old flash drives have a connector USB Type-A. To connect, you will need a special adapter (OTG adapter) or a flash drive with two connectors. Without this physical connection, data transfer is impossible.
It is also critical to ensure that your drive is formatted with the correct file system. The Android standard works most correctly with the format FAT32 or exFAT. If your flash drive has the format NTFS (standard for Windows), the phone can see it, but will not allow you to write files without installing third-party software or formatting. Formatting will delete all data, so first copy important data to your computer.
⚠️ Attention: Before connecting the flash drive, be sure to check its integrity on the computer. Damaged sectors can cause the file manager on your smartphone to freeze or even temporarily block the charging port.
The capacity of the flash drive also matters. Although modern phones support large storage drives, older models may not work correctly with flash drives larger than 64 or 128 GB. It is recommended to use media up to 64 GB for maximum compatibility and writing speed. Make sure that there is enough free space on the flash drive itself for the planned music library.
Connecting a USB drive to an Honor smartphone
After preparing the equipment, you can begin the physical connection. Insert the OTG adapter into the charging port of your Honor, and then connect the flash drive. In most cases, the system will automatically recognize the new device. A pop-up notification should appear on the screen indicating that a USB storage device is connected.
If the notification does not appear immediately, do not panic. Swipe down from top to open notification curtain. There may be a hidden message about connecting the drive. Click on it to select the operating mode. Usually, the “File Transfer” or “USB Drive” mode is selected by default, which is what we need to record music.
In some cases, especially on older firmware versions, you may need to manually activate the OTG function in the settings. To do this, go to the menu Settings, then find the section Additional settings or Connection and sharing. Find the switch OTG and activate it. Without enabling this option, the port will only work for charging.
If the phone does not see the flash drive, try turning the USB Type-C plug over. Despite the symmetry of the connector, the contacts inside the adapter sometimes oxidize on one side, and changing the position can restore contact.
Successful connection is confirmed by the appearance of a new icon in the status bar or a change in the battery icon, indicating that the connected device is charging (if the flash drive is consuming energy). Now the system is ready to work with files, and you can move on to the next stage - searching for the tracks you need.
Searching and preparing music files
Before copying music, you need to find its sources on your device. The files can be located in different places: in the internal memory in a folder Download, in the music application directory or in cloud storage. To manage files on Honor the built-in application “Phone Manager” (or “Files”) is ideal.
Open the manager application and go to the Audio or Music. Here the system automatically aggregates all found tracks, regardless of which folder they are in. This makes searching much easier since you don't have to manually navigate through deep directories of internal memory. You can sort files by artist, album or date added.
If you download music from the Internet or instant messengers, check the folder Downloads. Often files are saved there by default. It is also worth looking into the folders of specific applications, for example Telegram/Telegram Audio or WhatsApp/Media, if the tracks came there. Make sure the files have supported extensions such as .mp3, .flac or .wav.
| File extension | Sound quality | File size | Honor compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
.mp3 |
Standard (compressed) | Small (3-5 MB) | Full |
.flac |
High (lossless) | Large (20-40 MB) | Full |
.wav |
High (no compression) | Very large | Full |
.m4a |
Good (Apple) | Medium | Full |
For Bulk transfer is most convenient to use the function of selecting multiple files. Hold your finger on one track, and then mark the rest of the desired songs or use the button "Select all" in the control menu. This will allow you to copy an entire album or playlist in one operation, saving the user time.
☑️ Checking files before copying
The process of copying music to external media
After the files are selected, you need to initiate the copying process. Action buttons will appear at the bottom of the File Manager screen. Select option Copy or Move. The difference between them is significant: copying will leave the originals in the internal memory, while moving will delete them from there, freeing up space. To be on the safe side, it is better to use copying first.
Next, the system will prompt you to select a destination. Your external USB drive should appear in the list of available storages. It can be displayed as USB drive, UDisk or by the brand name of the flash drive. Click on it to enter the root directory of the external device.
It is recommended to create a separate folder for music on the flash drive so as not to mix audio files with documents or photos. Press the button "New folder", name it, for example, Music_Car or Honor_Music, and go inside. Then press the button Paste or "Copy here". The data transfer process will begin, the progress of which will be displayed on the screen.
⚠️ Attention: Do not remove the flash drive or minimize the application during the active copying process. Interrupting recording may cause files to become broken and not playable.
Copying time depends on the speed of your USB drive and the number of files. USB 2.0 flash drives will be significantly slower than USB 3.0. If you are transferring gigabytes of music in FLACformat, the process may take several minutes. Wait for the notification that the operation is complete to appear.
What to do if copying is stuck?
If the progress bar does not move for more than 5 minutes, try canceling the operation. Often the problem lies in one corrupted file in the queue. Try copying music in small groups of 10-20 tracks to identify the problematic file and exclude it from the list.
Safely removing a flash drive
Proper shutdown of an external drive is the key to its long service life. Never remove the flash drive immediately after copying is complete. Even if the lights are off, there may still be data in the system cache that has not yet been physically written. A sudden power outage can damage the file table.
For safe removal, lower the notification shade down. Look for a notification about your connected USB device. There should be a button “Remove” or a triangle icon with a line (extract symbol). Click on it. The system will inform you that the drive can be safely disconnected.
Only after the corresponding system message appears, you can physically disconnect the flash drive from the smartphone Honor. If you plan to use music in the car, insert the flash drive into the radio only after making sure that the copying process is completed and the device is correctly removed from the phone.
Always use the “Eject” software command before physically disconnecting the flash drive. This prevents data loss and the need to format the drive in the future.
Solving common problems and errors
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users may encounter a number of technical difficulties. One of the most common problems is the message “USB device is damaged” or a prompt to format the drive. This often happens if the flash drive was used on computers with a different file system or was removed incorrectly earlier.
If the phone sees the flash drive, but does not allow files to be written to it (the "Insert" button is inactive), most likely the drive is write-protected or has a file system NTFS. In this case, formatting will be required directly from the phone. In the file manager, select your flash drive, click on the menu (three dots) and select Format. Remember that this will delete all data!
Another problem is the lack of sound when playing from a flash drive in a car. Make sure that the radio supports the file system of your flash drive (usually only FAT32) and that the folders are not nested too deeply. Some old car radios do not see files if they are in folders with names in Cyrillic. Rename the folders to Latin.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and names of menu items may vary slightly depending on the version of MagicOS and the model of your Honor. If you do not find this option, use the settings search or check the official user manual for your specific model.
If the flash drive is not detected at all, try rebooting your smartphone with the drive connected. Sometimes this helps to reset the USB driver error. Also check whether the flash drive itself works on another device to exclude its physical malfunction.
If you often use a flash drive for music, buy a high-quality OTG cable with a short cord. Long, cheap cables often create additional resistance, which is why the phone cannot supply enough voltage to operate the drive.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to listen to music from a flash drive directly on an Honor phone?
Yes, it is possible. After connecting the flash drive, open the standard Music application. A new source should appear in the “Library” or “Folders” section - your flash drive. Select it, and the player will start playing tracks directly from the external storage device, without occupying internal memory.
Why doesn’t the phone see a 128 GB flash drive?
Most likely, the flash drive is formatted in the exFAT or NTFS file system, which your phone does not support without additional drivers, or the USB port does not produce enough energy to power the drive. Try formatting the flash drive in FAT32 (using third-party utilities on your PC, since standard Windows formatting does not allow you to select FAT32 for volumes larger than 32 GB).
How much music will fit on a 32 GB flash drive?
With average MP3 quality (320 kbps), one track weighs about 5-7 MB. A 32 GB flash drive (actual volume about 29 GB) will fit approximately 4000-5000 songs. If you use the FLAC format, the number will be reduced to 600-800 tracks.
Is it possible to charge the phone via a flash drive?
No, it is impossible. When a flash drive is connected via OTG, the phone port switches to host mode and begins to consume energy to power the drive. Charging in this mode is usually disabled or very slow if a special splitter with support for Pass-through charging is used.