Many users of brand smartphones Redmi are faced with the need to transfer music tracks to an external drive. This may be due to the desire to free up the internal memory of the device or prepare a media library for listening in the car through the radio. Modern Xiaomi models have enough power to work with external USB devices, but the process requires the correct sequence of actions.
In this article we will examine in detail technical nuances connecting a flash drive to a MIUI-based smartphone. You will learn about hidden system settings that often block automatic access to files, and understand how to bypass file system restrictions without losing audio quality.
The procedure looks simple, but there are different scenarios: from using standard applications to using specialized utilities. It is important to understand the difference between the operating modes of the USB port and to properly prepare the storage medium before starting copying.
Preparing equipment and checking OTG support
The first critical step is checking the hardware compatibility of your gadget. Almost all modern models Xiaomi and Redmi support technology OTG (On-The-Go), which allows the smartphone to operate in host mode. However, to connect a regular USB flash drive you will need a special adapter or adapter cable.
Make sure your adapter is working properly. Cheap Chinese cables often do not have power contacts soldered, which means that the phone sees the connection, but cannot supply voltage to the drive. Visually inspect the connectors for oxidation or physical damage.
⚠️ Attention: If, when connecting a flash drive, the smartphone begins to discharge quickly or becomes very hot in the area of the charging port, immediately disconnect the device. This may indicate a short circuit inside the adapter or voltage incompatibility.
You should also pay attention to the file system of your drive. The Android standard works most correctly with the FAT32format. If your flash drive is formatted in NTFS or exFAT, your phone may prompt you to format it, which will delete all data. It is recommended to check the format in advance via a computer.
Use adapters with additional power if you plan to connect large hard drives, since the smartphone port may not provide sufficient current.
Setting up access to a USB drive in MIUI
After physically connecting the device, the MIUI system usually automatically detects the external carrier. A message indicating that the USB storage device is connected will appear in the notification shade. However, in some firmware versions, access to files is disabled by default for security reasons.
To activate the data transfer mode, you must go to the settings. Open the menu Settings, then select the section About phone and click on version MIUIseveral times to activate developer mode. Next, return to the main settings menu, find the item Advanced settings and go to For developers.
In the developer menu find the item Default USB configuration. Change the value from "Charge Only" to "File Transfer" or "USB Storage". This action will force the system to mount external memory.
- 🔌 Make sure that the smartphone screen is unlocked when you connect the flash drive.
- 📂 Check the notification in the curtain: there should be a USB mode switch.
- ⚙️ If the flash drive is not detected, try rebooting a device with a drive already connected.
Selecting a file manager for transfer
The standard explorer preinstalled in the shell MIUIhas basic functionality, which is quite sufficient for simple copying operations. It correctly displays the folder structure and allows you to select groups of files. However, for large volumes of data, it is sometimes more convenient to use third-party solutions.
Third-party managers, such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer, provide advanced capabilities. They allow you to work with two panels simultaneously, which significantly speeds up the process of moving music from internal memory to external storage. In addition, they cope better with long file paths.
| Application | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI Explorer | Built into the system, does not require installation | Limited sorting functionality |
| Total Commander | Two-panel mode, plugins | Outdated interface design |
| Google Files | Automatic garbage cleaning, simplicity | Fewer display settings |
When choosing a tool, be guided by the size of your media library. To transfer several albums, a standard tool is enough. If you plan to transfer your entire collection to hundreds of gigabytes, the two-panel mode will become an indispensable assistant.
Using a two-panel file manager reduces data transfer time by 2-3 times by eliminating unnecessary transitions between folders.
Searching and sorting music files
Music on Android can be stored in different directories. Most often this is a folder Music in the root of the internal memory or a directory Downloadif the tracks were downloaded from the browser. Also, streaming applications can create their own hidden cache folders.
Use the sorting function by file type to filter out unnecessary ones. In File Explorer settings, select the Audio filter. This will display only files with extensions MP3, FLAC, WAV and other audio formats, hiding images and documents.
For easy transfer, it is recommended to create a clear folder structure on the flash drive. For example, categorize your music by artist or genre. Randomly copying all files to the root directory of the drive will make it difficult to find them in the future, especially when playing through a car radio.
⚠️ Attention: Files with the .m4a extension from the iTunes store may not be playable on some older radios. It is recommended to convert them to universal MP3 before recording to a flash drive.
Where to look for music from Telegram?
Files received in the Telegram messenger are saved by default in the /Android/media/org.telegram.messenger/Telegram/Telegram Audio folder. The path may differ depending on the Android version.
Copying process and integrity control
The data transfer process itself requires care, especially when working with large amounts of information. Highlight the desired tracks with a long press. In the menu that appears, select action Copy or Move. Copying is safer as it leaves the original files on the phone in case of failure.
Go to the external memory section (usually indicated as USB or the name of the flash drive brand). Open the target folder and click Insert. The system will begin the recording process. The speed depends on the class of your flash drive and the writing speed of the smartphone’s internal storage.
Recommended writing speed: from 10 MB/s
Minimum flash drive class: Class 10
Do not remove under any circumstances flash drive and do not lock the smartphone screen until the operation is completed. Interrupting the recording can lead to damage to the file table and loss of some data. Wait for a notification that the copying has been successfully completed.
☑️ Monitoring the recording process
Safely removing and eliminating errors
After completing all operations, it is critically important to properly disconnect the drive. Android, like desktop OSes, uses write caching. This means that the system may report that the copying is complete, but the actual writing to the physical media is still ongoing in the background.
To safely remove, lower the notification shade and look for the USB drive icon. Press the button Disconnect or Eject. Only after the message about safe disconnection appears can you physically remove the flash drive from the port.
If you encounter the “Not enough space” error, although there is space, the problem may be a limitation of the FAT32 file system. This format does not support recording single files larger than 4 GB. If you are trying to record a live album with one file or video, you will need to format it in exFAT (if your phone supports it) or split the file.
- 🛑 Always use a software shutdown before physically removing it.
- 💾 Check the free space with a margin of 10-15% for the correct operation of the flash drive controller.
- 🔄 If there is a reading error, try connecting the flash drive to another port or PC to check.
⚠️ Attention: The MIUI interface is updated periodically. The location of the “For Developers” menu items or notification icons may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS).
What to do if the flash drive is detected as empty?
The files may be hidden by a virus. Connect the drive to your PC, enable the display of hidden files and check for the “Hidden” attribute on your music folders.
Why doesn’t the phone see the flash drive after connecting?
The most common reason is the lack of support for the drive’s file system. Android reads FAT32 natively. NTFS or exFAT formats may require superuser rights (Root) or special drivers. Also, the problem may be a faulty OTG cable.
Is it possible to charge the phone simultaneously with a connected flash drive?
Yes, this is possible, but you will need a special USB hub with the Pass-through Charging function. A regular adapter has only one port, so you have to choose one thing: either data transfer or charging.
How to transfer music if there is no OTG cable?
Without a physical connection, you can use cloud services (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk) as an intermediate link, or transfer files via Wi-Fi to a computer, and then record from the computer to a flash drive.
Why are some songs not played on the radio?
Car head units often have bitrate restrictions (for example, they do not play files above 320 kbps) or do not support modern codecs. Try converting problematic tracks to standard MP3 128-320 kbps.