Running games from a flash drive on Android is a way to save internal memory on your smartphone, speed up loading of projects, or bypass the limitations of low-performance devices. The method is especially relevant for owners of budget gadgets with 16–32 GB of internal memory, where each installed game takes up precious megabytes. But how to properly configure the system so that games work stably, do not lag and do not lose progress? In this guide, we will go through all the stages - from choosing a flash drive to solving common errors.

It is important to understand: not all games support launching from an external drive. Most modern AAA projects (for example Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) require mandatory installation on internal memory due to protection against piracy and optimization of texture loading. However, for retro games, emulators (PPSSPP, Dolphin) and some indie projects, a flash drive will be an excellent solution. Next are step-by-step guide taking into account the features of Android 12–15 and various manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, etc.).

Before you begin, check whether your device supports OTG (On-The-Go) - technology for connecting external drives. This can be done through the app USB OTG Checker or manually: connect the flash drive via an adapter - if the system recognizes it, you can move on.

📊 What is the amount of internal memory in your smartphone?
Up to 32 GB
32–64 GB
64–128 GB
More than 128 GB

1. Choosing a flash drive: which drive is suitable for games

Not every flash drive can handle running games. The main selection criteria:

  • 🔹 Connection interface: USB-C or Micro-USB (depending on the smartphone connector). Adapters from USB-A to USB-C work, but take up extra space.
  • 🔹 Read/write speed: minimum 100 MB/s (enough for emulators 50 MB/s). Optimal - USB 3.1/3.2 with marking U3 or A2.
  • 🔹 Volume: from 64 GB (for 5-10 medium-sized games) to 1 TB (for collectors).
  • 🔹 File system format: exFAT or NTFS (FAT32 does not support files >4 GB).

For testing, we used flash drives SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe (128 GB, USB-C) and Samsung Fit Plus (256 GB, USB-A). The first showed better results in open-world games due to its reading speed 400 MB/s, but it costs more. The second is a budget option for emulators Nintendo DS i PSP.

⚠️ Attention: Cheap flash drives without a brand often have underrated characteristics. Before purchasing, check reviews on thematic forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers) - test results of real users are published there.
Flash drive model Interface Reading speed Price (2026) Best use
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C 3.1 400 MB/s ~3,500 ₽ (128 GB) Heavy games, PS2 emulators
Samsung Fit Plus USB-A 3.1 300 MB/s ~2,200 ₽ (256 GB) Retro games, indie projects
Kingston DataTraveler Max USB-C 3.2 1,000 MB/s ~5,000 ₽ (256 GB) Professional use
Transcend JetFlash 920 USB-A 3.1 180 MB/s ~1,500 ₽ (128 GB) Budget option for emulators

2. Preparing a flash drive: formatting and folder structure

Before first use, the flash drive must be formatted in the correct file system. You can do this via a smartphone or PC:

  1. On Android:
    1. Connect the flash drive via an OTG adapter.
    2. Open Settings → Storage → [Flash drive name].
    3. Select Format as internal (if you need to expand memory) or Format as portable (for temporary use).
    4. Select file system exFAT.
  2. On PC:
    1. Connect the flash drive to the computer.
    2. Open This computer → [Flash drive] → RMB → Format.
    3. Select exFATcluster size 4096 bytes.
    4. Click Start.

After formatting, create on a flash drive folder Android/obb/ —this is where many games (for example, Asphalt 9 or PUBG Mobile) save their cache and additional files. For emulators, create separate directories:

├── Android/

│ └── obb/ # Cache of games from Google Play


├── Emulators/


│ ├── PPSSPP/ # Games for PSP


│ ├── Dolphin/ # Games for GameCube/Wii


│ └── RetroArch/ # Multi-system emulator


└── ROMs/ # Sample games (.iso, .cso files, etc.)

Format to exFAT|Create a folder Android/obb|Create folders for emulators|Download game files (APK + OBB)|Check the reading speed through the Benchmark application-->

3. Configuring Android to work with external storage

By default, Android restricts application access to external storage. To allow games to read files from a flash drive, follow these steps:

  • 🔧 Allow access to storage:
    1. Go to Settings → Applications → [Game name].
    2. Select Permissions → Storage → Allow.
  • 🔧 Activate OTG in the developer (for older versions of Android):
    1. Enable Developer mode (click on Build number in Settings → About phone).
    2. Go to Settings → System → For developers.
    3. Find the option USB debugging and enable it.
  • 🔧 Set storage priority (for Android 10+):
    1. Connect the flash drive.
    2. In the notification, press Use as internal memory (if necessary).
    3. Reboot the device.

    • On devices Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO additionally you need to disable MIUI optimization:

    1. Go to Settings → Accessibility → MIUI Optimization.
    2. Disable the function.
    3. Reboot your smartphone.
    ⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example ColorOS from Oppo/Realme), when connecting a flash drive as internal storage, the device encryption may be reset. Data backup is mandatory!
    💡

    If the game does not see the files on the flash drive, try moving the cache folder (OBB) to the root of the drive. Some applications look for data only along the path /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/, ignoring external drives.

    4. Methods for launching games from a flash drive

    There are three main methods for launching games from an external drive. Each is suitable for different types of projects:

    Method 1: Installing APK + OBB on a flash drive (for standard games)

    Suitable for games from Google Playthat support external storage (for example, Dead Trigger 2, Into the Dead 2). Instructions:

    1. Download APKgame file and folder OBB (for example, from the site APKMirror or APKPure).
    2. Copy APK to a flash drive (in any folder).
    3. Folder OBB place along the path [Flash drive]/Android/obb/[game package] (for example, com.madfingergames.deadtrigger2).
    4. Install APK via any file manager (for example, FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
    5. Launch the game - it should automatically pull up data from the flash drive.

    Method 2: Emulators with support for external drives

    Emulators (PPSSPP, Dolphin MMJ, RetroArch) are ideal for launching from a flash drive, as they do not require installing games on the system. Algorithm:

    1. Install the emulator from Google Play or from the official website.
    2. Download game images (.iso, .cso, .cia) and place them in the folder [Flash drive]/ROMs/.
    3. In the emulator settings, specify the path to the folder with games: 
      PPSSPP: Settings → Tools → Folder with games

      Dolphin: Settings → Paths → Games folder

    4. Run the game directly from the flash drive.

    For RetroArch you will additionally need:

    • Download cores (cores) for the desired consoles via Online Updater.
    • Configure playlists (playlists) for automatic scanning of games.

    Method 3: Virtualization applications (for heavy games)

    If the game does not start using standard methods, you can use virtual machines or containers. Popular solutions:

    • 🖥️ UserLAnd — launching a Linux environment with support Wine for Windows games.
    • 🎮 ExaGear (outdated, but works on older Androids) — x86 emulation for PC games.
    • 📱 Termux + Proot — manual configuration of the virtual environment (for advanced users).

    The disadvantage of the method is the high load on the processor and battery. For example, UserLAnd can reduce FPS in games by 30-50% compared to native launch.

    💡

    Emulators are the most reliable way to run games from a flash drive, since they do not require integration with the Android system. However, they are not suitable for modern AAA projects due to hardware limitations.

    5. Solving common problems

    When launching games from a flash drive, users encounter several common errors. Here's how to fix them:

    Problem Cause Solution
    The game does not see OBB files Incorrect folder path or permissions
    1. Check the path: it should be /Android/obb/[game package].
    2. Give permissions to the folder via FX File Explorer (long press → Properties → Rights).
    Game crashes when loading Lack of RAM or slow flash drive
    1. Close background applications.
    2. Try a flash drive with USB 3.1.
    3. Reduce graphics settings in the game.
    The flash drive turns off during the game Saving energy or poor contact
    1. Disable Battery optimization for the file manager.
    2. Use an OTG cable with external power.
    The game asks to update, but cannot download data OBB files are outdated or damaged
    1. Download the current version of OBB from APKMirror.
    2. Delete old ones files from the folder obb.

    If the game still does not start, check its compatibility with external drives. Some projects (for example, Free Fire or Mobile Legends) block launching from a flash drive due to anti-cheat.

    How to bypass anti-cheat blocking when launched from a flash drive. Flash drives?

    Some games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty) check the path to OBB files. To deceive the system:

    1. Install the game to internal memory.

    2. folder obb to the flash drive.

    3. Delete the original folder from the internal storage.

    4. Create a symbolic link (symlink) using Termux:

    ln -s /storage/USB_Drive/Android/obb/com.pubg.krmobile /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/com.pubg.krmobile

    5. Restart the device. data-i="260">⚠️ Risk: this method can lead to account ban in online games!

    ⚠️ Risk: this method can lead to account ban in online games!

    6. Performance optimization

    Running games from a flash drive can reduce FPS due to data reading delays. To minimize lags:

    • ⚡ Use flash drives with USB 3.1/3.2: they reduce texture loading time by 40–60%.
    • ⚡ Disable system animation:
      1. Activate Mode developer.
      2. Set Window animation scale, Transition animation scale i Duration animator to 0.5x.
    • ⚡ Set up swap:
      1. Install SwapFile from Google Play.
      2. Create a swap file of size 1–2 GB on a flash drive.
  • ⚡ Use Game Mode:
    1. On devices Samsung enable Game Launcher.
    2. On Xiaomi activate Game mode in settings.

      3. For emulators, it is additionally recommended:

      • In PPSSPP enable Buffering sound and disable V-Sync.
      • V Dolphin reduce Internal Resolution to 1x Native.
      ⚠️ Attention: On devices with a processor MediaTek Helio G (for example, Redmi Note 10) launch Playing games from a flash drive can cause overheating. Monitor the temperature through AIDA64 and use cooling pads.

      7. Alternative solutions for weak devices

      If your smartphone does not play games even from a flash drive, consider alternative methods:

      • 🖥️ Cloud gaming:
        • Xbox Cloud Gaming (requires subscription Game Pass Ultimate).
        • NVIDIA GeForce NOW (free plan with a time limit).
        • Boosteroid (Russian-language platform with low Internet requirements).
      • 🎮 Streaming from a PC:
        • Steam Link — for games from the Steam library.
        • Moonlight — for streaming from a PC running NVIDIA GPU.
        • Rainway —cross-platform solution.
      • 📱 Lightweight ports:
        • Minecraft Bedrock Edition (optimized for weak devices).
        • Terraria (works even on 1 GB of RAM).
        • Stardew Valley (minimum requirements).

    • For cloud gaming you will need stable Internet connection with speed from 15 Mbit/s (for 720p) or 30 Mbit/s (for 1080p). A higher ping 50 ms will make the game uncomfortable.

    💡

    Cloud gaming is the best option for the weak smartphones, but requires an unlimited tariff with low ping. On the mobile data (4G/5G), lags are possible due to network instability.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about launching games from a flash drive

    Is it possible to run Genshin Impact from a flash drive?

    No, Genshin Impact requires mandatory installation on internal memory due to protection miHoYo Anti-Cheat. Attempts to transfer OBB files to a flash drive will result in a download error or account ban. An alternative is cloud gaming via GeForce NOW (if the game is available in your region).

    Why do games on a flash drive slow down more than on internal memory?

    Reasons:

    1. Read speed: even the fastest flash drive (USB 3.2) is slower than the built-in memory UFS 2.1/3.0.
    2. OTG delays: the adapter adds ~10–20 ms to the response time.
    3. File fragmentation: on flash drives, “holes” in the data accumulate over time, which slows down access.

    Solution: use flash drives with LCP (Low Latency Cache) (for example, Kingston DataTraveler Max) and regularly defragment them via PC.

    How to transfer an already installed game to a flash drive?

    Methods:

    1. Through App Mgr III (root):
      1. Get root access (for example, through Magisk).
      2. In App Mgr III select game → Move to SD card.
    2. Without root (for some games):
      1. Copy the folder Android/obb/[game package] to a flash drive.
      2. Delete the original folder.
      3. Create a symbolic link (see spoiler above).

    ⚠️ Not all games support transfer. For example, Honor of Kings or League of Legends: Wild Rift block such an action.

    Which emulators work best from a flash drive?

    Top 5 emulators for external drives:

    1. PPSSPP Gold —best for PSP (supports compressed images .cso).
    2. Dolphin MMJ —optimized for GameCube/Wii (requires a powerful processor).
    3. RetroArch — universal (supports 50+ consoles, but difficult to set up).
    4. ePSXe — for PlayStation 1 (simple interface, low requirements).
    5. Citra MMJ — for Nintendo 3DS (works on smartphones with 4 GB RAM).

    Tip: for emulators, create separate folders on a flash drive and configure auto-update of libraries.

    Is it possible to use microSD instead of a USB flash drive?

    Yes, but with reservations:

    • 🔹 Speed: microSD (UHS-I) slower than USB 3.1 by 2–3 times.
    • 🔹 Compatibility: not all smartphones support Adoptable Storage (converting microSD into internal memory).
    • 🔹 Wear: microSD degrade faster with frequent recordings (especially cheap models).

    Recommendation: if your phone has a slot for microSD (Samsung Galaxy A52, Xiaomi Redmi Note 11), use cards SanDisk Extreme or Samsung EVO Plus with marking A2.