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To open a USB flash drive on Android, connect it to your phone—using a compatible adapter if needed—then open Files by Google, tap USB available, select the drive, and tap Allow. The drive should then appear under Storage devices. Google documents this workflow for devices running Android 7.0 (Nougat) or later.
What you need to connect a USB drive
- An Android phone running Android 7.0 or later for the Files by Google workflow described here.
- A USB flash drive or other USB storage device.
- A connector that fits both devices. If the drive and phone have different connectors, use an adapter that matches your phone’s port and supports data transfer. Compatibility can vary by phone and adapter, so confirm support for your specific device.
- Files by Google. Other file managers and manufacturer-specific Android interfaces may use different labels or steps.
Google’s guidance states, “You can only access your USB storage on a device with Android 7.0 (Nougat) and up.” Google Files Help: Use USB storage devices.
Connect and open the drive in Files by Google
- Connect the USB drive directly to the phone, or attach a compatible adapter between the drive and phone.
- Open Files by Google. If Android displays a USB available notification, tap it.
- Select the USB storage device, then tap Allow when prompted to grant access.
- Look for the drive under Storage devices in Files by Google and tap it to browse its contents.
If you use a manufacturer’s file manager instead, look for a storage or USB-device section; its menu names may differ from Files by Google.
Copy, move, rename, or delete files
Once the drive is open in Files by Google, select the file or files you want to manage and use the available file actions. Google documents copying, moving, deleting, and renaming items on USB storage. Before deleting or moving important files, check that you selected the right items and destination.
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Copy files from the USB drive to the phone
Select the files on the drive, choose Copy, then browse to the destination folder on the phone and complete the copy. Copying leaves the originals on the USB drive.
Move files between the phone and USB drive
Select the files, choose Move, navigate to the destination on the other storage device, and complete the move. Because a move relocates the files, use Copy instead if you want to keep the originals where they are.
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If the USB drive does not appear
No “USB available” notification
Disconnect the USB device and reconnect it. Google recommends removing the device and trying again if the notification does not appear. Then open Files by Google and check for the drive under Storage devices.
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Check that the adapter fits the phone’s port and that the connection supports data transfer, not just charging. If possible, check the drive and adapter with another compatible device; that can help identify a faulty component, but it does not guarantee compatibility with every Android model.
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Android asks to format the drive
Stop before accepting the prompt if the drive contains files you want to keep. Formatting erases data, so copy important files somewhere safe before considering it. A format prompt alone does not establish why the drive is not being read, and the cited Google guidance does not provide a universal file-system compatibility list for Android phones.
The phone or file manager behaves differently
Confirm the Android version and try the Files by Google steps above. Device makers may provide different file managers or USB behavior, so a label or prompt can differ by model. Google documents USB access in Files by Google from Android 7.0 onward; that does not mean every phone, adapter, drive, or file system behaves identically.
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USB drive access is different from connecting your phone to a computer
When you plug the Android phone itself into a computer, you are using a separate file-transfer workflow—not opening a USB drive on the phone. Google’s instructions are to unlock the phone, connect it to the computer, tap the USB notification, and select File Transfer; then browse the phone from the computer. On Windows, eject the device before unplugging it. See Google Android Help: Transfer files between your computer and Android device.
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