usb: Explained: What is USB OTG and How to Use It on Android Devices

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Most users are unable to use the convenient USB drive with their smartphones. However, this issue can be fixed if you are aware of USB OTG and have a android device. USB on the go or USB OTG is a standard protocol that allows devices to read data from a USB device without the need to connect it to a PC. The united states of america device the OTG cable to transform into a USB host. There are several ways in which an OTG connection can come in handy. This includes – connecting a USB flash drive or video game controller directly to your phone. Here we will discuss some other important ways to use USB OTG with an Android device.
Important Uses of USB OTG
Most Android devices come with a standard micro-USB or USB-C port, but some USB devices need a customary sized USB port to connect. However, this problem can be fixed with a converter or adapter. Users need to be careful before buying an OTG adapter and choose one depending on whether the phone supports micro-USB or USB-C standard. Flash drives are also available in the market that support micro-USB and USB Type-C along with standard USB ports.
Connecting the phone with external storage devices
One of the most important functions of OTG adapters is connecting external hard drives directly to your phone. Users just need to plug in the drive and it will allow them to transfer files between devices. However, some external hard drives may not work with OTG cable, especially the ones that consume phone power. Drives need to be in FAT32 or exFAT file format to work with OTG. Apart from transferring files, users can also play music or videos from their OTG storage drive connected to their Android device.
Connect gamepads directly to your smartphones
The Xbox One controller is compatible with Android 9.0 and awesome, however, users can also connect their old Xbox 360 controller with their Android devices using USB OTG. Using a controller for a mobile game is simple as it works in basic plug-and-play, but you have to play compatible games with a controller. Users who have rooted their Android devices can also connect PlayStation controllers to their phones. For example, users can turn their Android device into a retro gaming hub by connecting their phone to a PS2 controller.
Using a Keyboard and Mouse to Operate an Android Device
Users can also connect a keyboard and mouse (both wired and wireless) to the Android pill to use it as a PC. Since you will only have a single USB port on your smartphone, it is advisable to get a wireless keyboard and mouse set that comes with a single unified receiver. It's also best to buy a basic plug-and-play wireless set that is compatible with all platforms. Try to avoid those that need an accompanying tool to configure.
Printing directly from the printer
Printers that come with standard plug-and-play also work with Android devices. Users can connect the printer directly to their phones and can start printing without a wireless connection or having to sync it with a PC. However, Google has disbanded support for USB Mass Garage mode since Android 4.0. So users need to use PTP or MTP modes for their USB connection if they want to print photos and documents directly from their phones.
Control a DSLR camera directly from your phone
Android users can turn their device into a live canvas for their DSLR cameras which can be used to capture, focus, control shutter speed, adjust settings and much more. Several third-party DSLR controller apps are available on the Play Retailer, but before installing one, users should check the list of cameras that the app supports. You can also use the OTG connection to move photos from your virtual camera directly to your Android device, without needing a pc or SD card reader. Users will need a USB cable that connects to the camera as well as the OTG adapter. This feature can be useful if you want to edit your photos or share uncompressed images via electronic mail.
Connecting musical instruments directly to your phone
USB OTG allows users to connect their Android devices to MIDI-compatible musical instruments such as keyboards. Users can create music on their mobile devices by combining it with musical instruments in a music app. Smaller MIDI keyboards can draw power directly from the Android device, however some of them may require an external power supply. It is also important for users to check whether the keyboard needs a further adapter to work with the OTG adapter.
Audio recording using a USB microphone directly on your phone
Users can also connect a USB microphone to their Android phones by means of OTG to record audio directly to the device. USB microphones offer better recording capabilities than built-in microphones or external microphones connected via a 3.5mm audio jack. Android smartphones usually have a built-in voice recorder, but dedicated microphone apps offer more customization options that include – stereo playback, custom sample rate, buffer size selection, and even recording format options.
Connecting the Ethernet cable directly to the phone
Connecting the ethernet cable directly to your Android device to access the web can be useful if you want to reduce ping while playing online games or get better web speeds than your Wi-Fi.
Reverse charging from other devices
Many modern smartphones come with support for reverse wireless charging. However, if the device does not support this feature, users can use an OTG adapter to recharge the device. For this, you will need an Android device as a power source and then connect the phone you want to charge to the OTG port by means of USB cable. Charging can be slow, but this feature can be useful if the foremost device is out of battery and you don't have access to a power supply.