Discussion:
App for Samsung Galaxy Tablet to Access a USB Flash Drive
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j***@verizon.net
2023-06-01 19:48:07 UTC
Permalink
Hi,

Over the past couple years, I tried 3 apps from the Google Play Store
that are suppose to allow access to a USB flash drive.

None of them "worked".

Note: I can connect a standard USB flash drive to the Tablet's charging
port via the tablet's charging cable and a USB gender changer (so I can
attach a USB flash drive)

Note: Using the same cable, I can access the tablet via a Windows
laptop and transfer files to/from the tablet.

I really wish I can transfer files from the tablet to a USB flash drive
without using a computer.

Can someone recommend a method?

Thank You in advance, John
Carlos E.R.
2023-06-01 21:20:22 UTC
Permalink
Post by j***@verizon.net
Hi,
Over the past couple years, I tried 3 apps from the Google Play Store
that are suppose to allow access to a USB flash drive.
None of them "worked".
Note: I can connect a standard USB flash drive to the Tablet's charging
port via the tablet's charging cable and a USB gender changer (so I can
attach a USB flash drive)
Note: Using the same cable, I can access the tablet via a Windows
laptop and transfer files to/from the tablet.
I really wish I can transfer files from the tablet to a USB flash drive
without using a computer.
Can someone recommend a method?
I haven't done this in years, but I did not need any special software.

I think you just open settings, storage, and tell to open the stick. of
course, to copy files you need a file browser. Any one.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
Carlos E.R.
2023-06-01 21:35:09 UTC
Permalink
Post by Carlos E.R.
Hi,
      Over the past couple years, I tried 3 apps from the Google Play
Store
that are suppose to allow access to a USB flash drive.
       None of them "worked".
      Note:   I can connect a standard USB flash drive to the Tablet's
charging
port via the tablet's charging cable and a USB gender changer (so I can
attach a USB flash drive)
       Note:  Using the same cable, I can access the tablet via a Windows
laptop and transfer files to/from the tablet.
       I really wish I can transfer files from the tablet to a USB
flash drive
without using a computer.
      Can someone recommend a method?
I haven't done this in years, but I did not need any special software.
I think you just open settings, storage, and tell to open the stick. of
course, to copy files you need a file browser. Any one.
Interesting: I just connected a stick and did not find a way to open it.
This is new.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
Patron Saint
2023-06-01 23:34:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by Carlos E.R.
Post by Carlos E.R.
I think you just open settings, storage, and tell to open the stick. of
course, to copy files you need a file browser. Any one.
Interesting: I just connected a stick and did not find a way to open it.
This is new.
This is NOT the answer to the question, as it's a workaround.

If I needed to access a flash drive from a phone (any phone), what I would
do (because it's so easy to do) is connect both the phone and the flash
drive to a PC (any PC) and then just copy the files to & from each device.

I know this is NOT the answer to the question. It's a suggested workaround.
Carlos E.R.
2023-06-07 11:25:19 UTC
Permalink
...
Post by Carlos E.R.
Post by Carlos E.R.
      Can someone recommend a method?
I haven't done this in years, but I did not need any special software.
I think you just open settings, storage, and tell to open the stick.
of course, to copy files you need a file browser. Any one.
Interesting: I just connected a stick and did not find a way to open it.
This is new.
It was indeed the cable. I bought a new cable, specified as OTG, and
tried. I then saw a notification that was asking what app to use to
browse the usb stick.


The other cable came with a loudspeaker, to feed audio files to it from
an USB stick.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
Roger Mills
2023-06-01 21:59:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by j***@verizon.net
Hi,
Over the past couple years, I tried 3 apps from the Google Play Store
that are suppose to allow access to a USB flash drive.
None of them "worked".
Note: I can connect a standard USB flash drive to the Tablet's charging
port via the tablet's charging cable and a USB gender changer (so I can
attach a USB flash drive)
Note: Using the same cable, I can access the tablet via a Windows
laptop and transfer files to/from the tablet.
I really wish I can transfer files from the tablet to a USB flash drive
without using a computer.
Can someone recommend a method?
Thank You in advance, John
You probably need an OTG cable which has micro-USB/USB-C/whatever your
tablet needs at the tablet end and a female USB-A the other end. I'm not
sure the charging cable plus a gender changer will achieve the same effect.

Even then you may need an additional app to allow the tablet to manage a
storage device via USB/OTG. I use USB Media Explorer, which I think I
had to pay for - but not very much.
--
Cheers,
Roger
Dave Royal
2023-06-02 11:08:04 UTC
Permalink
You _do_ need a USB OTG cable so that Android becomes the host.
On this GT S6 Lite the default Samsung 'My Files' app then shows
the drive.
--
Remove numerics from email address
j***@verizon.net
2023-06-02 16:36:02 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 2 Jun 2023 12:08:04 +0100 (GMT+01:00), Dave Royal
Post by Dave Royal
You _do_ need a USB OTG cable so that Android becomes the host.
On this GT S6 Lite the default Samsung 'My Files' app then shows
the drive.
Hi Dave,

"USB OTG" (On The Go) cable I saw on Amazon looks like
one end is the standard USB connect that plugs into a USB port.
The other end looks like a female connector for USB device.

This is the SAME (I believe) as my USB cable that both ends plug into
a USB port, but when I add a gender changer to one end,
it becomes a "USB OTG" cable.

Note: I tested this on a computer with a USB flash drive
plugged into the gender changer and other end of cable
plugged into PC's USB port.

Is there more to a USB OTG cable?

Thanks in advance, John
Dave Royal
2023-06-02 17:42:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by j***@verizon.net
On Fri, 2 Jun 2023 12:08:04 +0100 (GMT+01:00), Dave Royal
Hi Dave,
"USB OTG" (On The Go) cable I saw on Amazon looks like
one end is the standard USB connect that plugs into a USB port.
The other end looks like a female connector for USB device.
This is the SAME (I believe) as my USB cable that both ends plug into
a USB port, but when I add a gender changer to one end,
it becomes a "USB OTG" cable.
Note: I tested this on a computer with a USB flash drive
plugged into the gender changer and other end of cable
plugged into PC's USB port.
Is there more to a USB OTG cable?
Thanks in advance, John
An OTG adapter is not the same as a gender changer.

An Android normally acts as a 'USB Device' when plugged into a computer,
which is a 'USB Host'. When using OTG the Android is the 'host' and the
memory stick the 'device'. The OTG Adapter reverses Android's role.

I also use one with a USB microphone. (You have to be careful that the
device does not draw too much power - if so use a powered hub. But a
memory stick is fine.)
--
(Remove numerics from email address)
Carlos E.R.
2023-06-02 18:29:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by j***@verizon.net
On Fri, 2 Jun 2023 12:08:04 +0100 (GMT+01:00), Dave Royal
Post by Dave Royal
You _do_ need a USB OTG cable so that Android becomes the host.
On this GT S6 Lite the default Samsung 'My Files' app then shows
the drive.
Hi Dave,
"USB OTG" (On The Go) cable I saw on Amazon looks like
one end is the standard USB connect that plugs into a USB port.
The other end looks like a female connector for USB device.
This is the SAME (I believe) as my USB cable that both ends plug into
a USB port, but when I add a gender changer to one end,
it becomes a "USB OTG" cable.
Note: I tested this on a computer with a USB flash drive
plugged into the gender changer and other end of cable
plugged into PC's USB port.
Is there more to a USB OTG cable?
Yes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_On-The-Go
--
Cheers, Carlos.
j***@verizon.net
2023-06-06 11:25:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Carlos E.R.
Post by j***@verizon.net
On Fri, 2 Jun 2023 12:08:04 +0100 (GMT+01:00), Dave Royal
Post by Dave Royal
You _do_ need a USB OTG cable so that Android becomes the host.
On this GT S6 Lite the default Samsung 'My Files' app then shows
the drive.
Hi Dave,
"USB OTG" (On The Go) cable I saw on Amazon looks like
one end is the standard USB connect that plugs into a USB port.
The other end looks like a female connector for USB device.
This is the SAME (I believe) as my USB cable that both ends plug into
a USB port, but when I add a gender changer to one end,
it becomes a "USB OTG" cable.
Note: I tested this on a computer with a USB flash drive
plugged into the gender changer and other end of cable
plugged into PC's USB port.
Is there more to a USB OTG cable?
Yes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_On-The-Go
Hi,

My next Amazon order will include a USB OTG cable.

Thanks again to everyone, John
MajorLanGod
2023-06-02 19:41:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dave Royal
You _do_ need a USB OTG cable so that Android becomes the host.
On this GT S6 Lite the default Samsung 'My Files' app then shows
the drive.
The same holds true for my Google Nexus 7 2013. (But man is it s l o w
compared to my S6 Lite!
MajorLanGod
2023-06-02 19:45:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dave Royal
You _do_ need a USB OTG cable so that Android becomes the host.
On this GT S6 Lite the default Samsung 'My Files' app then shows
the drive.
Back in the day some Android releases did not support OTG. There is actuall
an app out there to check to see if your Android supports OTG. These days I
believe most if not all current implementations do support it.
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