How to Transfer Files from Android to a PC with an OTG Drive

Files can be transferred from an Android phone to a PC with an OTG drive by copying files from the phone to the drive, ejecting the drive, and then connecting the drive to the PC. This method supports backing up a phone to a PC without cloud services, provided the drive has enough free space and compatible USB connectors.

Steps

Connect the OTG drive to the Android phone. Use a USB-C or micro-USB OTG adapter when the drive connector does not match the phone port.
Open the phone’s Files, File Manager, or My Files app. Select photos, videos, documents, or folders for transfer.
Choose Copy instead of Move, select the OTG drive as the destination, and wait until the transfer finishes.
Eject the OTG drive from the file manager or notification panel. Disconnect the drive after safe removal.
Connect the OTG drive to the PC. Open the drive in File Explorer or Finder, then copy the stored files to a computer folder.

Common Issues and Fixes

USB phone transfer not working: The phone may not support OTG, or the adapter may be faulty. Test a certified OTG adapter and confirm OTG support in the phone specifications.
The OTG drive is not detected: Insufficient power, a loose connection, or an unsupported file system may prevent detection. Reconnect the drive, restart the phone, or format the drive as exFAT after saving existing data.
Files cannot be copied: The drive may have insufficient free space or may be mounted as read-only. Delete unnecessary files or check drive permissions on a PC.
The PC cannot open the drive: The drive may use a format unsupported by the computer or may contain file-system errors. Test the drive on another computer and run the operating system’s disk repair tool.

💡Protip:

Use exFAT for large videos and files exceeding the 4 GB limit found with FAT32. Keep the phone unlocked during transfer because some Android devices restrict file access while locked. Copy folders in smaller batches when transferring thousands of files or large video libraries. Confirm file sizes and open several copied files on the PC before deleting source files from the phone.