How To Transfer Photos from Your Android Phone to a USB Drive Effortlessly

Transferring photos and videos from an Android device to a USB drive isn’t as complicated as it sounds — at least, most of the time. If your phone supports USB OTG, you can connect a USB drive directly and get your files moved without hooking up to a PC. But that support isn’t always guaranteed, especially on older or budget models. Here’s what’s worked, and some things to watch out for.

Step 1: Confirm Your Phone Supports USB OTG

First, figure out if your phone does USB OTG (that’s On-The-Go). Why? Because if it doesn’t, trying to connect a USB drive directly will be pointless. Most newer phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S10/S20/S23, or Honor Magic, Honor 90, do, but some cheap or older models might not. The easiest way? Just Google your model with “USB OTG support” or look in the specs. Otherwise, you can try plugging in a USB drive with an OTG adapter — if you see a notification that storage is detected, good to go.

Step 2: Get the Right Gear

You’ll also need:

A USB drive (either USB-A or USB-C).— Yeah, check your port first.
A compatible OTG adapter:

USB-C to USB-A for most modern phones.
Micro-USB to USB-A for older models.

Sometimes, the USB-C drives can connect directly without an adapter, but more often than not, you’ll need one. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than it needs to be.

Step 3: Connect and Access Storage

Plug the USB drive into the OTG adapter, then connect it to your phone’s charging port. Swipe down your notifications — you should see something like “USB Storage” detected. If not, double-check the connection. Your phone might prompt you to choose what to do; pick File Transfer or Allow access. Don’t worry if it seems laggy — sometimes it takes a second, or a reboot is needed if it doesn’t recognize the device at first.

Step 4: Find Your Photos

Open your file manager app. Usually, My Files if you’re on Samsung, or Files by Google (which I recommend if you don’t have a default app). On some devices, you might need to install a third-party app from the Play Store. Once inside, browse to:

DCIM > Camera for regular photos.
Pictures > Screenshots for screenshots.
Other folders like Downloads or app-specific folders, if needed.

This part can be a little uneven — sometimes your photos are in weird folders or nested deep, so just look around.

Step 5: Transfer Photos to USB Drive

Select the ones you want (long-press on a photo, or use “Select All” if you’re sure). Tap Copy or Move. Then, navigate to the mounted USB drive, usually labeled USB Storage or something similar. Create a folder if you want, like Android Photos, then paste the files. Transfers can take a while if the files are big, especially if your USB is slow or the connection isn’t super fast. USB 3.0 drives can save some time, but a lot depends on your phone and USB hardware.

Extra Tips & Troubleshooting

Quick heads-up:

Always eject the USB drive safely before disconnecting — that’s usually via the notification or in the file manager, to avoid corrupting data.
If your device doesn’t recognize the USB, try a different OTG adapter or USB stick, and double-check if your device info confirms OTG support.
Make sure your USB has enough free space for what you’re transferring.
In a pinch, doing it through a computer might be faster, especially for large batches or if the connection keeps dropping.

Summary

Check if your device supports USB OTG before trying to connect directly.
Get the correct OTG adapter and USB drive matching your phone’s port.
Use a file manager to find your photos — usually in DCIM or Screenshots.
Transfer and eject carefully to avoid corrupting data.

Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. This stuff is kinda hit-or-miss depending on your hardware, but if the connection works, it’s a quick way to free up space or back up memories without fiddling with a computer all the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my phone doesn’t support USB OTG?

That’s kind of a bummer — then you’ll probably need to connect your phone to a PC or Mac via USB, enable File Transfer mode, and move files that way. A little less convenient, but works.

Can I transfer videos the same way?

Yep, just find the video files in your storage — they’re usually in the same folders as photos — and follow the same copy-paste process. Takes a bit longer if files are big, but the principle’s the same.

What if my USB drive isn’t showing up?

Check that it’s plugged in correctly, try a different OTG adapter or USB stick, and make sure it’s formatted as FAT32 or exFAT — some phones won’t recognize NTFS. Also, some drives need extra power, so if it’s a big one, consider using a powered hub or cable.