Why Use a USB-C Drive? Which is the Best drive for phone?

How often have you had something on your USB-C drive and wanted to share, send or just read on the go? These memory sticks plug into your phone so you can forget cables and annoying “connected as media device” processes as this fast, simple solution works.

Why Use a USB-C Drive?

The USB-C drive that taps directly to your phone. This simple device frees you from having to connect to a PC and transfer, now you can unplug from your computer and keep going on your phone, no wires no copying and best of you don’t have to worry what version is the most recent as there will only be one version saved.

Save directly to the stick and then move to your PC effortlessly. Working on the blog I’m taking a lot of photos and usually connect via USB cable, this is painfully slow, not the file transfer but just the loading, 2000 photos takes a while to load and then select. Using this I can snap and instantly have the collection on the pc.

The practicality of it means it is so easy to keep working, watching or creating your masterpiece while you are away from your desktop or laptop.

But it goes both ways, if you are taking videos and photos, save directly to the USB-C drive, and you have instant access to the file when you connect to the PC or TV.

USB-C Drive or cloud?

The cloud is great for small files, but if you are playing with photos, presentations or videos it can not only quickly burn through your mobile data limit but also quickly zap your battery life.

Having an OTG means you can quickly jump from ur phone to your PC or even the meeting room projector, no cloud login, no download time and no mucking around trying to get your presentation loaded.

If privacy is also an issue, you can also be sure your data is safe from any third parties.

Will my phone work with it?

Most phones now have “OTG” on the go, check online if you are unsure but almost every device running Android 4.0 or above will be compatible. Be sure to get the right one for your phone, most devices now use a Type C connection

I have an iPhone!

I have an iPhone!

Well then you are out of luck, this is for the Android lovers, due to Apple for being unique and locking out third-party accessories with their MFI port. You need to buy a a Lightning to USB-C adapter.

How to Connect USB-C Drive to Phone?

How to connect USB-C to Android Phones?

1. Check USB OTG Support:
   • Most modern Android phones support USB On-The-Go (OTG). Confirm this in your phone’s settings (Settings > Connected Devices > USB or search for “OTG”).
   • Apps like USB OTG Checker can verify compatibility.
2. Physically Connect the Drive:
   • Plug the USB-C drive directly into your phone’s USB-C port. No adapter is needed if both devices use USB-C.
3. Access the Drive:
   • A notification may prompt you to “Explore” the drive. Tap it.
   • If no prompt appears, use a file manager app (e.g., Files by Google, Solid Explorer, or the manufacturer’s app like My Files on Samsung).
4. File System Compatibility:
   • Ensure the drive is formatted as FAT32 or exFAT (Android may not read NTFS or APFS). Reformat the drive on a PC if needed.
5. Safely Eject:
   • Go to Settings > Storage, select the drive, and tap Eject to avoid data corruption.

How to connect usb c drive to iphone

1. Check iPhone Port Type:
   • iPhone 15 or newer: Uses USB-C (direct connection).
   • Older iPhones (Lightning port): Use a Lightning to USB-C adapter (may require a USB-C to USB-A cable for compatibility).
2. Connect the Drive:
   • For USB-C iPhones: Plug the drive directly into the port.
   • For Lightning iPhones: Use the adapter and cable.
3. Open the Files App:
   • Launch the Files app (preinstalled on iOS). The drive should appear under Locations.
   • If it doesn’t, unplug and reconnect the drive.
4. File System Compatibility:
   • iPhones support exFAT, FAT32, APFS, or HFS+. Format the drive on a Mac/PC if needed (avoid NTFS).
5. Power Considerations:
   • High-power drives (e.g., SSDs) may require a powered USB hub for older iPhones.
6. Safely Eject:
   • Tap the eject icon (⏏) next to the drive name in the Files app before unplugging.

If you’re ready to maximize your productivity, check out our full range of OTG sticks for Type-C and USB devices.