Have You Seen The USB OTG Technology?

USB On The Go Is A Game Changer

USB on-the-go (OTG) is a specification for devices that allows them to read data without the use of a PC. This is most common in Android devices that support USB OTG, but some other devices are compatible with this as well. This allows you to do several things with your device that most smartphones are not capable of. For starters, you can connect a USB flash drive to your phone using a USB OTG cable and transfer files between. There are also a number of other USB OTG uses for this technology.

What Can You Do with USB OTG? Top Features Explained

USB OTG enables you to do a number of interesting things that most smartphones and other mobile devices are not capable of. Some of these features may be done through Bluetooth or WiFi, but a wired connection is always more stable. 

Print from Your Phone Using USB OTG

You can connect your phone directly to a printer. If your WiFi is out, or your printer does not support wireless printing, then this could be a great solution for you. You can print photos, documents, and anything else you may need, straight from your phone.

Connect a Gaming Controller

With a simple plug-and-play connection, you can connect a gaming controller to your phone or tablet. This can make playing games much easier. This works best with Xbox controllers, but other gaming controllers may work as well. If you have a rooted Android device, then you can use PlayStation controllers with your device as well. 

Connect a USB Flash Drive to Your Phone with OTG

The ability to connect an external USB storage drive with a USB OTG adapter allows you to easily transfer files between the devices. This is especially handy in Android devices that do not have a slot for expandable memory, such as an SD card. When you start to run out of space, what do you do? Start deleting old photos and videos or less used apps? If you have a device with USB OTG support, you can simply connect to a storage device and move your files over.

Control a DSLR Camera from Your Phone Using USB OTG

Do you enjoy taking photographs? Sometimes the screens on cameras can be small and difficult to work with. By connecting your DSLR camera to your OTG capable device, you can give yourself a bigger screen to work with. In addition to this, you can control certain features of the camera from your device such as capture, focus, shutter speed, and more. 

Using A Keyboard and Mouse

 This is not new to many devices. Bluetooth keyboards have been able to connect to our devices for quite some time now. But what if you don't have one? You can connect your standard USB keyboard to your device for faster typing. This may come in handy for work documents, emails, and any other task that requires a lot of typing. 

How to Check If Your Phone Supports USB OTG

There are a few methods you can try to find out if your device has USB on-the-go capabilities. The first is to try a USB OTG adapter and see if it works. This can often be more work than it is worth just to find out your device is not USB OTG compatible. The other method, which is the one that I recommend, is to download a USB OTG checker app. Once installed, this app will simply scan your device and tell you whether or not it supports OTG. Or you can look for the USB OTG logo pictured above on the packaging of your device if you still have it.

Frequently Asked Questions-FAQs

Q1: What is USB OTG and why is it useful?
USB OTG (On‑The‑Go) lets your smartphone or tablet act as a USB host so you can connect peripherals like flash drives, keyboards, mice or controllers—no PC required.

Q2: Which devices support USB OTG?
Most Android devices from version 3.1+ support OTG, and high‑end smartphones/tablets often include a USB OTG logo or list “USB Host” in specs. You can confirm using free OTG checker apps.

Q3: Do I need a special cable or adapter?
Yes. Use a USB OTG cable/adapter (Micro‑AB, Mini‑AB, or USB‑C OTG) that signals your device to act as host.

Q4: Can I connect any USB accessory with OTG?
Most USB peripherals work—flash drives, keyboards, mice, gamepads. Some require external power or compatibility (e.g., USB 3.0 drives).

Q5: Is USB OTG faster than Bluetooth or Wi‑Fi direct?
Wired OTG connections are typically more stable and faster than wireless options.