Has anyone else tried using the included USB-C to A adapter to mount a flash drive? The phone recognizes it fine, but seems to only be able to read FAT32 formatting. I have other Android devices that can read exFAT just fine via an OTG cable. One of the reasons I was ok with getting the Pixel XL which doesn't have a MicroSD slot is that I assumed I would be able to hook up a flash drive if I wanted to watch some larger video files. I often have video files that exceed the file size limit of FAT32, so that format is not really an option.
Pixel and USB OTG - FAT32 vs exFAT
- Thread starter mrhds
- Start date
I didn't realize the USB-C to USB-A connector was USB OTG. Thanks.
I tried a thumb drive first formatted to FAT32. It worked fine and I could access the files on it. Then I reformatted the thumb drive to exFAT, copied some files over to it, and then tried it. Nope. I remembered that I bought a file explorer for my N5 (it wouldn't mount the thumb drive) to allow USB OTG without root. So searched through my apps and found it....... USB Media Explorer https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homeysoft.nexususb.importer&hl=en It is a paid app. It advertises FAT/FAT32, NTFS or Ext2/3/4, but it did work with exFAT. The interface wasn't the most intuitive. I went to folders and saw the music there. It was easy to play the music on the thumb drive. It took a little bit to figure out how to copy a song to the Pixel memory (have to select the song and then a copy looking icon pops up). I haven't figured out how to copy a complete folder yet although it must be possible. There were a few other apps on the Play Store that looked similar. I only tried this one since I had previously purchased it.
I tried a thumb drive first formatted to FAT32. It worked fine and I could access the files on it. Then I reformatted the thumb drive to exFAT, copied some files over to it, and then tried it. Nope. I remembered that I bought a file explorer for my N5 (it wouldn't mount the thumb drive) to allow USB OTG without root. So searched through my apps and found it....... USB Media Explorer https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homeysoft.nexususb.importer&hl=en It is a paid app. It advertises FAT/FAT32, NTFS or Ext2/3/4, but it did work with exFAT. The interface wasn't the most intuitive. I went to folders and saw the music there. It was easy to play the music on the thumb drive. It took a little bit to figure out how to copy a song to the Pixel memory (have to select the song and then a copy looking icon pops up). I haven't figured out how to copy a complete folder yet although it must be possible. There were a few other apps on the Play Store that looked similar. I only tried this one since I had previously purchased it.
Thanks, that app did work to be able to view the files on exfat formatted USB drive. For some reason playback of a video file is really slow (buffers a LOT) if playing directly from the drive. A bit odd, since copying a file to the phones internal storage didn't take too long, about a minute for a 500 Mb file. Not anywhere near USB 3 "normal" speeds, but not terrible. I found one other app on the play store that was also able to read the USB drive, but had the same performance. I will test formatted as FAT32 later and see if there is a difference.
This non-supporting of exFAT clearly shows Google is tying to push us to store everything about us on the Google Drive so that they can monitor everything about us... Is your thumb drive usb3 compatible? If so and you're not getting the 'normal' speeds, that's another sign. We better watch out. They will eventually force us to use their proprietary app like iTunes to transfer files between Pixels and PCs.
Seriously, though, I need a way to quickly sync my photos and videos from my DLSR.
Seriously, though, I need a way to quickly sync my photos and videos from my DLSR.
Actually a minute for a 500MB file IS a lot.
Which USB pen drive is it?
Agreed.
My tests showed a similar result with Kingston 64GB Data Traveler Micro Duo as well as Sandisk Ultra 64GB using FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS. For comparison, my Nexus 6P transferred the same file approximately twice as fast.
I was a little disappointed by the lack of native support for formats other than FAT32 and this issue makes the file-size workaround less than desirable. Otherwise, my pixel xl seems to perform as expected.
pp
Struggling with this as well, I foolishly bought the 32GB Pixel XL and constantly run out of space so for large file storage I bought a 64GB Sandisk usb drive (3.0, one of those tiny thumbnail sized dongles) and it works but the transfer speed is maxing out at 2mb/s! It takes around 30 minutes to transfer a 2GB file; I manage but it's pretty unacceptable for a 3.0 device (using the Google provided C to A) and it drains the battery like mad!
Any more thoughts on this? I'm struggling to find an answer (read: fix).
Thanks friends,
Any more thoughts on this? I'm struggling to find an answer (read: fix).
Thanks friends,
I did some more testing now that Google has had a year of software updates. Unfortunately, even on 8.1 December update, it seems FAT32 is still the only supported format, and the speeds are just as slow. I could only get about 15 Mb/sec. Thats using a high end aftermarket USB-C -> A adapter, and a 128 GB Sandisk USB 3 memory stick. This same adapter and memory stick can transfer well above 150 Mb/sec on a PC.
exFAT is a proprietary file system created and owned by Microsoft. Google did not pay Microsoft for the use of it on Pixel phones.
So exFAT can technically work if you Install Solid Explorer (free trial then $2 lifetime fee InApp Purchase, in my opinion well worth it as it's Solid) and their Solid Explorer USB OTG Plugin. Full Read/Write access for Fat32 and exFAT, NTFS Read only support. I actually loaded up my 64 GB Sandisk Extreme Flash Drive (exFAT formatted from Windows 10 pc), and took it on a trip with me to Disney World, so I could load movies and unload pictures of the family. I do have a 128GB Pixel XL, however I have a huge music collection I prefer offline, and ironically a lot of DayDream VR Experiences (it is space-consuming for offline copies such as Discovery VR etc, so those add up a Lot, but it does make for best experience as it is very heavy bandwidth dependent over wifi).
The USB 3.0 in my opinion doesn't exist for OTG, or at least with this adapter, I do have another adapter I think I'll try in a moment. However what I want to say is this flash Reads up to 245 MB/s and Writes at up to 190 MB/s, I usually average 100 - 200 on my pc. On this flash drive, just copying a file to phone from flash drive over exFAT apparently is limited to 0.5 MB/s. In other words it's going to take nearly 2 hours to copy over a 2.5 Gb file. It can still copy over with screen off, but I was thought it was ridiculous how much battery would be consumed and kept thinking if issue was UFS storage or drivers. I am on Android 8.0 November, will update to 8.1 clean install this week when February 2018 comes out. This actually did cause an issue for me using the original usb c to a cable on my pc, where it doesn't work and I have to use a specific usb c to a (2.0 version), which is still much faster than this. That issue though is because I 'dirty flashed' 8.0 over 7.1.2 without wiping. Only bug so far from that.
The USB 3.0 in my opinion doesn't exist for OTG, or at least with this adapter, I do have another adapter I think I'll try in a moment. However what I want to say is this flash Reads up to 245 MB/s and Writes at up to 190 MB/s, I usually average 100 - 200 on my pc. On this flash drive, just copying a file to phone from flash drive over exFAT apparently is limited to 0.5 MB/s. In other words it's going to take nearly 2 hours to copy over a 2.5 Gb file. It can still copy over with screen off, but I was thought it was ridiculous how much battery would be consumed and kept thinking if issue was UFS storage or drivers. I am on Android 8.0 November, will update to 8.1 clean install this week when February 2018 comes out. This actually did cause an issue for me using the original usb c to a cable on my pc, where it doesn't work and I have to use a specific usb c to a (2.0 version), which is still much faster than this. That issue though is because I 'dirty flashed' 8.0 over 7.1.2 without wiping. Only bug so far from that.
Not sure if the app was updated to support it or if Android 8.1 now supports it natively, but I'm able to access a flash drive via my phone using the adapter and File Manager by "Flashlight + Clock".
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alphainventor.filemanager
Cheers!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alphainventor.filemanager
Cheers!
Hi could anyone give a clear answer about use of OTG with Google Pixel XL: I read all about Google not supporting the exFAT format (someone said because they wouldn't pay Microsoft to license the tech), and that Pixel users are stuck with super slow transfer speeds, and file limitation sizes of FAT32. Someone else mentioned somewhere about Host Mode, and I'm finding it way harder than seems logical to get some definitive answer: If I can't get fast OTG transfer speeds with the Pixel, then I have to pass on its high quality camera and go with an inferior phone that has microUSB.
Can someone help me out with this please? Thank you much.
Can someone help me out with this please? Thank you much.
Try JS USB OTG app. I use this to play big video files with MxPlayer in SW mode, without rooting and the app doesn't seem to stream video like other apps, you can go back or forward without any problems.
it always seems when there is any issue and someone ""tried"" an app and blah blah .. its always an app that needs to be PAID TO USE !!!! crack me up just makes me want to find the paid ""free"" version through a google search
Our Apps
Get our official app!
The best way to access XDA on your phone
Nav Gestures
Add swipe gestures to any Android
One Handed Mode
Eases uses one hand with your phone