Android OTG 101
Most Android devices only come with a single connection port that has to do everything from charging the internal battery to connecting to your PC. But if that port is a USB On The Go port, it can open up a world of peripheral devices, everything from storage to microscopes. However, USB-OTG has a few tricks of its own that not only can make it confusing to use, there’s no guarantee your Android device will even support it. This month, we’re doing a deep-dive into the murky depths of USB-OTG with a primer to help you understand how to use it, what it can do, what it can’t and how to find out if your device actually supports it.
WHAT IS IT OTG EXACTLY?
No doubt you’re used to USB ports on your PC or laptop – standard Type-A ports are the four-pin flat-ish connector that originate or ‘host’ peripheral devices. On the other end of your USB cables, you’ll find a mix of standard Type-B, miniUSB, microUSB and USB-C connectors that plug into your peripherals. Android devices feature either a microUSB or, if you have a more recent phone, a USB-C port. Through these ports, you connect up a power source to charge the device’s internal battery, or you connect it up to your PC to download your
