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2012 Nexus 7 Discussion Forums (1st Generation) => Nexus 7 Connect (MicroUSB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Pogo Pin) => Topic started by: Dav41 on October 28, 2012, 01:11:41 PM

Title: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: Dav41 on October 28, 2012, 01:11:41 PM
I've tried to link a 32gb USB flash drive to my Google Nexus 7 via a USB OTG cable but can't make it work. The Nexus 7 won't play music or video or even let me view photos using either Nexus Media Importer or the Nexus Photo Viewer. Both apps display 'Unsupported File System exFAT'.  Can anybody help as it is very frustrating to see all the posts from people who say it just works!
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: loociddreemr on October 28, 2012, 01:41:16 PM
Are you rooted? And suds you mount the usb drive with an app like Stickmount? This is required to utilize the OTG USB.
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: Dav41 on October 28, 2012, 02:26:44 PM
I've not done anything else to the N7 so I think that makes it unrooted?!! I've tried another Flash drive now and the N7 will view photos but won't play any videos or music. On attempting to play video it just says 'Unable to play content' on either the inbuilt video player or Real Player. Shall I try using Stickmount?
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: loociddreemr on October 28, 2012, 02:36:28 PM
Stickmount does require root. Try Nexus Media Importer.
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: Dav41 on October 28, 2012, 02:40:10 PM
Yes, I'm using Nexus Media Importer and it is not reading the files. I'm not keen on rooting the N7 and various posts seem to say it works without having to root.
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: S.Prime on October 28, 2012, 02:49:47 PM
exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) is a proprietary file system designed especially for flash drives developed by Microsoft, so format your USB drive as Fat32 (you will lose everything on the drive, so copy it to you PC) and you will have no problem using it with the OTG cable.
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: Dav41 on October 28, 2012, 02:56:10 PM
I've tried to use two different 32gb flash drives. The first didn't offer the option of formatting as FAT32 (it only offered exFAT) on Windows 7. The second flash drive I tried is formatted as FAT32 but still won't let me play any music or video when it is connected to the Nexus 7 via USB OTG through Nexus Media Importer. It didn't even recognise the music files while the video showed as 'Unable to play content'. Any ideas?!!
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: matt on October 28, 2012, 03:15:39 PM
I've had good luck with MX player for vids. Depends on the video format.
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: Dav41 on October 28, 2012, 03:20:22 PM
I've tried to play a video in Real Player. I downloaded it on my laptop using Real Player then tried to play it in Real Player in the Nexus 7 but it still won't play.
Title: Re: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: CBers on October 28, 2012, 03:20:43 PM
I've had good luck with MX player for vids. Depends on the video format.
They files should still show in NEXUS IMPORTER.

I have used 32Gb USB stick with NEXUS IMPORTER, which now supports NTFS.

STICK MOUNT works fine on rooted Nexus.

Also, make sure cable is seated snugly as mine sometimes "wiggles" in the slot.
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: Dav41 on October 28, 2012, 03:26:27 PM
The video files do show in Nexus Media Importer but won't play. I've checked the cable and it is slotted in fine. The Nexus 7 isn't rooted, I'm trying to avoid that ideally.
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: S.Prime on October 28, 2012, 03:46:27 PM
Look at your video player under settings/decoding and you will probably find it set to hardware decoding, if so select software decoding and see if that doesn't work?
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: birdastrompgman on October 29, 2012, 12:54:54 AM
Native format for the N7 is EXT4, but it will read EXT3, EXT2, FAT32, FAT16, and NTFS.  That said, you can't just format an EXFAT flash drive to FAT32.  You have to get a program like EASEUS or Partition Magic to delete the EXFAT partition, create a new FAT32 partition, and format it.

The OP needs to specify what file extensions he is having problems with.
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: Dav41 on October 31, 2012, 03:39:59 PM
I've formatted a different flash drive to FAT32 and that works fine, it will play video through MX Player too. Thanks guys for all your suggestions, it's been a big help.
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: littlejohno on January 05, 2013, 11:09:03 PM
I purchased a cable advertised for the nexus 7 and when I plug the came in with a USB stick connected nothing happens.
Could I have a Duff cable anyway of checking !!!.
I'm also using the nexus app and my 7 is stock not rooted.


Sent from my Nexus 7 3g using Tap Talk hd
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: JayJ on January 06, 2013, 01:32:36 AM
Do you mean Nexus Media Importer?

Have you tried connecting a thumb drive/powered HDD to see if your OTG cable works with the Nexus 7?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: bjs229 on January 06, 2013, 02:23:24 AM
First off what format are your movies? What is the error message?
Second Jon ..does nexus media importer recognize any of your files? If not u might have a cable that isn't compatible . Nexus is a little finicky when it comes to otg cables.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Title: Re: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: littlejohno on January 08, 2013, 03:14:29 AM
First off what format are your movies? What is the error message?
Second Jon ..does nexus media importer recognize any of your files? If not u might have a cable that isn't compatible . Nexus is a little finicky when it comes to otg cables.

I have tried both photos and films and nothing I am using nexus media importer and the cable was listed for the nexus 7.
My phone doesn't pick it up either which is a galaxy S3

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Sent from my Nexus 7 3g using Tap Talk hd
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: bjs229 on January 08, 2013, 03:36:11 AM
Sounds like to your cable is not compatible. I would look for one that is for the Nexus on eBay or Amazon.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Title: Re: Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable
Post by: littlejohno on January 08, 2013, 03:47:12 AM
This was from eBay :-\ I'll drop them an email and keep you posted thanks for the help

Sent from my Nexus 7 3g using Tap Talk hd