Linking Nexus 7 to USB OTG cable

[Dav41]

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!

[loociddreemr]

Are you rooted? And suds you mount the usb drive with an app like Stickmount? This is required to utilize the OTG USB.

[Dav41]

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?

[loociddreemr]

Stickmount does require root. Try Nexus Media Importer.

[Dav41]

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.

[S.Prime]

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.

[Dav41]

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?!!

[matt]

I've had good luck with MX player for vids. Depends on the video format.

[Dav41]

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.

[CBers]

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.

[Dav41]

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.

[S.Prime]

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?

[birdastrompgman]

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.

[Dav41]

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.

[littlejohno]

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