The process of preparing a USB drive for use with an Android device involves re-structuring the storage medium’s file system to be compatible. For example, this action might be necessary to transfer files between a computer and an Android smartphone using the drive as intermediary storage, or to expand the available storage capacity of an Android device that supports external USB drives. This action typically erases all existing data on the drive.
Properly preparing a USB drive for Android use ensures compatibility and efficient data transfer. Historically, differences in file systems between desktop operating systems and Android have created challenges. This preparation addresses those disparities, allowing devices to recognize and utilize the storage effectively. This compatibility simplifies file management and expands the device’s potential use cases, such as storing media files or backing up data.