Do you have a big powerful Android phone that makes you want to do your work on it? The only limitation you might face is the miniature onscreen keyboard that makes it hard to type fast. For this reason, Android allows you to connect a physical keyboard to your phone and use it to type on your phone. Here is how to set it up.
Via USB OTG Connection
For this first method, you will need to have two things: the first is a physical keyboard with a USB cable that can be attached to your phone.
The other thing you need is a USB OTG cable. This is an adapter to connect the USB-A port to your phone’s USB-C port. You won’t need this cable if both your keyboard and phone come with a USB-C port.
Each different model of phone has its own port specifications and thus requires a different model of a USB OTG cable. Therefore, you need to make sure the cable you buy will be suitable for your particular phone model. While searching for the cable on Google, type in your phone model and the words “USB OTG cable” to find the right options.
Once you have the cable, it will be simple to connect your phone to your laptop. On your phone, go to Settings and then the System page.
Scroll down until you find the section entitled “OTG storage,” and turn on the option.
When you connect the USB OTG cable to the physical keyboard, you will be able to use the keyboard to type on your phone.
Via Bluetooth
For this method, you will need to buy a Bluetooth keyboard setup.
There are many good options on the market. These keyboards come in small, medium and regular sizes and work reliably well, with long battery life.
Once you have a Bluetooth keyboard, turn it on to make it discoverable. On your phone, go to Settings and then Bluetooth and device connection.
Tap on “Pair new device” to allow the phone to start searching for nearby Bluetooth devices.
Once the Bluetooth keyboard shows up on your phone’s list of discovered devices, tap on Connect and follow the instructions that appear on the screen, which may differ depending on the model of your phone. Your phone is now connected to the Bluetooth keyboard, and you can use the physical keyboard to type on your phone.
Conclusion
For the times when the virtual keyboard on your phone is not enough to type out all you have to say quickly and efficiently, adding a physical keyboard is the only option. With the help of the USB OTG cable or the Bluetooth keyboard, you will be able to make use of a full-sized physical keyboard to write long messages and play games that require a more sophisticated controller option than is available on the phone itself.
Related:
- 5 Android Keyboard Apps to Help You Type Better
- How to Translate Handwriting into Text Using Gboard on Android
- Gboard vs. Samsung Keyboard vs. SwiftKey: Which Is Best?
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