topic OTG support in Z Series

Z5 OTG support?

Thomathome — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 15:17:30 GMT

My old Z3 had awesome on the go support but my new Z5 has nothing. Am I missing something simple? or is it just unsupported. If so its a bit of a let down.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Phy — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 15:31:04 GMT

Are you using the same USB OTG Cable? have you tested other cables?

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Thomathome — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 15:33:35 GMT

Hi.
Yeah using the same cable also the same dual ended USB drive. Am hoping it's something simple. The phone is hardly 2weeks old.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Phy — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 15:38:09 GMT

You should try a different cable, or boot on safe mode and check if it works.

How to boot on safe mode
http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/FAQ/How-to-boot-your-phone-into-safe-mode/m-p/348008#U348008

How to boot on safe mode on Lolipop
1. press and hold the power key
2. once you get the pop up menu
3. press and hold "power off"
4. Boot on safe mode should become available

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Thomathome — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:15:49 GMT

Could not get the phone into safe mode but upon looking for a way of doing so I found that there is now a separate setting in the quick settings in the drop down menu. You have to tap the icon and it then asks to plug in your device. Must have something to do with the new open waterproof USB port. Migth have to activate the 5v rail or something not sure. It's not just plug and play now. Thanks for your help and your quick response tho

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Phy — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:28:03 GMT

How come you can't get on safe mode?

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Thomathome — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:32:12 GMT

I tryed tapping and holding to get the safemode menu and I just get the same power menu again. Tried a coupe combinations and nothing even tryed to get to the boot menu with to success. Might just be doing something wrong. Just powered up my Z3 and it works OK. Don't know if the fingerprint reader is bugging it out or something.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:38:25 GMT

@Thomathome

If you keep experiencing this issue, you might want to backup and repair the phone with PCC

PC Companion (PCC)

Bridge (for Mac)

Alternatives on How to backup Xperias

http://talk.sonymobile.com/thread/36355

Re: Z5 OTG support?

nwh1004 — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 05:00:43 GMT

Z5 not auto. u have to click "Detect USB" in quick menu or go to settings device connection > USB > detect USB

i think its because USB waterproof without cover, so in Z3+ and Z5 it turn to passive.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

cableguy4 — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:00:25 GMT

Exactly as nwh1004 said, I came from the Z1C and the Z5c wouldnt recognise my USB HDD.

I added "Detect USB Device" to shortcut and use none-powered usb otg cable and i can see my usb HDD now

Re: Z5 OTG support?

BakaYume — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 09:09:02 GMT

I have a portable DAC - Cozoy Astrapi. The USB detection is intermittent and frustrating.

More often the USB does not detect the device. 1 in every 5 attempts approx it will detect. I have confirmed that the accessory and cabling are all ok with SGS4, and SGS5. Other devices detect straight away with no issues.

BTW, to get into Safe Mode.

1. Power off.

2. Power on.

3. Press Volumn Down button until phone fully boots.

4. Confirm in bottom left corner that Safe Mode is activated.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

cableguy4 — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 17:19:11 GMT

Try plugging in a charger first,

then plug in the HDD

and then do a detect USB device check

Re: Z5 OTG support?

BakaYume — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 21:36:17 GMT

@billbond4 wrote:
Try plugging in a charger first,
then plug in the HDD
and then do a detect USB device check

That wouldn't resolve the issue though. If anything it will be a work around. Mostly I would be out and about and would want some music. So a charger will not be readily usable.

The other thing I found was, when I am actually using the DAC, and a phone call comes in, I cannot even speak to the caller. It is as if all phone functions are either switched off, or try to route through the USB (which is a bit silly, since DAC/AMPS are audio listening only). I have to unplug the USB DAC before phone functions are restored.

For a flagship device at the end of 2015, I find these trivial issues rather disturbing. The fact that 3yr old devices can manage these basic functions exceedingly well causes much reason for concern.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

BakaYume — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 23:03:49 GMT

I did a little more testing. DAC's with internal batteries will work fine. It is the batteryless devices that are having issues. It detects in safe mode, so I know that the phone is capable of detecting with no issues. So it seems to be a software problem when in normal operating environment.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

AlexMalo — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 21:05:13 GMT

Thomathone thank you very much for your comment I have a xperia z5 premium and I was just near to through it away to the floor because of OTG but I just read your note and I found it in the top menu thanks

Re: Z5 OTG support?

PHM69 — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:23:50 GMT

Saved me a lot of aggravation; thanks!

@nwh1004 wrote:
Z5 not auto. u have to click "Detect USB" in quick menu or go to settings device connection > USB > detect USB
i think its because USB waterproof without cover, so in Z3+ and Z5 it turn to passive.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Nasroo999 — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:53:08 GMT

Hi,
I tried the method of detecting usb in settings but it doesn't recognize anything. Also tried pluggimg charger first and tben usb but no resultp. Any help plz.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Nasroo999 — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 10:11:22 GMT

I tried the USB detection in settings but it doesn't work.also tried it in safe mode but no result. Need help plz.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

Awesomeguy — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 15:48:07 GMT

Hi there, I have a Sandisk 64GB OTG Dual USB drive, formatted to NTFS. When I plug it into my Z5, and select "Detect USB Device", it prompts me to open using ES File explorer, it shows USB1002 and when I press on it, it says "Failed to open the file". I recently upgraded to Z5 from Note 2, I didn't have any problems with my previous phone. Advice needed, thanks.

Re: Z5 OTG support?

kajblo — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:54:30 GMT

Same here, everything worked well on 5.1.1 but on 6.0 OTG not working.