I'm curious if it's possible to modify a regular wired mouse by adding a flash drive inside. My goal is to have it so that I can transfer files directly from the mouse to my computer while still using the mouse normally. Ideally, both the mouse and the flash drive should be usable at the same time, or at least be able to switch between them. What do you think?
5 Answers
Yes, you can do this! The basic idea is to use a two-port USB hub. You can wire one USB port inside the mouse for the mouse's functionality and connect the other port to your flash drive. When you connect everything back to your PC, it should recognize the hub, the mouse, and the flash drive all at once. Just be aware that this involves dismantling the mouse, soldering wires, and securing everything so it doesn't fall apart. Starting with a small USB hub and a mouse that has enough internal space is key.
People have definitely done this before. By adding a hub inside the mouse, it allows the mouse to work as a standard Human Interface Device (HID) and connects to the PC via a regular USB link. There are some guides available that can help you out, like the ones I found on Instructables and Hackaday which detail how to do it step by step.
Technically, anything is possible! But honestly, it might not be worth the hassle for the results you’ll get. Instead, it might be easier to just buy a mouse that already has a micro SD card slot.
You could definitely try that! A simpler route is to use a hub where you wire the mouse and the flash drive into it, and then connect that to the USB cable coming from your mouse. It might be easier and less complicated than rewiring everything inside the mouse.
Thanks for the suggestions! I've seen some how-tos, but I was wondering if just soldering the USB drive connections directly to the mouse cable would work? Could I get at least one of them to function after that?
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