My Internet Went Down - But This Tv Usb Port Trick Made The Outage More Bearable

Adam Breeden/ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Most smart TVs person USB ports that are greatly underutilized.
• The outputs tin beryllium utilized to broadcast section media files, troubleshoot bugs, download updates, and more.
• I've been utilizing my USB larboard to play older media files, particularly erstwhile nan net is down.

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These days, nan net and Wi-Fi connectivity look to beryllium virtually ubiquitous. In nan US, astatine least, location is simply a societal anticipation that you tin link your devices to nan web wherever you go. 

After all, connectivity is basal for galore devices to function. But sometimes that connectivity fails -- and what tin you do if you want to watch TV without nan internet?

Here's what you tin do: usage a USB flash drive.

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Most modern smart TVs person built-in media players that publication contented from USB devices. The scope of benefits for utilizing a USB thrust is abundant. You tin play your selected media files without streaming aliases connecting pinch aggregate devices. 

Using a thrust is cost-effective; you tin shop a ample room of contented connected a USB instrumentality and debar monthly streaming subscriptions. And you person accrued elasticity because you tin usage nan USB instrumentality to play contented connected beautiful overmuch immoderate TV manufactured since 2001.

Of course, that small information instrumentality needs files originated from nan internet. So if you expect having an unstable Wi-Fi connection, you tin boredom-proof yourself by having a thumb thrust ready.

Also: I changed these 6 TV settings to springiness it an instant velocity boost (and why they work)

There is simply a solution for immoderate circumstantial arena that prohibits streaming. Grab a 64GB USB instrumentality for arsenic small arsenic $10 and load it pinch your favourite films. Then, travel these steps. (Note: For each HDR movie you upload to a USB, you'll astir apt request astir 8GB to 10GB per movie.)

Steps for utilizing a USB pinch your TV

1. USB ports are typically located connected nan broadside aliases backmost of your TV. After you plug successful your loaded thumb drive, you whitethorn get a pop-up model indicating a caller media instrumentality is connected and asking if you'd for illustration to browse files. To this, opportunity yes.
2. If you don't get a consequence plugging successful nan USB, usage your TV's distant power to entree nan input paper aliases root action surface and look for a fastener branded "Source," "Input," aliases thing similar.
3. By selecting nan USB option, your TV should show nan contents of your USB instrumentality onscreen. You mightiness spot a record browser aliases a database of files and folders. Navigate done nan contents utilizing nan distant power to find nan movie you want to play. Once you've located nan file, prime it to commencement playback.

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There's not overmuch to this elemental process, but location are immoderate important considerations to guarantee it works.

File formats and compatibility

Not each TVs support each record type. Ensure your USB thrust is formatted correctly (FAT32, exFAT, aliases NTFS) and that nan media files are successful a format your TV tin play. Common video formats see MP4, AVI, and MKV; communal audio formats see MP3, WAV, and AAC; and communal image formats see JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

If your TV doesn't support a peculiar record format, you mightiness request to person nan record to a compatible format utilizing your PC. Remember that if you reformat that USB drive, each existing information will vanish into nan ether.

Also: Your TV's USB larboard has an underutilized use that tin refresh an aged strategy - here's how

Some TVs mightiness limit record building aliases directory extent connected a USB drive. Keep nan record building elemental and debar nesting files excessively profoundly successful folders. (I urge putting immoderate A/V files successful nan USB's superior folder, aliases nan guidelines directory.) Also, if your USB instrumentality requires much powerfulness than nan TV's USB larboard tin provide, you mightiness request to usage a powered USB hub.

Say you're vacationing astatine a compartment successful a agrarian area pinch nary Wi-Fi available, aliases if your net relationship fails for immoderate reason, there's still a measurement to get your intermezo hole utilizing a USB drive. I propose being proactive and downloading your favourite videos onto a USB earlier nan grid shuts down.

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