Matt
Invented during the 20th century, the TV remains today one of the most important sources of entertainment and continues to evolve by constantly integrating new features, such as USB ports. Indeed, these ports allow several devices to be connected to the TV simultaneously. However, these devices have a functionality that few people know about and use.
In this article, you will discover the function of USB ports and how to make the most of them.
What is the specific function of the USB ports on the television?
The USB port on the television, indeed allows playing various multimedia files. You can insert a USB drive or your external hard drive and listen to music, watch movies and photos, and even read PDF books.
However, it is advisable to check that the TV supports the various multimedia formats that you want to play and operate.
How to play multimedia files via a USB port? Here are the steps to follow to play multimedia files using a TV’s USB port:
First, plug the external hard drive or USB drive into one of the USB ports usually located at the back of the TV. Select the USB device from your remote control. Choose the multimedia file you want to play. Finally, you can press the back button on the remote control if you want to play another file or media present on the USB device connected to the TV.
How to transfer files from a USB drive to a television?
You can also transfer files from your mobile phone, USB drive or PC to your Smart TV. To do this, you need to follow these steps:
Access the home screen of your Smart TV; Go to Settings (usually located at the bottom of your screen); Select “Storage and Reset” under “Device”; Choose the USB drive; Press the button that allows you to migrate the data. Then press “Move”. As you can see, you can browse the USB drive just as you would on a PC or smartphone. If files do not open, it may mean that their format is not supported by the TV. To remedy this, you can convert the files to formats supported by your television. Note that most LCD, LED and plasma TVs can play DivX, XviD, Mpeg2 or Mpeg4 (H.264) files.
Charging your smartphone via the USB port
Although smartphone manufacturers recommend charging the phone using its original charger, you can still charge your mobile phone via the USB port of your TV.
This is a fairly simple operation, which involves connecting the USB cable to the smartphone and then plugging it into the TV’s USB port. As soon as the television is turned on, your phone will start charging.
Finally, note that the phone will not charge as quickly as when connected to a regular phone charger.
