You can connect external devices to Hisense TV and access them through dedicated ports given for different types of connections. One among them is the USB port of Hisense TV that comes in different versions, like 2.0, 3.0, or 3.1, according to the model. By connecting a USB drive, you can playback photos, audio/video files, and subtitles stored on it, as well as transfer those files to your Hisense TV storage. But the USB port of the latest Hisense TVs lets you enjoy more other features besides these basics.
This article will provide you with complete information about Hisense TV’s USB port and how to connect and use a USB drive with it.
Compatibility of Hisense TV With USB Media
Hisense TV has a set of preferences for media files on the USB drive and lets you access them only if they are in a compatible format. The supported file formats of each type of media are given below for your reference.
| Format Type | Supported Formats |
|---|---|
| Audio Formats | MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, AAC, FLAC |
| Video Containers | MP4, MOV, VOB, TS/TP/TRP, MKV, MPG/MPEG, AVI |
| Video Codecs | VP9, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC |
| Image Formats | JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG |
| Subtitle Formats | SRT, TXT, SSA, SUB |
Various Functionalities of Hisense TV USB Port
As mentioned earlier, your Hisense TV USB port is not just for transferring and accessing files available on the USB drive. It offers you a lot more other functionalities and they are mentioned below.
- If you are unable to update your Hisense TV over the air, you can install the latest software by connecting a USB drive with the appropriate file to the USB port. In the same manner, you can also sideload apps on supported Hisense TV models.
- Many streaming & audio devices are USB-powered, and accessing them on Hisense TV is possible only with its USB port.
- In the absence of a remote control, you can use a USB mouse or keyboard to operate your Hisense TV by connecting it to a USB port.
- With the Hisense TV USB port, you can even charge your mobile phone, tablet, and headphones.
- To make video calls through Zoom or Google Duo on Hisense TV, you must connect the webcam to the USB port only.
- By connecting the USB drive to the USB port of the latest model Hisense TVs, you can have an extended memory to avail of the recording feature and stream 4K HDR videos. You can even rewind and pause live TV streaming and schedule recordings.
How to Use a USB Drive By Connecting to Hisense TV’s USB Port
It is important to note that you can’t connect a USB drive to your Hisense TV USB port and access it straight away. That’s because USB drives come in various formats, but the Hisense TV USB port only supports the NTFS, FAT32, or FAT format. If you are willing to use a USB drive with your Hisense TV, you have to change it to any of these compatible formats.
To format the USB drive, you should use a PC running Windows, Mac, or Linux. Refer to your Hisense TV’s user manual to find out the exact USB format it supports. Now, connect the USB drive to your respective PC’s USB port and refer to your PC’s methodology to format USB drives in the following headings since it varies for each Operating System.
Note: Back up the existing files on your USB drive, as they will all be erased upon formatting.
Format USB Drive On Linux PC
1. Select the Search bar within the Applications option of your Linux PC.
2. Type and search for the Disk and pick up the menu when it appears on the search results.
3. Your USB drive can be found here on the left pane. Select it and click on the Settings icon next.
4. In the appearing drop-down, click on Format Partition and give a name for your USB drive.
5. Now, tap Erase → Type and choose your desired Hisense TV-supported format for your USB drive.
6. Click Next → Format options and wait till you are notified about the process completion.
Format USB Drive On Windows PC
1. Open the My Computer or This PC folder on your PC.
2. Locate and select the USB drive and right-click on it. Then, select the Format option.
3. Now, select the drop-down menu of File system and set it to your Hisense TV’s compatible format (NTFS, FAT32, or FAT).
4. Select Quick Format if you want to finish the process rapidly and click on the Start option.
5. Ignore the warning message and choose OK. Now, your USB drive will be formatted completely within a few minutes.
6. Once you get the Format Complete intimation, you are good to go.
Format USB Drive Using Mac
1. On the Home screen of your Mac, select the Finder option and navigate to Applications.
2. Click on Utilities and then choose Disk Utility. Here, you can find the USB drive from the left pane and open it.
3. Select the Erase tab at the top and select the USB format your Hisense TV supports.
4. At last, click the Erase option again, and it’s done.
How to Access Formatted USB Drive With Hisense TV
1. After changing your USB drive in the exact format your respective Hisense TV supports, load whatever files you want to access into it from the PC. Then, connect it to your Hisense TV USB port.
2. Turn on your Hisense TV and click the Input/Source button on the remote.
3. Select the USB drive option and switch to the input source on your Hisense TV.
4. Now, you are free to access all types of media content, such as photos, audio files, and videos in MP4, MKV & AVI format, from the USB drive on your Hisense Smart TV.
How to Fix Problems on Hisense TV USB Port
- If the USB port doesn’t recognize a USB drive, make sure you have formatted it in a Hisense TV-supported configuration. Then, disconnect the USB drive and try again after restarting your Hisense TV.
- If restarting doesn’t help, check whether the USB drive is working properly on your PC. If it is, power cycle and clear your Hisense TV cache.
- Clean the USB port and update your Hisense TV regularly to prevent USB drive detention errors.
- If a particular content on the USB drive is not loading, ensure your USB drive is efficient enough to run its format. Otherwise, check whether the particular file is corrupted or in an unsupported format.
- If nothing works out, it is better to use an alternative USB drive and see if it works.
FAQ
No, USB drives on exFAT are not supported by Hisense TV.
To easily recognize USB files and play them on your Hisense, give them individual names. Also, arrange them in separate folders based on categories like movies, songs, photos, etc.
