My internet went down - but this TV USB port trick made the outage more bearable

Adam Breeden/ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Most astute 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 the net is down.

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

After all, connectivity is indispensable for galore devices to function. But sometimes that connectivity fails -- and what tin you bash if you privation to ticker TV without the internet?

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

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

Using a thrust is cost-effective; you tin store a ample room of contented connected a USB instrumentality and debar monthly streaming subscriptions. And you person accrued flexibility due to the fact that you tin usage the USB instrumentality to play contented connected beauteous overmuch immoderate TV manufactured since 2001.

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

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There is simply a solution for immoderate circumstantial lawsuit that prohibits streaming. Grab a 64GB USB instrumentality for arsenic small arsenic $10 and load it with 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 with your TV

1. USB ports are typically located connected the broadside oregon 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 similar to browse files. To this, accidental yes.
2. If you don't get a effect plugging successful the USB, usage your TV's distant power to entree the input paper oregon root enactment surface and look for a fastener labeled "Source," "Input," oregon thing similar.
3. By selecting the USB option, your TV should show the contents of your USB instrumentality onscreen. You mightiness spot a record browser oregon a database of files and folders. Navigate done the contents utilizing the distant power to find the movie you privation to play. Once you've located the file, prime it to commencement playback.

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

File formats and compatibility

Not each TVs enactment each record type. Ensure your USB thrust is formatted correctly (FAT32, exFAT, oregon NTFS) and that the 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 representation formats see JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

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

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

Some TVs mightiness bounds record operation oregon directory extent connected a USB drive. Keep the record operation elemental and debar nesting files excessively profoundly successful folders. (I urge putting immoderate A/V files successful the USB's superior folder, oregon the basal directory.) Also, if your USB instrumentality requires much powerfulness than the 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 country with nary Wi-Fi available, oregon if your net transportation fails for immoderate reason, there's inactive a mode to get your amusement hole utilizing a USB drive. I suggest being proactive and downloading your favourite videos onto a USB earlier the grid shuts down.

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