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ZDNET Highlights
- Most TVs hide a surprisingly useful USB port on the back.
- Plugging into them can unlock additional features and conveniences.
- They can also help breathe new life into an old TV.
After initial setup, most people rarely connect directly to their Smart TV. With wireless connectivity, phone apps, and remote control, there’s very little need for it. Next to the essential HDMI port, a USB 2.0 port – possibly unnoticed on the back or side panel – offers more capabilities than you might expect.
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It’s easy to overlook USB ports, but they’re a standard feature on most TVs – and more useful than you might think. Here are five clever ways to make the most of them.
1. Turn your TV into a slideshow or media player
Most new TV models come with a pair of USB 2.0 ports, and often a 3.0 port for faster data transfers. Your TV screen is probably larger than your computer monitor, so why not use it to carousel a gallery of images or play a video?
I recently attended a family function and the host used a 65-inch TV to do so. Scanned photos and videos looked great – all could be accessed by simply plugging in a USB flash drive.
Almost any type of external hard drive, thumb drive, or data stick will work as if you plugged it into the laptop. Your TV will immediately recognize the connected device and provide you with a means to access and navigate your media files.
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If you want to program your TV to play a slide show when it’s idle, there’s a huge advantage to keeping a flash drive attached for that purpose. That benefit? Your media will not be automatically transferred to the TV’s cache or internal storage as it will read files directly from the flash drive.
By keeping files stored only on the drive, you won’t need to waste time duplicating and uploading them to the TV. Plus, your TV will thank you for better performance because you’re not clogging its cache.
2. Turn Your TV into a Workstation
Have you ever found that spreadsheets, documents, vector graphics, videos, and web pages are crowding your computer monitor? that makes two of us.
The most common monitor size for creatives and professionals is 27 inches. Purchasing multiple high-quality monitors (or larger 32-inch panels) can be extremely expensive. But if you’re willing to sacrifice a little color accuracy and resolution for more real estate on a 55-inch TV screen, you can use a Bluetooth adapter to connect wireless peripherals like a mouse or keyboard.
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A larger display allows more space for multitasking, working on complex designs, and viewing the number of windows open simultaneously. To get the job done you will need peripheral devices that are connected via USB.
3. Make your old TV stream-worthy
The seven-year-old TCL TV in my bedroom requires a streaming device to access Prime Video, HBO Max, and other platforms. Many streaming devices, especially newer devices, require connection to an A/C outlet for power. But some, like the last generation Amazon Fire Stick and Google Chromecast, can be powered by the TV, making it smarter.
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All streaming devices connect directly to the TV via HDMI port Celebrationbut some may operated By USB. For example, my TCL has a Roku streaming stick connected to a short HDMI cable for data transfer and a short USB 2.0 cable for power. The streaming gadget that allows me to access the internet and watch Jordan Peele Twilight Zone There is no plug plugged into the wall at night. It is being nurtured – and nurtured – by TV all at once.
I should note that this is a less-than-ideal scenario as powering a device with its own CPU and quad-core processor can lead to problems like overheating, stuttering, and underperformance. But it works.
4. Charge a USB device if you have trouble
In fact, you can charge almost any device through your TV’s USB port with the appropriate cable. Have you ever had to charge your phone by plugging it into your laptop’s USB port? I have also been there. You can do the same with your TV.
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The downside is that most TV USB ports are designed for data transfer and powering low-energy devices, so they don’t draw much energy. This means that using the TV as a charging hub will be relatively slow, even for something like a console gaming controller. But still, if you’re really in trouble, it’s an option.
So try to remember that your TV’s USB ports are back in use for a reason. You can also use them to access media, extend the utility of your TV, and supply power to external devices.
5. Bonus: Updating Software
This doesn’t sound as flashy as the other benefits on this list, but if your Smart TV doesn’t have internet or you’re on a non-Smart TV, it’s important that you keep the software updated via USB upload.
Also: There’s an underrated feature in your TV’s USB port that can revive old systems for free.
Manufacturers often introduce advanced features and functionality, improved performance, and bug fixes with updates from time to time, and you can download the latest software through dedicated support pages. is here Samsung’sFor example.
Search for your model or product name, download the latest software file to your USB drive, and plug the drive into your TV to upload it. You may need to restart your TV when all is said and done.
