Xiaomi TVs with Android operating system TV Google TV They support the playback of media files from external drives, but this process is not always smooth. Users often face problems: the flash drive is not detected, the video is not opened or played without sound. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to launch movies with the help of the user. USB-drive, including format configuration, selection of the right codecs and solution of typical errors.
Xiaomi Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV and Xiaomi TV A Pro are featured with a built-in File Commander or Mi Video media player that automatically scans connected devices. However, its functionality is limited: not all video formats are supported out of the box. If your movie is.mkv with HEVC (H.265) codec or DTS soundtrack, the TV may not play it. Next, detailed instructions for different scenarios.
1. Preparation of the flash drive: file formats and structure
Before you plug in. USB-Xiaomi TV drive, make sure it's formatted in a compatible file system:
- 📁 FAT32 — Universal format, but with a file size limit (maximum 4GB) HD film.
- 📁 exFAT – Optimal for files larger than 4GB (e.g. movies in the Internet) 4K). Compatible with most Xiaomi models TV post-2019.
- 📁 NTFS — It is not supported by all models and may require additional adjustments (see Section 3).
If the flash drive is formatted in NTFS and the TV can't see it, try reformatting it to exFAT via a computer.
- Connect the flash drive to the PC.
- Open This Computer → Right Click on Drive → Format.
- Select exFAT and press Start.
💡
If there is important data on the flash drive, copy it to your computer before formatting, and after you change the file system, all files will be deleted.
Folder structure also affects file discovery. Avoid nested folders that are more than 3 levels deep (e.g. Movies → 2026 → Fighters → File.mkv). Xiaomi TVs are better at recognizing files located in the root directory or in the first level folder (e.g. Movies → File.mp4).
2. Connecting a flash drive to a Xiaomi TV: step-by-step instructions
The process of connecting an external drive depends on the TV model. TV USB-The port is on the back or side panel. Follow the algorithm:
Put the flash drive in USB-television-port|Wait for the notice "USB-plug-in"|Open the Files or Mi Video app"|Select the drive in the list of devices|Find the right file and click "Replay"-->
If after connecting the flash drive, the notification does not appear:
- Check that USB-The drive is inserted to the end (sometimes the contacts do not touch).
- Reboot the TV: Press the power button on the remote for 10 seconds, then turn it on again.
- Try another one. USB-port (if there are several).
On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi TV 4S) to access files you need:
- Press the Home button on the remote.
- Go to the Appendices → File Commander (File Commander).
- On the left menu, select USB-accumulator.
3. Compatible video and codec formats
Xiaomi Android TVs support most popular formats, but there are limitations: Below is the compatibility table for the 2020-2026 models:
| Container format | Video codec | Audio codec | Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| .mp4 | H.264 (AVC) | AAC, MP3 | ✅ Complete. |
| .mkv | H.265 (HEVC) | AC3 (Dolby Digital) | ⚠️ Partial (depending on the model) |
| .avi | MPEG-4 | MP3 | ✅ Complete. |
| .mov | H.264 | AAC | ❌ No (conversion required) |
| .ts | H.264/H.265 | AAC, AC3 | ✅ Complete. |
If your movie is not playing, check its specs with MediaInfo (free for Windows/macOS). For example, videos with VP9 codec or DTS-HD sound will not play on most Xiaomi TV models without additional players.
How do I find out the video codec?
Xiaomi TVs based on Google TV (models 2023-2026) support hardware decoding H.265 (HEVC) only at a resolution of up to 4K@60fps. Files with a resolution of 8K or a bitrate above 100 Mbps can be played with jerks.
4. Solving problems with reproduction
If the movie doesn’t open or is played with errors, follow this algorithm:
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Mi models TV 4A (2018-2019) The built-in player does not support.srt subtitles unless they are embedded in a file. VLC kodi.
- 🔄 Restart the TV. Sometimes playback errors are associated with temporary OS failures.
- 📥 Update your firmware. Go to Settings. → On TV. → Updating the system.
- 🎵 If the video is coming but there is no sound, the problem is in the audio codec (e.g., the audio codec, DTS unsupported).
- 🔧 Install a third-party player. VLC or MX Player can handle most formats.
For installation of a third-party player:
- Open the Google Play Store on your TV.
- Find an app (like VLC for Android TV).
- Install and open it.
- Select the player menu USB-drive and find the file.
💡
The VLC (Kodi) side of the player is often better at handling rare codecs than the firmware Xiaomi has built-in, taking 2-3 minutes to install and solving 90% of playback problems.
5. Alternative ways to watch movies from a flash drive
If the USB connection doesn’t work, try alternative methods:
- 📡 DLNA/UPnP. Connect the flash drive to the router with USB-You can go to the port and activate the media server. → Media server.
- 🖥️ PC + Plex/Kodi. Install Plex Media Server on your computer, plug in a flash drive and stream the movie to your TV via the Plex app.
- ☁️ Cloud storage. Upload the file to Google Drive or Mega, then open it through your browser on your TV.
For the DLNA method:
- Connect the flash drive to USB-port of the router (for example, Xiaomi Router) AX6000).
- In the router control panel, activate the Media Server (Samba/DLNA).
- On the TV, open the Applications → Media Player (or “Network”).
- Select your router from the list of devices.
The advantage of this method is that there are no format restrictions (transcoding is done on the router or PC side). However, the quality depends on the speed of the local network: for 4K video, an Ethernet or Wi-Fi 5/6 connection is recommended.
6. Frequent errors and their correction
Let’s look at the common error messages and how to fix them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| "Format is not maintained." | Video or audio codec incompatible | Convert the file to.mp4 with H.264 codec or use VLC |
| "USB-device not recognized" | Incorrect file system or damaged connector | Format the flash drive in exFAT or try another port |
| "No sound" | Audio track in DTS/TrueHD format | Recode the sound to AAC or use an external player |
| "Video slows down." | High bitrate or resolution | Reduce the resolution to 1080p or use DLNA |
If the TV makes a mistake "USB-It consumes too much power, which means that the flash drive requires more current than the port can deliver:
- 🔌 Use it. USB-feed-in.
- 📱 Connect the flash drive through OTG-Cable to your smartphone and then stream to your TV on Miracast or Google Cast.
⚠️ Xiaomi TVs with firmware older than 2021 may not have support NTFS. If you put the flash drive on, the TV says you should format it, don't say yes, it will delete all the data. Instead, copy the files to your computer, format the drive to exFAT, and transfer the data back.