Xiaomi TVs (Mi series) TV 4/4A/4S/5/5X/Q1/Q2/A Pro et al.) support multimedia playback with USB-But many users have problems: the flash drive is not detected, files are not opened, or the TV gives an error "Device is not supported", the reason most often lies in the wrong file system format, incompatible codecs or settings of the TV itself.
In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for connecting a flash drive to Xiaomi Android-based TVs. TV Google TV, And we'll take a look at some of the common mistakes:
- 🔌 What flash drives are compatible with Xiaomi TV (capacity, format, speed)
- 📂 How to properly format a drive for the TV
- 🎬 What video formats are supported out of the box»
- ⚙️ Step-by-step setting playback through the built-in player and third-party applications
If your TV doesn’t see the flash drive even after all the manipulations, at the end of the article there is a list of alternative ways to transfer files (over Wi-Fi, DLNA, cloud-based).
1. Which flash drives are compatible with Xiaomi TVs
Not all. USB-The drives work equally well with Xiaomi TV. The manufacturer officially declares support for flash drives up to 32 GB (for models up to 2020 year and before 128 GB for new A-series Pro/Q2. In practice, however, televisions can be read and drives on the 256 GB, if they are formatted in FAT32 exFAT.
Key requirements for the flash drive:
- 🔹 File system: FAT32 (Maximum compatibility, exFAT (for files) >4GB), NTFS (partial support, there may be errors).
- 🔹 Write/read speed: not less than 10 MB/s (for Full) HD For the video. 4K-contents are recommended USB 3.0 (blue connector).
- 🔹 Type of connection: standard USB-A. Adapters USB-C → USB-A work irregularly.
| Model Xiaomi TV | Max. The volume of the flash drive. | Supported File Systems | USB-port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi TV 4A/4S (2018–2019) | 32GB | FAT32, exFAT (partially) | USB 2.0 |
| Mi TV 5/5X/Q1 (2020–2022) | 128GB | FAT32, exFAT, NTFS (restrictively) | USB 2.0/3.0 |
| Xiaomi TV A Pro/Q2 (2023–2026) | 256GB | FAT32, exFAT, NTFS | USB 3.0 |
⚠️ Attention: Flash drives NTFS You may not be able to open on older Mi models. TV 4A If the TV gives an error "File system is not supported", reformat the drive to FAT32.
2. How to format a flash drive for Xiaomi TV
If the TV can't see the flash drive, 90 percent of the time the problem is solved by the right formatting. Use external utilities (e.g., external utilities, HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool or Rufus, as standard formatting in Windows often leaves utility files behind.
Step-by-step instructions for FAT32 (recommended for maximum compatibility):
- Connect the flash drive to the computer.
- Download the utility. HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool.
- Select the device, file system FAT32, cluster size 4096 bytes.
- Press Start and wait until it is completed (all data will be deleted!).
Download the utility for formatting|Save important data from the drive|Choose. FAT32/exFAT depending on the size of the files|Disable the flash drive safely (via "Remove the device")
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For flash drives larger than 32 GB, use exFAT:
- 🖥️ In Windows: Right Click on Disk → Format → exFAT → Cluster size 128 KB.
- 🍎 On Mac: Disk utility → Erase → ExFAT format.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use fast format - this can lead to reading errors on the TV. Full formatting takes longer, but ensures stable operation.
3.Where to insert the flash drive in the Xiaomi TV
Connectors USB Xiaomi TVs can be located in different places depending on the model:
- 📺 Mi TV 4A/4S: on the back, next to HDMI-port.
- 📺 Mi TV 5/Q1/A Pro: on the side panel (right or left), often under the cover.
- 📺 Xiaomi TV Q2: two ports, one sideways (USB 3.0), second at the rear (USB 2.0).
How to connect correctly:
- Insert the flash drive into the connector before clicking (do not make an effort!).
- If the TV is on, a notification will appear «USB-plug-in».
- If there is no notification, go to Settings → Devices → USB.
What to do if the TV does not respond to the connection of the flash drive?
On Xiaomi models TV A Pro 2023 and newer USB-The port can be turned off by default to save energy. To activate it, go to Settings. → Energy conservation → Regime. USB → Turn on.
4. How to open files from a flash drive on Xiaomi TV
After connecting the flash drive, the TV will automatically open the built-in conductor (the Files app or Media Player app).
Methods of accessing files:
- 📁 Through the main screen: find the Files icon or «USB» bottom-panel.
- 🔍 Through Search: Click on the magnifying glass on the remote and enter “Files».
- ⚙️ Through Settings: Settings → Devices → USB → Open files.
The built-in player supports formats:
- 🎵 Audio: MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC.
- 🎬 Video: MP4, MKV, AVI (codecs H.264, H.265, MPEG-4).
- 🖼️ Images: JPEG, PNG, BMP.
💡
If the video is slowing down or not playing, try converting it to MP4 codeced H.264 through the HandBrake program (free of charge).
5. Common mistakes and their solutions
If the flash drive is connected but the files are not opened, check the following points:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| "The device is not supported" | Incompatible file system | Format it in FAT32 or exFAT |
| "There are no files to play back" | Folders hidden or incorrect extensions | Check the visibility of files in the conductor settings |
| Video is not being played | Unsupported codec (e.g, AVI DivX) | Install. VLC Or Kodi from Google Play. |
| The flash drive is warming/switching off | Not enough food from USB-port | Use it. USB-feed-in |
Reproduction of non-standard formats (e.g, MOV, FLV) install third-party players:
- 🎥 VLC Android TV — It supports almost all codecs.
- 🎬 Kodi - for organizing media library.
- 📺 MX Player – Optimized for Xiaomi TV.
⚠️ Attention: On Mi TVs TV 4A (2018: You can’t install apps from Google Play without root rights, in which case you can use alternative file transfer methods (see Section 6).
6. Alternative ways to transfer files to Xiaomi TV
If the flash drive does not work or it is not at hand, use one of these methods:
Method 1. Over a local network (DLNA)
- 🖥️ Install Serviio or Plex Media Server on your computer.
- 📡 Connect your TV and PC to the same Wi-Fi network.
- 📺 On TV, open the application "Media Player» → «Local area network».
Method 2: Through cloud services
- 🌥️ Upload files to Google Drive, Yandex Drive or Mega.
- 📱 Install the app on your TV from Google Play.
- 🔗 Open the file in the cloud (you need a stable Internet connection).
Method 3. USB-cable (for smartphones)
- 📱 Connect your smartphone to the TV through USB-C → USB-A cable.
- 🔄 On the phone, select the "File Transfer" mode» (MTP).
- 📂 On TV, open the Files» → «USB-device».
💡
For transferring large files (>10 GB) to make optimal use of a flash drive or external hard drive. DLNA may be inhibited during reproduction 4K-video.
7 How to safely remove a flash drive from a Xiaomi TV
Wrong extraction USB-The storage device may cause data loss or damage to the file system:
- Close all open files from the flash drive.
- Press the Home button on the remote.
- Go to Settings. → Devices → USB.
- Select “Safe Retrieval” (or “Disable”) USB-device»).
- Wait for the notification “The device can be removed” and only after that remove the flash drive.
If the TV is “hanging” and does not respond to commands:
- 🔄 Restart the TV with the power button for 10-15 seconds.
- 🛑 Do not pull the flash drive while the indicator blinks (this is a sign of an active recording!).