What file formats play Xiaomi TV from a flash drive: video, audio, subtitles

Connecting a flash drive to a Xiaomi TV is one of the most convenient ways to watch movies, TV shows or listen to music without depending on the Internet. However, not all file formats play equally well on different models of the Smart TV from this brand. For example, MKV videos with H.265 codec can play seamlessly on Mi TV Q2 2023, but cause errors on older versions like Mi TV 4A. And high-resolution FLAC audio files sometimes require preconversion.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what formats are supported by Xiaomi TVs when playing with the camera. USB-How to check the compatibility of your content and what to do if the file does not open, and we will focus on codecs, video resolution and bitrate restrictions, which often cause crashes. You will also find a compatibility table for popular models and instructions for diagnosing problems.

Official list of supported formats on Xiaomi TV

The manufacturer claims to support a wide range of formats, but the real compatibility depends on the TV model, firmware version and even the type of TV. USB-port (2.0 or 3.0). The base set usually includes:

• 🎬 Video: MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, TS, MPEG, FLV (restrictively)
• 🎵 Audio: MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC (before 24 bit/96 keto), OGG, WAV
• 📝 Subtitles: SRT, ASS, SSA, SMI (External files or embedded in the container)
• 🖼️ Images: JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF (static)

However, even within a single container (e.g., MKV), a TV may not play video if an unaccompanied codec is used inside, such as a 10-bit VP9 or AV1. It is also important to consider resolution limitations: models with a full HD screen resolution (e.g., Mi TV 4S 43) are often not able to decode high-bit rate 4K@60fps videos.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi TVs on PatchWall platform (for example, Mi series) TV Q and Xiaomi TV A) support more formats than Android models TV (Like Mi. TV 4A). Before buying content, check the specifications of your model on the official website.

Video format support: codec and container

The main misconception of users is to confuse a container (file extension, for example,.mp4) and a codec (compression algorithm inside a container, for example, H.264). The TV can support the MKV container, but not play video inside it if encoded in VP9 or AV1.

Here is the current codec compatibility table for most Xiaomi TV models (2020–2026):

To check the codec in your file, use free tools like MediaInfo (Windows/macOS) or FFprobe (Linux), such as a command to analyze the file:

ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=codec_name,pix_fmt,width,height -of csv=p=0 "video.mkv"

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If video slows down when playing from a flash drive, try reducing the bitrate to 20 Mbps with HandBrake, which is especially true for 4K HDR files on USB 2.0 models.

Audio formats: what plays without problems and what requires conversion

With audio files, the situation is simpler: most Xiaomi TVs cope with popular formats, but there are nuances:

• 🎧 MP3 and AAC — Supported by all models without restrictions.
• 🎧 FLAC — reproduced 24 bit/96 kHz. Permission files 24/192 or DSD no play.
• 🎧 WMA — It only works on Android models. TV (Like Mi. TV 4A), But not PatchWall.
• 🎧 Dolby Digital (AC-3) — Decoded only in containers MKV or TS, but MP4.

Problems often arise with multi-channel audio (5.1, 7.1). For example, a TV can play video with a DTS-HD track, but the sound will go into stereo because there is no decoding license. The solution is either to convert the audio to AAC, or connect an external DTS-enabled sound system via HDMI ARC.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi models TV A Pro (2023) when playing FLAC through USB You can see a stuttering sound. It's due to limitations. USB-Use the network connection (DLNA) high-resolution files.

Subtitles: external files vs embedded tracks

Xiaomi TVs support two types of subtitles:

1. Built-in video containers (e.g., MKV with an SRT track inside).
2. External: A separate file with the same name as a video (e.g., film.mkv + film.srt).

Subtitles in SRT (simple text) and ASS/SSA (style support) work best, and formats like VTT (WebVTT) or IDX/SUB (graphic subtitles) may not be displayed or require manual encoding.

To include subtitles:

1. During the video playback, press OK on the remote.
2. Select Subtitles → Pick a path.
3. If the subtitles don’t show, check the file encoding (should be UTF-8).

The subtitles file has the same name as the video (except for the extension) |

File encoding - UTF-8 (without BOM) |

Subtitles format: SRT or ASS|

Subtitles and videos are in the same folder on the flash drive

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Limitations on file system and flash drive volume

Xiaomi TVs are working with the USB-by the suffixes which are formatted in FAT32, exFAT or NTFS. But there are important nuances:

• 💾 FAT32 — 4GB file size limit not suitable for movies in 4K HDR.
• 💾 ExFAT – the best choice for files >4GB, but some older models (e.g. Mi) TV 3) do not support this file system.
• 💾 NTFS — It works on most TVs, but can cause delays when opening large folders.

Also consider:

• The maximum USB drive capacity is 128 GB (up to 256 GB on some models), and more capacious drives may not be identified.
• USB 2.0 read speeds up to 35MB/s. For 4K@60fps, this may not be enough (requires ≥40MB/s).
• Hardware-encrypted flash drives (such as SanDisk SecureAccess) will not be recognized.

What to do if the file is not played from the flash drive

If the TV doesn’t see the file or if it gives an error “Format is not supported”, follow these steps:

1. Check the file extension. Sometimes the problem is that the file has a double extension (e.g. film.mkv.rar).
2. Update your firmware. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update.
3. Convert the file. Use HandBrake with the preset "Xiaomi TV" or settings: Video codec: H.264 or H.265. Resolution: no higher than the native resolution of your TV. Bitrate: up to 20 Mbit / s for 4K, up to 10 Mbit / s for Full HD.

Try another one. USB-port.

USB 3.0

USB 2.0

If the problem persists, check the file on another device (like a PC or smartphone) and it may be corrupted, and it’s worth testing another flash drive – some budget models (like the Mi TV 4A 32) don’t work well with 64 GB+ drives from obscure brands.

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The most common cause of playback errors is a mismatch between the video codec and the TV's capabilities. Even if a container (e.g., MP4) is supported, an internal codec (e.g., AV1) may not be compatible.

Comparison of format support on popular Xiaomi TV models

Below is a compatibility table for current TV series (data for 2026):

For models older than 2019, it is recommended to use external media players (such as the Nvidia Shield or Xiaomi Mi Box S) connected to the TV via HDMI, which will allow you to play any formats, including AV1, Dolby Vision and TrueHD.

FAQ: Frequent questions about flash drive playback