Play media from a USB drive on Android TV

Updated 2026-10-20

Format the drive as exFAT if the box supports it, otherwise FAT32. NTFS usually works read-only on Android TV, which is fine for playback but blocks recording.

FAT32 cannot hold a file larger than 4 GB. A two-hour 4K remux exceeds that, which is the most common reason a movie 'disappears' after copying.

For playback, VLC and Kodi both handle HEVC and most audio codecs. If a 4K file stutters while a 1080p one is smooth, the box's decoder is the limit, not the player.

How to install

1. Format the drive as exFAT on a computer.
2. Copy files, keeping each under the filesystem's limit.
3. Plug into the TV and open it in VLC or Kodi.
4. If playback stutters, try a 1080p version to confirm the decoder is the limit.