Can I use an external hard drive on my Android TV?
Before you start
- You can use an external USB hard disk drive (HDD) for file playback or app storage if it meets the specifications for use on your Android TV™. Compatibility with all HDD devices is not guaranteed.
- This feature is available for TVs with the Android™ 6.0 Marshmallow operating system (OS) and later.
Manuals are posted on your model support page.
- A HDD can be formatted to file systems that will allow use with both Microsoft® Windows® or Apple® Macintosh® computers. Be sure to check the operation manuals or documentation for details on hard disk drive or OS compatibility.
- For X74H_X75H series, refer to the What types of USB HDDs (hard disk drives) are compatible with Android TV (X74H_X75H series)? article.
Maximum HDD size for playback and App storage
Check the maximum HDD size and storage capacity for the supported file system.
File system | Maximum HDD size for playback (videos, photos, and music) | Maximum HDD capacity for App storage |
---|---|---|
FAT16 | 2GB | 2GB |
FAT32 | 2TB | 256GB |
exFAT and NTFS | 16TB | 256GB |
Notes:
- For the FAT32 file system, the file size for each app saved is limited to 4GB.
- To use a HDD for storage (apps only), it must be formatted on the TV before use. It will then work exclusively on the TV for app storage.
- It will not work with a computer, etc., after formatting on the TV.
- TVs with the Android 6.0 OS must use a HDD that is 256GB or smaller.
- TVs with Android 7.0 OS or later can use a HDD that is 256 GB or larger, but the usable capacity is restricted to 256 GB.
USB port type and maximum power output
USB port type | Max. power output | Port label | Port image |
---|---|---|---|
USB 3.1 Gen 1 | 900 mA | ||
USB 2.0 | 500 mA |
Revolutions per minute (RPM) and Read/Write speed
No conditions.