I'm trying to find a way to watch 4K movies on my 4K TV. The problem I'm encountering is that I can't copy files larger than 4GB, and I've already tried using exFAT and FAT32, but the files don't show up on my TV. What's the best workaround for this? Should I buy a hard drive, or is there another solution that might work better?
5 Answers
Using a device like a Roku or similar streaming device could simplify everything. Sometimes TVs struggle with newer file systems or formats since they’re not designed for heavy lifting like streaming services. They usually handle 4K content at a lower bitrate, around 20-25Mbps.
If you have a laptop, a super easy workaround is to connect it to your TV using an HDMI cable. Just set your TV to 4K resolution and play your movies through VLC. It's a straightforward solution!
FAT32 definitely has a 4GB limit on file sizes, so you won't be able to play anything over that. If exFAT isn't working, I recommend trying NTFS instead. Just make sure to check your TV’s manual to see which file formats it supports, as that can also be a factor in why the files aren’t showing up.
Just a heads up, many TVs only support AVI and MP4 files, and they often struggle with MKV files. Make sure your 4K movies are in a compatible format!
To play your movie, format your USB or hard drive to NTFS, copy the movie onto it, and then plug it into your TV. Navigate to the media source on your TV and select the USB drive. Just a heads up, if you have an older TV model, you might need to find out which file types it supports and convert your movie accordingly.
Good point! Remember, there's a difference between file types and file systems. Ensure your TV supports both the file format (like MP4 or AVI) and the file system like FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT.