Question:

How can I play videos from an external hard drive to a TV without wireless streaming or a sound system?

I have an external hard drive that contains multimedia files. I usually connect it to my TV via a USB-HDMI receiver that has its own operating system. However, when I visit my girlfriend’s place, the only option I have is to use her roommate’s MacBook and Apple TV, which results in choppy playback due to wireless streaming. I am looking for a device that can directly connect my hard drive to the TV via USB and HDMI ports, and also has an operating system that can access and play the files. I do not want to carry my sound system or buy a new one for this purpose. Any suggestions or recommendations would be helpful. Thank you.

Answer:

If you have an external hard drive that stores your multimedia files, you might want to play them on a TV without wireless streaming or a sound system. However, not all TVs have a USB port that can read and play files from an external hard drive. Moreover, some TVs might not support the file formats or codecs of your videos. In this article, we will explore some possible solutions to this problem and recommend some devices that can help you play videos from an external hard drive to a TV.

One solution is to use a USB to HDMI adapter. This is a device that can connect your external hard drive to your TV via a USB and an HDMI port. It also has an operating system that can access and play the files on your hard drive. Some examples of USB to HDMI adapters are:

• [USB to HDMI Adapter for Monitor Windows 11/10 / 8, HDMI to USB Adapter for Laptop Mac MacBook pro, USB 3.0 & 2.0 External Graphics Card Converter Cable for Desktop PC TV]: This adapter supports resolutions up to 1920×1080 and can play various video formats such as MP4, AVI, WMV, FLV, and more. It is compatible with Windows and Mac OS and has a plug-and-play design. It costs $9.99 on Amazon.
• [USB to HDMI Adapter Cable for Mac OS Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP, USB 3.0 to HDMI Male HD 1080P Monitor Display Audio Video Converter Cord 6.6FT]: This adapter cable can also support resolutions up to 1920×1080 and can play various video formats. It is compatible with Windows and Mac OS and has a 6.6 feet long cable. It costs $9.89 on Amazon.
• [SENGKOB USB to HDMI Adapter, USB 3.0/2.0 to HDMI 1080P Video Graphics Cable Converter with Audio for PC Laptop Projector HDTV Compatible with Windows XP 7/8/8.1/10]: This adapter can also support resolutions up to 1920×1080 and can play various video formats. It is compatible with Windows only and has a built-in audio chip. It costs $15.99 on Amazon.

Another solution is to use a media player. This is a device that can connect your external hard drive to your TV via a USB and an HDMI port. It also has an operating system that can access and play the files on your hard drive. Some examples of media players are:

• [Roku Ultra]: This is a streaming device that can also play local files from an external hard drive. It supports resolutions up to 4K and can play various video formats such as MKV, MP4, MOV, and more. It also has a voice remote, a headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. It costs $99.99 on Amazon.
• [Fire TV Cube]: This is another streaming device that can also play local files from an external hard drive. It supports resolutions up to 4K and can play various video formats such as MKV, MP4, MOV, and more. It also has a voice assistant, an Ethernet adapter, and a built-in speaker. It costs $119.99 on Amazon.
• [WD TV Live Media Player]: This is a dedicated media player that can play local files from an external hard drive. It supports resolutions up to 1080p and can play various video formats such as MKV, MP4, MOV, and more. It also has a remote control, a Wi-Fi connection, and a Netflix app. It costs $199.99 on Amazon.

These

are some of the possible solutions and devices that can help you play videos from an external hard drive to a TV without wireless streaming or a sound system. Depending on your budget, preferences, and TV specifications, you can choose the one that suits you best. We hope this article was helpful and informative. Thank you for reading..