How to Play Local Media Files on Android TV [Guide]

Android TV is basically a smart TV that requires internet connectivity to play content from online services. In many ways, Android TV is not seen as a media consumption device for local files, unlike Kodi Boxes and other digital players. However, that is just the misconception. You can very well play local media files on Android TV, be it a rare video format or an MP3 clip, or an image file. So if you want to access and play local media files on your Android TV then follow this guide point by point.

Play Local Media Files on Android TV (2021)

Here, we have mentioned two methods for media files stored on your Android TV and files stored on another device. Depending on your need, you can click on the link below and follow the guide accordingly.

Table Of Contents

Play Media Files Stored on Android TV

To play local media files on Android TV you need a file manager or a media player on your Android TV. Since file managers nowadays come with a built-in media player, you will likely not need a separate media player.

That said, when you have to play video formats such as MKV, MOV, WMV, etc. then you need a dedicated media player. So in this article, first I will show you the file manager method and then will move to the media player. With that out of the way, let’s begin.

1. First of all, install Solid Explorer (Free, offers in-app purchases) on your Android TV from the Play Store. It’s one of the best file managers for Android TV and lets you play video, MP3 audio, open images, and more.

Sideload Apps on Android TV in 2020

2. Once the app is installed, locate the media files stored on your Android TV and just open it.

Play Local Media Files on Android TV

3. In all likelihood, Solid Explorer will be able to play the local media file on your Android TV.

How to Play Local Media Files on Android TV (Guide)

4. And if you want a dedicated media player then I would recommend getting VLC (Free, offers in-app purchases) on your Android TV. It’s one of the best media players in the Android ecosystem, and can be easily installed from Android TV’s Play Store.

Play Local Media Files on Android TV

5. After the installation, open the app and VLC will automatically scan all the local files stored on your Android TV.

Play Local Media Files on Android TV

6. From there, you can smoothly play any video or MP3 audio file.

How to Play Local Media Files on Android TV (Guide)

Play Local Media Files From Other Device on Android TV

The above guide deals with media files stored on Android TV’s internal storage. If you want to play media files stored on your computer or smartphone on a larger screen then this section will help you out. So here is how to begin.

1. The easiest way to play large media files that are stored on another device is to simply transfer the file using a thumb drive. Simply copy the content to a thumb drive and connect the thumb drive to the TV through the USB port. After that, you can access the content in Solid Explorer under the hamburger menu.

Play Local Media Files on Android TV

2. If you have a small media file on your smartphone then you can wirelessly transfer the file to your Android TV by using the SFTV app. Keep in mind, for the SFTV app to work properly, both your smartphone and Android TV should be connected to a common WiFi network. In case you are not on a common network then you can transfer the media files to your Android TV using a cloud service.

Play Local Media Files on Android TV

3. Alternatively, you can play media files on your Android TV using the Chromecast feature, available on Android, iOS, and Chrome on desktop. Just open the media file through the Google Photos app on your smartphone and tap on the cast button at the top-right corner. Remember, the cast button will only show up when your Android TV and smartphone are connected to the same WiFi network.

Note: While the casting is done locally, it still requires internet connectivity to verify the devices.

How to Play Local Media Files on Android TV (Guide)

4. After that, it will ask you to select the TV. So identify the TV and simply tap on it.

How to Play Local Media Files on Android TV (Guide)

5. Voila, there it is. Your local content stored on another device will play on Android TV just like that.

How to Play Local Media Files on Android TV (Guide)

6. As for Chrome on the desktop, open the media file on Chrome by dragging the media file to a new tab. After that, right-click on the tab and select “Cast”. Here, you will find your TV. Click on it and you are done.

Play Local Media Files on Android TV

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can You Play Local Video Files on Android TV Through Mobile Hotspot?

No, you can’t play local video files through a mobile hotspot. To stream local content through Chromecast, you must have a common WiFi access point.

Q. Does Chromecast Streaming Support Audio Output on Android TV?

Yes, Chromecast does support internal audio output on Android TV. No matter if you are using a Chromecast-compatible app or simply using screen mirroring, audio output works pretty well.

Q. How to Play Local MP3 File on Android TV?

You can use VLC Media Player on Android TV to seamlessly play local MP3 files.

List of Popular Android TVs (Continually Updated)

The above tutorial will work with most of the popular Android TVs. You can find a list of popular Android TVs below. The list is not exhaustive by any means and is only to serve as an example.

BRAND	Model Name	Size
Marq (flipkart)	Marq 43AAUHDM	43
	Marq 43AAFHDM	43
	Marq 32AAHDM	32
	Marq 65SAUHD	65
	Marq 49SAUHD	48.5
	Marq 32VNSSHDM	32
	Marq 49SAUHD/49SAHD-Black	49
Aconatic	Aconatic 32HS521AN	32
	Aconatic 43HS521AN	43
	Aconatic 55RS543AN	55
	Aconatic 55US300AN	55
	Aconati c65RS543AN	65
iFFALCON	iFFALCON 40F2A	40
	iFFALCON 32F2A	32
	iFFALCON 49F2A	49
	iFFALCON 75H2A	75
	iFFALCON 55K2A	55
	iFFALCON 65K2A	65
	iFFALCON 65V2A	65
	iFFALCON 65K71	65
	iFFALCON 55H71	55
	iFFALCON 65H71	65
	iFFALCON 43K31	43
	iFFALCON 50K31	50
	iFFALCON 55K31	55
LLoyd	LLoyd 32HS301B	32
	LLoyd 43FS301B	43
	LLoyd 43US900B	43
	LLoyd 55US900B	55
	LLoyd GL32H0B0ZS	32
	LLoyd L32HS670A	32
Micromax	Micromax L32CANVAS4	32
	Micromax L32TA6445HD	32
	Micromax L40TA6445FHD	40
	Micromax L43TA7000UHD	43
	Micromax L55TA7001UHD	55
MI	MI L40M5-5AIN	40
	MI L32M5-AL	32
	MI L43M5-AN	43
	MI L43M4-4AIN	43
	MI L50M5-5AIN	50
	MI L55M6-EQG	55
	MI L32M6-EI	32
	MI L55M4-4XINA	55
	MI L65M5-5SIN	65
	MI L49M5-AN	49
	MI L32M5-AN	32
	MI L43M5-AI	43
	MI L32M5-AI	32
	MI L40M6-EI	40
	MI L75M6-ESG	75
Panasonic	Panasonic TH-65HX700DX	65
	Panasonic TH-55HX700DX	55
	Panasonic TH-43HX700DX	43
	Panasonic TH-55HX635DX	55
	Panasonic TH-43HX635DX	43
	Panasonic TH-43HX625DX	43
	Panasonic TH-58HX450	58
	Panasonic TH-50HX450	50
	Panasonic TH-65GX655DX	65
	Panasonic TH-55GX655DX	55
	Panasonic TH-49GX655DX	49
	Panasonic TH-43GX655DX	43
Sanyo	Sanyo XT-43A081U	43
	Sanyo XT-49A081U	49
	Sanyo XT-55A081U	55
	Sanyo XT-65A081U	65
	Sanyo XT-43UHD4S	43
	Sanyo XT-50UHD4S	50
	Sanyo XT-55UHD4S	55
	Sanyo XT-65UHD4S	65
	Sanyo XT-43FHD4S	43
	Sanyo XT-32RHD4S	32
Sony	Sony KD-55X7400H	55
	Sony KDL-49W800G	49
	Sony KDL-43W800G	43
	Sony KD-55X9500G	55
	Sony KD-49X8000H	49
	Sony KD-55X8000H	55
	Sony KD-43X8000G	43
	Sony KD-49X7500H	49
	Sony KD-65A8F	65
	Sony KD-55A8G	55
	Sony KD-55X8000G	55
	Sony KD-65X9300E	65
	Sony KD-65A8G	65
	Sony KD-55X9300E	55
	Sony KD-65X8000H	65
	Sony KD-65A9F	65
	Sony KD-65X9500E	65
	Sony KD-55A8F	55
	Sony KD-75X8500F	75
	Sony KD-65A9G	65
	SonyKD-55X7500F	55
	Sony KDL-43W800F	43
	Sony KD-49X8000G	49
	Sony KD-55X8500G	55
	Sony KD-43X7500F	43
	Sony KD-65X8000G	65
	Sony KD-49X8500F	49
	Sony KD-43X8500F	43
	Sony KDL-49W800F	49
	Sony KD-43X8200E	43
	Sony KDL-43W800D	43
	Sony KD-65X9500G	65
	Sony KD-75X8000H	75
	Sony KD-55X9000E	55
	Sony KD-49X9000E	49
	Sony KD-55X9500E	55
	Sony KD-65X9000E	65
	Sony KD-55X9000F	55
	Sony KD-65X7500F	65
	Sony KD-49X8200E	49
	Sony KD-65X9000F	65
	Sony KD-55X8500F	55
	Sony KD-55A9F	55
	Sony KD-55A1	55
	Sony KD-65A1	65
	Sony KD-49X7500F	49
	Sony KD-55A9G	55
	Sony KD-85X8000H	85
	Sony 43X7400H	43
	Sony 55X7500H	55
	Sony 43X7500H	43
	Sony 65X7400H	65
TCL	TCL 50C715	50
	TCL 32S65A	32
	TCL 55C715	55
	TCL L65C2US	65
	TCL 55P715	55
	TCL L55C2US	55
	TCL 65P8	65
	TCL 43P8	43
	TCL 43S6500FS	43
	TCL 85P8M	85
	TCL 32S6500S	32
	TCL 65P715	65
	TCL 55P2MUS	55
	TCL L55P2MUS	55
	TCL 43P8B	43
	TCL 43P715	43
	TCL 55C815	55
	TCL 50P715	50
	TCL 65P2MUS	65
	TCL L65P2MUS	65
	TCL 55P8E	55
	TCL 55P8	55
	TCL 49S6500S	49
	TCL 65P8E	65
	TCL 65C6	65
	TCL 75P715	75
	TCL 55P8S	55
	TCL 65X4US	65
	TCL 50P8E	50
	TCL 65C715	65
	TCL 50P8	50
	TCL 75C815	75
	TCL 55C8	55
	TCL 40S6500	40
	TCL 43P8E	43
iFFALCON (by TCL)	iFFALCON 43K61	43
	iFFALCON 50K61	50
	iFFALCON 32F2A	32
	iFFALCON 55K61	55
	iFFALCON 43K31	43
	iFFALCON 55K31	55
	iFFALCON 55H71	55
	iFFALCON 43F2A	43
	iFFALCON 55K71	55
	iFFALCON 43K71	43
	iFFALCON 40F2A	40
	iFFALCON 65K3A	65
	iFFALCON 65V2A	65
	iFFALCON 55K3A	55
	iFFALCON 65K2A	65
	iFFALCON 55K2A	55
	iFFALCON 75H2A	75
	iFFALCON 65K31	65
	iFFALCON 65K71	65
	iFFALCON 50K31	50
	iFFALCON 49F2A	49
	iFFALCON 65H71	65
VU	VU 43US	43
	VU 32US	32
	VU 55PM	55
	VU 50PM	50
	VU 43GA	43
	VU 55UT	55
	VU 85QPX	85
	VU 65PM	65
	VU 50UT	50
	VU 32GA	32
	VU 43PM	43
	VU 43CA	43
	VU 43UA	43
	VU 43UT	43
	VU 55-OA	55
	VU 43-OA	43
	VU 65UT	65
	VU 50-OA	50
	VU 43 OA	43
	VU 43 OA -V1	43
	VU 55-OA	55
	VU 55-OA V1	55
	VU 50CA	50
	VU 55CA	55
	VU OAUHD75	75
Hisense	Hisense 43A71F	43
	Hisense 55A71F	55
	Hisense 55A73F	55
	Hisense 40A56E	40
	Hisense 32A56E	32
	Hisense 50A71F	50
	Hisense 65U7QF	65
Haier	Haier LE43K6600UGA	43
	Haier LE40K6600GA	40
	Haier LE43K6600GA	43
	Haier LE50K6600HQGA	50
	Haier LE32K6600GA	32
	Haier LE55U6900HQGA	55
	Haier LE65S8000EGA	65
	Haier LE50U6900HQGA	50
	Haier LE32W2000	32
	Haier LE55U6500UAG	55
	Haier LE50F9000UAP	50
	Haier LE55K6600HQGA	55
	Haier LE65U6500UAG	65
	Haier LE65U6900HQGA	65
Infinix	Infinix 43X1	43
	Infinix 32X1	32
Kodak	Kodak 50CA7077	50
	Kodak 65CA0101	65
	Kodak 32HDX7XPRO	32
	Kodak 43CA2022	43
	Kodak 55CA0909	55
	Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO	43
	Kodak 55UHDX7XPRO	55
	Kodak 40FHDX7XPRO	40
	Kodak 43FHDX7XPRO	43
	Kodak 32HDXSMART	32
	Kodak 32HDXSMART V1	32
	Kodak 32HDXSMART	32
	Kodak 55UHDXSMART	55
	Kodak 40FHDXSMART	40
	Kodak 40FHDXSMART V1	40
Motorola	Motorola 55SAUHDMQ	55
	Motorola 55SAUHDMG	55
	Motorola 43SAUHDMQ	43
	Motorola 43SAFHDM	43
	Motorola 43SAUHDMG	43
	Motorola 65SAUHDM	65
	Motorola 40SAFHDME	40
	Motorola 55SAUHDM	55
	Motorola 32SAHDME	32
	Motorola 32SAFHDM	32
	Motorola 50SAUHDM	50
	Motorola 43SAUHDM	43
	Motorola 50SAUHDMQ	50
	Motorola 75SAUHDM	75
Nokia	Nokia 43TAFHDN	43
	Nokia 32TAHDN	32
	Nokia 43TAUHDN	43
	Nokia 50TAUHDN	50
	Nokia 55TAUHDN	55
	Nokia 65TAUHDN	65
	Nokia 43CAUHDN	43
	Nokia 55CAUHDN	55
	Nokia 65CAUHDN	65
OnePlus	OnePlus 43FA0A00	43
	OnePlus 32HA0A00	32
	OnePlus 55Q1IN-1	55
	OnePlus 55Q1IN	55
	OnePlus 55UA0A00	55
Philips	Philips 58PUT6604	58
	Philips 50PUT6604	50
	Philips 43PUT7791	43
Realme	Realme RMV2004	43
	Realme RMV2005	50
Redmi	Redmi L50M6-RA	50
	Redmi L55M6-RA	55
	Redmi L65M6-RA	65
Thomson	Thomson 43TH6000	43
	Thomson 50TH1000	50
	Thomson 40M4099	40
	Thomson 40M4099 PRO	40
	Thomson 32M3277 PRO	32
	Thomson 43TH0099	43
	Thomson 43TH6000_UD9	43
	Thomson 32PATH0011	32
	Thomson 50OATHPRO1212	50
	Thomson 55 OATHPRO 0101	55
	Thomson 43 OATHPRO 2000	43
	Thomson 43PATH4545	43
	Thomson 55PATH5050	55
	Thomson 65 OATHPRO 2020	65
	Thomson 40PATH7777	40
	Thomson 32PATH0011BL	32
	Thomson 50PATH1010	50
	Thomson 43PATH0009	43
	Thomson 75 OATHPRO2121	75
	Thomson 43 OATH 1000	43
	Thomson 49 OATH 9000	49
	Thomson 32M3277	32
	Thomson 55TH1000	55
Toshiba	Toshiba 32L5050	32
	Toshiba 55U5050	55
	Toshiba 43L5050	43

Play Local Content on Android TV Without Internet

So that is how you can access and play content on your Android TV without requiring internet connectivity. We have mentioned two methods: for media files stored locally on your TV and for files stored on another device. In any case, you can follow the guide and play the content right away.

Anyway, that is all from us. If you want to learn similar tips and tricks for Android TV then go follow our linked guide. And if you are facing any issues then let us know in the comment section below. We will surely try to help you out.

#Tags

#Android TV

Arjun Sha

Passionate about Windows, ChromeOS, Android, security and privacy issues. Have a penchant to solve everyday computing problems.

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