How to Convert the USB File Format for Sharp TV

All Sharp TVs come with a dedicated USB port to connect an external flash drive. By plugging a USB drive into a Sharp TV, you can watch photos and movies and listen to music offline. But what if your Sharp TV doesn’t support playing files via USB because of an incompatible format? Don’t worry about it. Generally, Sharp TVs support file formats like FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS. You can simply format the flash drive in a Sharp TV-supported format to make media files playable on your TV.

This article explains the detailed procedure for converting a USB drive format on Windows, Mac, and Linux-based devices. Additionally, we have illustrated how to use a formatted drive on Sharp TV.

How to Format USB Drive for Sharp TV

Depending on your computer/laptop, follow the steps below to format the drive to a Sharp TV-supported file. Remember to copy the required important files from the USB drive to your PC before formatting it.

Using Windows

1. Power on your Windows PC and carefully inject the USB drive.

2. Open File Explorer and go to the Local Disk.

3. Highlight your USB drive and right-click on it using a mouse.

4. It will display a pop-up, and choose the Format option.

5. From the File System drop-down menu, choose the USB format according to your TV’s compatibility.

6. Tap the Start button and click the OK button to complete the process.

Using Mac

1. Turn on your Mac and select the Finder from the Home Screen.

2. Select Applications and extend the Utilities option.

3. Open the Disk Utility from the provided options.

4. From the dashboard, choose your USB drive and tap the Erase option.

5. Under the Format drop-down option, choose your desired format.

6. Now, select the Erase button and stay for a few while to format.

Once the process is completed, connect the USB to your TV and check whether the format is supported or not.

Using Linux

1. Set up your Linux and select the Application Menu.

2. Search for the Disks and select it from the results.

3. From the left pane, select your USB drive and click the Settings (gear icon) under the Volumes Section.

4. Click on the Format Partition from the listed options.

5. Enter the name of the USB drive and enable the Erase option to edit the data.

6. Pick the preferred format compatible with your Sharp TV from the Type section.

7. tap on the Next button and select the Format pop-up.

You can also install and use any third-party software on your PC to format the USB drive and convert it into a Sharp TV-supporting format. There are tons of applications available online to do this. Some of the reliable ones are FormatUsb, Rufus, etc.

After formatting, upload the necessary files to the USB drive and eject it from your PC. Then, insert it into your Sharp TV to access the content.

How to Access USB Drive on Sharp Smart TV

After changing the USB format, you must change the Sharp TV input to access the USB drive. You can apply the following process to all Sharp Smart TVs running on Android TV OS, Google TV OS, Roku OS, and Aqous OS.

1. After formatting, insert the USB drive into the USB port of your Sharp TV.

2. Press the power key on the remote to switch on your Sharp TV.

3. Go to Settings, select the TV inputs or inputs, and change the input to a USB drive.

Now, you can access the content from the USB on your Sharp TV.

Why do Sharp TV Users Prefer Formatting the USB Drive to FAT32?

The first reason is its compatibility. Most Sharp TVs support the USB drive in FAT32 file format. Another reason most users prefer this format is that it functions better and loads the content on your TV faster than other formats, like exFAT or NTFS.

Why Doesn’t the Sharp TV Recognize My USB Drive?

Occasionally, the Sharp TV may fail to read your USB drive, even after formatting, for various reasons. Check out the reasons and solutions below to rectify the issue.

• If your file is over 4GB, you need to convert the file into exFAT or NTFS format. Alternatively, converting the file to FAT32 format may result in the file not being supported on your TV.
• Check if your USB has any physical damage. If it does, your TV won’t recognize it.
• exFAT is the optimal format for USB. However, Android TV does not support NTFS and exFAT formatted drives.
• Ensure your USB does not exceed 2TB in size.
• Before connecting a USB drive to a TV, connect it to a computer and scan for viruses. If no threats are found, you can use it on your TV.
• If you insert the USB drive into the wrong input, the data on your TV and the drive may be corrupted.

Still, your TV is not reading the USB drive; consider replacing the old one by purchasing a new USB flash drive.

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