5 causes I linked an exterior exhausting drive to my TV

Carrying round an

external hard drive
remains to be a sensible transfer for lots of people. It is a easy method to retailer your information and have them available wherever you go. In some circumstances, it might probably truly really feel

more secure than a laptop
— particularly in the case of non-public or delicate data. Plus, they arrive in all types of sizes, relying on how a lot cupboard space you want.

You are not simply restricted to saving spreadsheets and Phrase docs on an external hard drive, though these are in all probability essentially the most generally saved information. They typically have sufficient storage capability for bigger audio and video information as effectively. Simply plug it in, and you have prompt entry to no matter you have saved — no web required.

What you are on the lookout for is a tool that

offers a USB-C port
, as most exterior exhausting drives have that as their connectivity possibility. However have you considered utilizing it together with your TV? It is essential to do not forget that that is A) doable to do, B) one thing you need to contemplate doing, and C) a believable method to get extra out of your TV. It isn’t tough, however there are some parameters that you need to observe. Listed below are 5 methods you should use your exterior exhausting drive together with your TV.

Western Digital 2TB Parts Moveable Exterior Onerous Drive

At the moment, the Western Digital 2 TB Parts SE is the perfect funds SSD possibility. Historically, SSD storage is way more costly than HDD, however presently costing £/$90, this difficult drive presents unbelievable worth for cash. This difficult drive is all about efficiency and with 2 TB of storage with speeds able to 400 MB/s, it might probably each retailer your large initiatives and cargo them in a short time. It’s extremely compact, has a drop resistance of as much as 2 metres and is ‘plug-in-and-play’ for Home windows customers. Mac customers should format the exhausting drive earlier than use.  

1

Use it to retailer films and TV sequence

Take note of what your system can deal with

WD

Exterior exhausting drives are available all sizes and shapes — mostly providing wherever from 500GB to 5TB of storage. Naturally, the extra space you want, the extra you may must spend. If you happen to’re storing giant film information or total seasons of a TV sequence, that area can replenish quick. So positively take a look at how a lot room you may want earlier than diving in.

Earlier than you go attempting to observe films and TVs out of your exterior exhausting drive in your TV, you need to make sure that your TV has a USB port. Most trendy good TVs do, however it’s all the time good to double-check. As soon as it is plugged in, simply change over to the proper enter or supply, and you need to have the ability to browse your information. Your TV’s guide will let you already know if there are any measurement limitations it has, so you’ll be able to know what file system your exhausting drive must be.

Utilizing an exterior exhausting drive like this can be a nice method to convey older or non-streamable content material to your TV display. It means which you could take some extra leisure and tote it round. This could possibly be a great way to retailer your film assortment when you do not need to hold your DVDs round.

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2

Retailer video video games in your exterior exhausting drive

It is a perfect method to hold tabs of outdated video games

Sony / Pocket-lint

Exterior exhausting drives can retailer all types of information, together with online game information. And contemplating how a lot area trendy video games can eat up, a tough drive is definitely one of many smartest methods to maintain your total library in a single place. It is constructed to deal with giant information, so why not let it?

That mentioned, you’ll be able to’t simply plug your exterior exhausting drive into your good TV and begin gaming. TVs aren’t designed to run PC or console video games on their very own. You may want to attach the drive to a gaming PC or a Raspberry Pi, which you’ll be able to then hook as much as your TV. If you do not have a gaming console, this can be a workaround for taking part in your video games on the TV. Plus, an exterior exhausting drive makes it simpler to switch video games between programs when you do have a number of setups.

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3

Save and file TV exhibits and flicks

That is an possibility for some TVs

Tech has positively advanced for the reason that days of popping a VHS into your VCR and holding down two buttons simply to file your favourite present. Now, most cable and streaming suppliers allow you to retailer content material digitally, so you’ll be able to watch by yourself schedule. But when you do not have a DVR setup, there’s nonetheless a workaround: some good TVs allow you to use an exterior exhausting drive to file exhibits.

This solely works for choose TVs, although. Not each producer presents this feature, so you may must verify your TV’s guide to see if it is an possibility to your mannequin. Whether it is, simply plug your exterior exhausting drive into the USB port in your TV. Some TVs even allow you to schedule recordings — Samsung, as an example, has options like Schedule Supervisor which you could entry by way of the 123 button on the distant. Simply be sure you’re on Dwell TV, and also you’re good to go.

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4

Play music information in your TV

Present everybody these recent tracks you like

Much like how one can watch exhibits and flicks, enjoying music out of your exterior exhausting drive provides one other component to your leisure functions. If you happen to plug the drive into your TV and your music information are in a appropriate format, most good TVs will allow you to play them instantly by way of the built-in audio system. It is a easy setup, however simply double-check that your TV helps the file sorts first.

In fact, most good TVs can run music apps like Spotify or Apple Music, so that you won’t must go this route. However when you’ve received authentic tracks you need to share — say you are a musician debuting a brand new set at a get-together — plugging in and enjoying out of your exhausting drive is a straightforward method to showcase your work to the room.

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5

Again up your TV

Use the exterior exhausting drive for its major function

Samsung / Pocket-lint

An exterior exhausting drive is not only for bringing information to your TV — it is also nice for backing up content material from it. If you happen to’ve downloaded films, photographs, or different information to your good TV, you’ll be able to switch them to an exterior exhausting drive for safekeeping. That approach, in case your TV ever crashes or resets, you will not lose something essential.

This turns out to be useful particularly as streaming platforms rotate content material out and in. Backing up information places you in management, so you are not on the mercy of licensing offers — what a nightmare. It is also a sensible method to save information from different units you have linked to your TV (like good house setups or USB drives) multi functional place.