Roku TVs are built for streaming, but they can double as surprisingly capable offline media players when you are not connected to the internet. Instead of relying only on Netflix, YouTube, or live TV apps, you can plug in a simple USB flash drive and watch your own movie collection directly on the TV. This works especially well for long trips, unstable internet connections, or when you want full control over what is available to watch at any time. All you need is a compatible USB drive, properly formatted, and the right app enabled on your Roku set.
Most modern Roku TVs from brands like TCL and Hisense include at least one USB port on the back or side panel. Once you know where that port is and how Roku handles external storage, turning your television into an offline media hub becomes easy. You can store dozens or even hundreds of films on a mid-sized USB stick, depending on video quality and file size, and enjoy them with standard Roku playback controls.
What You Need to Watch Offline
Before starting, it helps to understand what makes this setup work smoothly. Roku does not automatically play files from a USB drive like a traditional DVD player; instead, it relies on a built-in app that knows how to read and display external media. That means two main requirements: a USB device in a supported file system and video files using formats Roku understands. Once those are in place, offline playback is as simple as navigating a menu.
Most Roku TVs support thumb drives and external USB hard drives that do not require more power than the TV’s USB port can supply. Drives formatted in FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3, or HFS+ are recognized, while unsupported formats will cause the TV to ignore the device entirely.[web:1][web:6] On the video side, standard H.264 files with extensions like MP4, MKV, MOV, and WEBM tend to work best, although unsupported formats simply will not appear in the Roku browsing list.[web:1][web:5]
Steps to Play Movies from a USB Drive on Roku TV
– Install Roku Media Player from the Streaming Store if it is not already on your TV.
– Load your USB drive with compatible video files (MP4, MKV, MOV, or WEBM).
– Insert the USB stick into the TV’s USB port and wait for the prompt.
– Select “Allow,” then choose “Launch” to open Roku Media Player.
– In Roku Media Player, go to “Video” and select your USB drive as the source.
– Browse the list, highlight the movie you want, and press OK on the remote.
– Choose “Play,” or press the Star button to access additional playback options.
Once your movie is playing, you can pause, rewind, fast-forward, or stop using the Roku remote just like a streaming title. If a file does not show up, it is usually because the format or codec is not supported, so converting it to a standard H.264 MP4 often fixes the issue.[web:1][web:5]
Using Subtitles with Local Movie Files
Roku Media Player offers basic subtitle support when you use the right combination of container and subtitle format. Subtitles work best with MKV files paired with separate SRT or VTT subtitle tracks stored alongside the video. To ensure Roku can detect them, the subtitle file must have the exact same filename as the MKV (aside from the extension) and be placed in the same folder on the USB drive.[web:1]
During playback, you can press the Star button on your Roku remote to open the options menu. From there, toggle subtitles on or off and, when available, choose which track to use. If subtitles do not appear, double-check that the container is MKV and that the text file uses a supported subtitle standard rather than an incompatible format.
What to Do When Roku Does Not Detect Your USB Drive
Sometimes, you will plug a USB drive into your Roku TV and nothing happens. The most common cause is an unsupported file system or a power issue. Roku TVs generally read drives formatted as FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3, and HFS+; newer drives often come preformatted as exFAT or other types that Roku cannot handle.[web:1][web:6][web:12] In those cases, the TV simply will not mount the storage.
Another potential problem is that some high-capacity or USB 3.0 drives require more power than the TV’s USB port can provide. When that happens, the drive may fail to spin up or disconnect intermittently. Using a smaller-capacity stick, an externally powered USB hub, or a drive with its own power adapter often resolves this.[web:1]
How to Reformat Your USB Drive on Windows for Roku
– Insert the USB drive into your Windows PC.
– Open File Explorer and click “This PC” in the sidebar.
– Right-click your USB drive and select “Properties” to see its current file system.
– If the file system is unsupported, copy all files from the USB to a backup folder.
– Right-click the USB drive again and choose “Format.”
– Set the file system to NTFS or FAT32, then confirm the volume label.
– Click “Start” to begin formatting and wait for the process to complete.
After formatting, copy your movie files back to the drive, eject it safely, and plug it into the Roku TV. The device should now be recognized, allowing you to open Roku Media Player and access your content.[web:7]
How to Reformat Your USB Drive on macOS for Roku
– Connect the USB drive to your Mac and open Disk Utility.
– Select the drive under the “External” section in the sidebar.
– Click “Info” to check the current format and confirm it is unsupported.
– Back up all important files from the drive to your Mac.
– With the drive still selected, click “Erase” at the top of Disk Utility.
– Choose a name and set the format to MS-DOS (FAT) or MS-DOS (FAT32).
– Hit “Erase,” wait for completion, then close Disk Utility and recopy your files.
Once the drive is reformatted to a Roku-friendly file system, reconnect it to the TV and launch Roku Media Player. In most cases, the TV will now detect your USB storage without issues.[web:7][web:12]
File System and Format Support at a Glance
| Category | Supported by Roku TV | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USB File Systems | FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3, HFS+ | Required for the drive to be detected |
| Common Video Containers | MP4, MKV, MOV, WEBM | Best results with H.264 video tracks |
| Subtitle Types | SRT, VTT (with MKV) | Subtitle file must match video filename |
By understanding these requirements and following the formatting and setup steps, you can successfully turn your Roku TV into a reliable offline movie player using nothing more than a cheap USB drive and the built-in Roku Media Player app.[web:1][web:7]
