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To play a video from a USB drive on Roku, connect the drive to a Roku player or TV that has a USB port, open Roku Media Player, select the video, and press OK or Play. Playback depends on the device recognizing the drive and supporting the file’s video format; DRM-protected videos are not supported.
Before you connect the drive
Confirm your Roku has a USB port
USB playback is available only on Roku models with a USB port. Check the exact player or TV rather than assuming every Roku supports it. Roku’s Media Player guidance and USB troubleshooting guidance both limit this method to devices with a port.
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Check the drive and video
Roku’s US Media Player article lists FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3, exFAT, and HFS+ for USB drives. However, Roku’s UK troubleshooting article says exFAT is unsupported. Because Roku’s published pages conflict, do not treat exFAT as guaranteed across devices; check the Help information on your Roku before changing a drive’s format.
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DRM-protected videos will not play in Roku Media Player. Roku says unsupported or unplayable files may not appear in its file browser, so a missing video does not by itself mean the drive is empty or faulty.
Play a video from USB
- Connect the drive. Insert it into the Roku device’s USB port. If Roku Media Player is installed, an on-screen prompt may offer to open it. If it is not installed, Roku may prompt you to add it from the Roku Store.
- Open Roku Media Player. If no prompt appears, open the player from your Roku home screen. Select the video media type, then choose the USB drive.
- Find the file. Browse folders, highlight the video, and press OK or Play on the remote to start playback.
- Control playback. Use Play/Pause to pause or resume. Roku documents left and right directional presses for skipping; press Back to stop playback.
If Roku does not recognize the USB drive
First check whether the drive uses a file system supported by your particular Roku. Roku’s US and UK support pages differ on exFAT, so consult the Roku device’s Help information rather than reformatting on the assumption that exFAT will work. Reformatting can erase the drive, so copy its contents elsewhere before making that change.
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Roku also identifies insufficient USB power as a possible reason a drive is not recognized. If the file system appears compatible, check the drive’s power requirements and the Roku’s guidance for your model. Roku does not state a universal maximum drive capacity in the cited support pages.
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If the video is missing or will not play
- Check the format and codec. Roku Media Player may hide files it cannot play. Compare the video’s codec and container with the device-specific compatibility information in the player’s Help section.
- Check for DRM. DRM-protected content is not supported by Roku Media Player.
- Try a different playback route if needed. Roku says some DLNA media servers, including Plex, Serviio, WMP, and some Synology devices, can transcode video into a format supported by the Roku. This is an optional local-network alternative for incompatible files, not a requirement for USB playback.
USB, conversion, or a network server?
| Option | Useful when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Play directly from USB | Your Roku has a USB port, and the drive and video are supported. | Unsupported formats may not appear or play; drive recognition can depend on file system and power. |
| Convert the video | You want to keep using USB and can prepare a compatible copy. | Conversion takes time and technical work. Roku does not prescribe a particular converter. |
| Use a local network server | A computer or compatible server is available, especially if it can transcode an incompatible video. | Requires a network playback setup; it is separate from direct USB playback. |
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