When you take a look around the back of your TV, you’ll likely find a bunch of ports, including HDMI, Ethernet, and USB. HDMI is probably the one you’ve interacted with the most, as it lets you connect all sorts of devices to your TV, including a streaming stick, game console, soundbar, Blu-ray player, and more. Ethernet has its uses too, but since most smart TVs come with a 10/100 Ethernet port that’s capped at just 100 Mbps, using Wi-Fi is usually the better option.
That leaves the USB ports. Since the early 2010s, most smart TVs have included at least one USB port, and for a lot of people, one of the main uses for it has simply been powering a streaming device, like a Roku. I’m not saying that’s a bad use for it in the slightest, but there are actually so many other things your TV’s USB ports are capable of that can upgrade your TV in more ways than one.
So if you’ve got any empty USB ports on your TV, here’s how you can make the most of them.
USB adapters can transform your TV
You can bypass its slow Ethernet
My LG TV has three USB ports, one on the side and two on the back, so I’ve always tried to make the most of them. Two ways I’ve successfully done that, which you can easily do too, are by using them to upgrade my TV: first, by improving its Ethernet capabilities, and second, by adding USB-C.
One of my biggest frustrations with smart TVs has always been their incredibly slow 10/100 Ethernet ports, and I’ve often written about how it’s long overdue for TV makers to start including Gigabit Ethernet instead. But until that day comes, my solution has been to use one of my TV’s USB ports to connect a USB-to-Ethernet adapter. This lets me bypass the TV’s slow built-in Ethernet port and get much faster wired speeds through the adapter.
I picked up a $13 UGREEN USB-to-Ethernet adapter, and while it’s technically capable of Gigabit speeds, there’s one limitation: all three of my TV’s USB ports are USB 2.0. As a result, the fastest speeds I’ve managed to get are around 320 Mbps. Still, that’s more than three times faster than the 100 Mbps limit of the TV’s built-in Ethernet port, making this a successful and inexpensive way to upgrade my TV using its USB port.
The second way I’ve upgraded my TV using one of its USB ports is by adding USB-C. Despite USB-C becoming the universal standard over the past few years, many TVs still don’t include a USB-C port, which means connecting USB-C gadgets and accessories isn’t always possible. I have a few USB-C devices that I wanted to connect to my TV, including an SSD, so I picked up a simple $6 USB-C-to-USB-A adapter to make that possible. Essentially, it lets me turn one of my TV’s USB-A ports into a USB-C port.
Don’t get me wrong, I think TV makers should keep including USB-A ports on their TVs, but I also think there’s a good case for having at least one USB-C port, especially as more and more devices and accessories make the switch. And while you can use a USB-C-to-USB-A cable for some devices, I have so many more USB-C cables lying around these days that simply having a USB-C port on my TV is much more convenient.
QuizUSB-C ports
Trivia challenge
Think you know everything about the connector that changed charging forever? Put your knowledge to the test.
HardwareStandardsHistoryChargingCompatibility
In what year was the USB-C connector specification first published?
Correct! The USB-C specification was published in August 2014 by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). It was designed from the ground up to replace the growing zoo of USB connector types with a single, reversible solution.
Not quite — the USB-C specification was finalized and published in August 2014. Development had been underway for a couple of years before that, but 2014 was the official release that set the standard in motion.
How many pins does a USB-C connector have?
Correct! A USB-C connector features 24 pins arranged symmetrically, which is a key reason it can be inserted either way up. Those pins handle everything from power delivery and data transfer to audio and display signals.
The correct answer is 24 pins. The symmetrical arrangement of those 24 pins is exactly what allows USB-C to be reversible — there is no wrong way to plug it in, unlike its predecessors.
What is the maximum power delivery wattage supported by the USB Power Delivery 3.1 specification over USB-C?
Correct! USB Power Delivery 3.1, finalized in 2021, raised the ceiling to an impressive 240W. This makes USB-C a viable charging solution even for high-performance laptops and other power-hungry devices.
The correct answer is 240W. USB Power Delivery 3.1 dramatically expanded on the original 100W cap, pushing USB-C into territory once reserved for proprietary laptop chargers and large power bricks.
Which USB-C cable is required to support USB4 Gen 3 speeds of up to 40Gbps?
Correct! To achieve USB4 Gen 3 speeds of up to 40Gbps, you need a Thunderbolt 3 or USB4 certified cable. Not all USB-C cables are created equal — using a lower-rated cable will bottleneck your speeds significantly.
Not quite. USB4 Gen 3 at 40Gbps requires a Thunderbolt 3 or USB4 certified cable. One of the most confusing aspects of USB-C is that the connector looks identical regardless of the cable’s capability, so certification labels matter a lot.
Which Apple laptop was among the first mainstream devices to ship exclusively with USB-C ports, controversially removing all other port types?
Correct! The 12-inch MacBook released in 2015 made headlines for having just a single USB-C port for everything — charging, data, and display output. It was a bold and divisive design choice that sparked widespread debate about port diversity.
The answer is the MacBook (2015). Apple’s 12-inch MacBook launched with a single USB-C port and nothing else, not even a headphone jack on early models of other lines. It was one of the most talked-about laptop designs of that era.
USB-C is a connector shape — which of the following is a data transfer *protocol* that can run over a USB-C cable?
Correct! Both DisplayPort Alt Mode and Thunderbolt 5 are protocols that can run over a USB-C physical connector. This is the key distinction — USB-C is just the shape of the port, while the protocol determines what it can actually do.
The correct answer is both DisplayPort Alt Mode and Thunderbolt 5. It is a common misconception that USB-C is a single standard — it is actually just a physical connector shape that can carry many different protocols depending on the host device and cable.
Which regulatory body mandated USB-C as a common charger for mobile phones sold in the European Union from late 2024?
Correct! The European Parliament passed legislation requiring USB-C as a common charger for smartphones, tablets, and other small electronics sold in the EU, with compliance deadlines starting in late 2024. The move was largely aimed at reducing electronic waste.
The answer is the European Parliament. EU lawmakers pushed through the common charger directive to cut down on cable waste and consumer frustration. This regulation was notably one of the factors that pushed Apple to finally add USB-C to the iPhone 15 lineup.
What does the ‘Alt Mode’ feature of USB-C allow a device to do?
Correct! Alt Mode allows the USB-C connector to carry completely different protocols — such as DisplayPort, HDMI, or Thunderbolt — by repurposing some of the connector’s pins. This is why a single USB-C port can drive an external monitor without an adapter box.
Not quite — Alt Mode lets USB-C transmit non-USB protocols like DisplayPort or HDMI natively through the connector. It works by reassigning certain pins within the 24-pin connector to carry those alternative signals, making the port incredibly versatile.
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There are plenty of USB devices you can plug into your TV
An SSD, hard drive, or a USB stick is worth trying
When it comes to what you can plug into your TV’s USB ports, beyond adapters, there certainly isn’t a shortage of options.
The main thing I plug into one of my TV’s USB ports is a portable SSD with old movies and TV shows. Most smart TVs come with a built-in media player app, so you can connect something like an SSD, external hard drive, or USB stick, browse its files, and play any media saved on it directly on your TV. On my LG TV, whenever I plug in my SSD, it immediately recognizes it and prompts me to open the Media Player app, where I can start playing anything I’ve saved. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to watch your own media on your TV without setting up a media server, connecting a simple USB storage device is the easiest way to do it.
There are also plenty of accessories you can connect to your TV using its USB ports. For example, I’ve connected an Xbox controller to my LG TV, which lets me control not only the apps on my TV but also other devices I’ve plugged into it, like my Fire TV Stick. And if you’d rather not use a controller, you can also connect peripherals like a keyboard and mouse using a USB dongle.
You can even plug your phone or tablet into your TV and use one of its USB ports to charge it. However, while this does work, don’t expect it to charge very quickly, as most TVs’ USB ports don’t provide much power.
As I mentioned earlier, another popular use for your TV’s USB ports is powering streaming devices. Several streaming sticks can be powered entirely by your TV without needing to be plugged into a wall outlet, including the Roku Streaming Stick Plus and the Fire TV Stick 4K.
Overall, if your TV’s USB ports are sitting empty, there are plenty of simple ways to put them to good use. Whether you’re upgrading your TV with Ethernet or USB-C adapters, connecting devices like an SSD, controller, keyboard, or mouse, or simply charging your phone, you can do a lot more with them than you might think. It’s an easy way to get more out of your TV and make the most of every port it has.
