Hisense TV Not Recognizing USB: How to Fix?

Have issues getting your HiSense TV to detect your USB device? Don’t worry – this common problem can often be easily fixed with a few simple steps. This guide will walk you through several troubleshooting methods to get your HiSense TV to recognize USB devices again.

Causes of a Hisense TV Not Recognizing a USB

There are a few potential culprits that could lead to your Hisense TV failing to detect USB devices:

Outdated TV Software/Firmware: If the TV software is buggy or outdated, it may have issues recognizing some USB devices. Connectivity problems with USB devices after a recent update are common.
Incompatible USB Device Format: Hisense TVs may not recognize a USB device formatted in an incompatible file system like NTFS or exFAT. The TV may only support FAT32 or FAT16-formatted USB devices.
Faulty USB Port: If the USB port on the TV is damaged or faulty, it may fail to establish a connection with the inserted USB device. Issues could include bent pins or physical damage to the port.
USB Device Malfunction: The USB device itself could be experiencing problems if it’s old, damaged, or malfunctioning. So that’s an important additional factor to check.
Power Issues: Lack of sufficient power delivery through the USB port can prevent device recognition. This may happen if you’re using non-powered USB hubs or long/low-quality extension cables.

USB Not Recognizing on Hisense TV: What to Do?

Check Basic Connections

Before digging into complex solutions, first check that everything is plugged in correctly:

Ensure the USB device is fully plugged into the USB port on the TV. It can sometimes seem like it’s inserted when it’s not totally connected. Unplug it and firmly push it all the way in.
Try switching to another USB port on the TV if available.
Inspect the USB cable and connectors for any damage. Test the USB device and cable with another device, like a computer, to ensure they function properly.
Ensure the TV is powered on and set to the correct input source.
If using a USB hub, try connecting the device directly to the TV’s USB port without the hub.
Attempt to connect another USB device to verify the port is functioning normally.
If connecting a USB drive, ensure it does not require external power and is plugged in the correct orientation.
Check that the USB device has no power switch that must be turned on.

Taking these basic steps can resolve many simple connection issues that prevent the TV from detecting the USB device.

Power Cycle the TV

If you’ve tried various troubleshooting steps without success, perform a full power cycling of the TV as a last resort. This resets all components and often resolves intermittent hardware and connection issues.

Follow these steps to power cycle your Hisense TV:

Fully unplug the TV power cord from the wall outlet.
If using a power strip, ensure it is also turned off.
Let the TV sit unplugged for at least 2 full minutes.
Firmly reconnect the TV power cord to the outlet and turn the power back on.
Turn on the TV and try detecting the USB device again.

The full power reset lets all capacitors fully discharge. If a software glitch or hardware issue prevents USB detection, your HiSense TV has a clean slate to reconnect properly.

Update TV Software

If the USB device is plugged in properly but still not recognized, the issue may be due to outdated software on your HiSense TV. Manufacturers regularly provide software updates that fix bugs and improve device compatibility.

To update your TV’s software:

Select the option for System Updates or Software Updates from the TV settings menu. This may require navigating to Support or About settings on some models.
If your TV is connected to the internet, you can check for system updates directly on the TV. Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install any available updates.
If your TV is not connected to the internet, you can download updates from the HiSense website to a USB drive. Then, use that USB drive to update the TV software manually.

Updating to the latest TV software version may resolve USB device recognition problems after restarting the TV. Be sure to fully power cycle the TV by unplugging it from power after the update.

Check if the USB Device is Registered

Some HiSense TVs may require you to register or authorize a new USB device before it can be accessed.

To check if this is preventing your USB device from being recognized:

From your TV settings, go to the USB menu or USB Manager.
Look for an option to display connected or registered USB devices.
If your device is shown here, ensure it is enabled and toggled on for access.
If it’s not displayed in the list of registered devices, see if there is an option to scan, add, or register a new USB device.
Follow the prompts to authorize your specific USB device.
After registering, check if the TV now recognizes and displays the USB device.

Having the TV specifically register and authorize your flash drive or external hard drive can be required for some models before the USB device becomes accessible.

Adjust USB Settings in the TV Menu

Some HiSense TVs allow you to configure USB options, which could help get a USB device detected properly:

Navigate to the USB menu in your TV’s settings. It may be under advanced system settings.
Look for an option such as “USB Power” and ensure it is set to On. This provides consistent power to USB ports.
Toggle settings like “Auto Detect” or “Auto Connection” to on if available. This has the TV automatically detect and connect compatible USB devices.
Disable CEC control on your TV’s USB ports if this setting exists. Sometimes, CEC causes issues with connectivity.
Try changing USB port modes between options like “HDD” or “Media Player” modes for optimal device detection.

Adjusting these types of menu options can help your HiSense TV detect and communicate with USB devices correctly.

Format USB Drive Properly

If your HiSense TV continually fails to read your USB storage device, the drive itself may need to be formatted properly for compatibility.

Reformatting the USB drive can fix file system errors, remove corrupted data, or configure it correctly for your TV model.

Before reformatting, back up any files you want to keep from the USB drive, reformatting will erase all data.

For a HiSense TV, the best format to use is FAT32 or exFAT. NTFS is not fully compatible with HiSense sets. Follow these steps:

On a computer, backup files from the USB drive and then delete all partitions using the Disk Management tool.
Create a new primary partition on the drive.
Select FAT32 or exFAT file system.
Assign a drive letter, then check for errors before closing.
Safely eject the USB drive and reconnect to the HiSense TV.

With a proper compatible format, the TV should detect the USB device. Just remember to transfer files back after formatting.

Enable Developer Mode

For some HiSense TV models, you may need to enable Developer Mode or USB debugging to detect certain USB devices properly.

To enable Developer Mode:

From the main system settings menu, go to System > About.
Find the option for Build Number or Software Version and select it.
Tap on Build Number or Software Version multiple times to enable Developer options.
Back in System settings, Developer Mode will now be available. Turn it on.
Also, enable options like USB Debugging and USB Security in Developer settings.
Try connecting your USB device again while Developer Mode and debugging are active.

By activating these deeper system settings, some USB devices blocked by default may now be detectable. Just remember to turn Developer Mode back off after connecting your device.

Update USB Device Drivers

If your HiSense TV still does not detect a connected USB device, the issue may be outdated, corrupted, or missing drivers for that device.

Updating the USB device’s drivers on your computer can help resolve detection issues:

With the USB device connected to your computer, open Device Manager.
Locate the entry for the USB device and right-click it.
Select Update driver and then Search automatically for drivers.
If available, install any updated driver software offered.
Alternatively, download the latest driver from the USB device manufacturer’s website.
Manually install the updated driver on your computer with the device connected.
Safely eject the USB device and reconnect it to your HiSense TV.

With refreshed drivers, your TV should now properly detect the USB device. Be sure to update the drivers directly on any computers you also use the device with.

Factory Reset the TV

If all else fails, doing a factory reset can restore your HiSense TV to original settings which may resolve USB detection problems.

Note: A factory reset will erase all of your custom settings and installed apps.

To factory reset a HiSense TV:

From the settings menu, go to System > Advanced Settings > Factory Data Reset.
Select Factory Data Reset again to confirm.
If prompted, enter the PIN code. Default is usually 0000 or 1234.
Let the TV complete the full factory reset process. It will restart automatically.
Run through the initial TV setup steps like language, network, etc.
Try connecting the USB device again.

Resetting your TV back to factory default settings can clear any corrupted data or software issues preventing USB recognition. Just be prepared to reconfigure all your apps and settings after the reset.

Contact HiSense Support

If you still cannot get your HiSense TV to recognize your USB device after trying all troubleshooting, it’s time to contact HiSense support directly.

They can help troubleshoot further and may determine if your TV requires service to fix underlying hardware failures that prevent USB connectivity.

You can reach out to HiSense support by:

Call the support phone number in your TV manual or the HiSense website.
Emailing customer support and explaining the USB detection issue in detail.
Chatting with an agent on HiSense’s website during business hours.
Posting on the HiSense TV support forum describing your exact model and problem for help from other users.

With specialized technical knowledge of HiSense TV products, their support team can hopefully determine why your particular model is not recognizing USB devices and offer a specific solution.

Conclusion

USB devices not showing up on a HiSense TV is frustrating but can typically be resolved with simple troubleshooting steps. Double-check connections, update TV software, adjust USB settings, try a different media player, reformat drives, power cycle the TV, and contact HiSense support if needed. Following the tips in this guide, you should be able to get your HiSense TV to recognize your USB devices again.