How to display art on any TV: start with USB compatibility

First, check three things

Wondering how to display art on any TV? Start with its photo player. Many TVs can display JPEG pictures from a USB drive, but a USB socket alone does not guarantee photo or slideshow support. A smart TV is not required if your television already has this feature.

1. Find your TV’s exact model number, usually on the rear label or in Settings → About.
2. Look in its manual for USB media playback, JPEG/JPG photos, and a slideshow option.
3. Before ordering, test a few ordinary JPEG photos on a spare USB drive. Open a photo, start the slideshow, and check that it repeats.

Use our full compatibility checklist if the drive or slideshow does not appear.

No USB formatting to figure out

Preformatted in FAT32, ready for your TV. We format the USB for you in FAT32, a widely supported format for TV USB playback, and preload the artwork. For TVs that support FAT32 USB JPEG slideshows, there is no formatting or file setup to figure out—just plug it in and open your TV’s photo player.

Set up the Family Gallery USB

1. Turn on the television and insert the prepared drive into a USB port intended for media playback.
2. Open the TV’s USB source or photo/media player, then choose the drive and the folder of artwork.
3. Select a painting and choose Slideshow or Play, if offered.
4. In playback options, choose Repeat or Loop and a relaxed interval. Around 45–90 seconds is a useful starting point if your TV supports it.
5. Use Fit or Original rather than Zoom so the whole painting and caption stay visible. Hide the playback controls after adjusting them.

Samsung: Source or Connected Devices

On many Samsung models, press Home, open Source or Connected Devices, and select the USB drive. Older remotes may have a Source button. Open the artwork folder and a photo, then press Enter/OK to show playback controls and look for slideshow options. A USB prompt may take you directly to the drive.

Samsung USB media instructions show example paths; the support article is regional, and menu names differ by model and country. On The Frame, importing personal images into Art Mode is a separate workflow from ordinary USB media playback. Check Samsung’s Art Mode photo instructions.

LG: Home Dashboard and storage

Insert the USB and choose photos or the media player from the prompt. If it disappears, open Home Dashboard, select the storage device, and open its media player. Some versions call the player Photo & Video. Open a photo and look for Slideshow or Play in its controls. Built-in Gallery Mode and a USB photo slideshow can have different capabilities.

LG’s USB file viewing guide explains how to find the drive and safely eject it.

Sony: Media or Media Player

Sony interfaces vary across older BRAVIA, Android TV, and Google TV models. In Sony’s linked example manual, press Home → Media → Photo, select the drive, and open its folder. The green remote button starts the slideshow in thumbnail/list view; Options → Playback Options adjusts speed and effects. Other models use a Media Player app and on-screen slideshow controls instead.

Sony’s USB photo slideshow example is model-specific. Use your own BRAVIA manual for the matching controls.

TCL: Roku TV and other systems

On a TCL Roku TV, insert the drive and open Roku Media Player when prompted, or find it on the Home screen. Choose Photo, select the USB drive, and open the artwork folder. Use the player’s photo playback controls to start the slideshow and adjust its options. If the player is not installed, the TV may prompt you to add it; initial installation can require internet access.

On TCL Google TV or other systems, look for Media Player or the USB source instead. TCL’s Roku USB guide applies specifically to Roku models.

Hisense: Media and Picture

On models with the Media interface illustrated in Hisense’s H9E Plus manual, open Media, choose Picture, and open the USB folder. In photo playback options, choose Repeat Mode → All and an Interval, then start playback with OK. Hisense also sells VIDAA, Google TV, Roku, and Fire TV models; the menu follows the operating system and is not identical across all Hisense TVs.

Hisense H9E Plus manual (PDF) gives one example. Find your model’s own manual at Hisense Support.

Keep the whole artwork visible

The collection preserves original painting proportions, with a coordinated background where needed. Avoid zooming to fill the television: a portrait canvas should not lose its edges just because the screen is wide. Use a comfortable brightness and follow the manufacturer’s guidance for long-duration display and image retention. A rotating slideshow does not remove every screen-retention risk.

If the TV cannot play the drive

Try a compatible digital photo frame with USB JPEG slideshow support, or a computer connected to the TV by HDMI. An external media player is another option only if it explicitly supports USB JPEG slideshows. Check compatibility before buying extra hardware. Email help@familygallerytv.com with your TV model and a description of the problem.