Why Use AnExplorer for Video on Android TV?
Android TV has built-in media playback, but discovering and browsing your own video files is the problem. The built-in file manager (if any) is basic. There's no native way to browse NAS folders, USB drives with hundreds of videos, or cloud-stored media.
AnExplorer provides the file browsing layer — navigate your media library from any source (NAS, USB, cloud), then tap to play in your preferred video player. It's simpler than Plex (no server to maintain), faster than casting from your phone, and more flexible than any single streaming app.
Playing Videos from Different Sources
From NAS / Home Server (most popular)
The primary use case — stream your movie collection without copying anything:
- AnExplorer → Network → SMB → connect to NAS
- Browse your media folder (organized by genre, year, or series)
- Tap any video file → launches in VLC or system player
- Video streams over your local network at full quality
No transcoding. Unlike Plex, AnExplorer plays the original file directly. If your TV can decode H.265 (most modern TVs can), you get full quality without any server processing.
Network requirements:
- 1080p video: 5-20 Mbps → any home network handles this
- 4K HDR: 20-80 Mbps → use 5GHz WiFi or Ethernet
- 4K Remux (60+ GB files): Ethernet recommended for stutter-free playback
From USB Drive
For movie nights with files on a portable drive:
- Plug USB drive into TV's USB port
- Open AnExplorer → USB drive appears in sidebar
- Browse and play — select video, playback starts
From Cloud Storage
Watch personal videos stored in cloud:
- AnExplorer → Cloud → Google Drive / Dropbox / MEGA
- Navigate to video files
- Tap to play — downloads and plays (or streams if player supports it)
Best for smaller files (phone recordings, home videos). For large movies, NAS or USB is faster.
Supported Video Formats
AnExplorer opens video files in your TV's installed player. Format support depends on the player:
| Format | System player | VLC for Android TV |
|---|---|---|
| MP4 (H.264) | ✅ | ✅ |
| MP4 (H.265/HEVC) | ✅ (most TVs) | ✅ |
| MKV | ✅ (most TVs) | ✅ |
| WEBM (VP9) | ✅ (most TVs) | ✅ |
| AVI | ⚠️ (some TVs) | ✅ |
| MOV | ⚠️ (some TVs) | ✅ |
| TS/M2TS | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| HEVC 10-bit HDR | ⚠️ (newer TVs only) | ✅ |
| AV1 | ⚠️ (2022+ TVs) | ✅ (software decode) |
| Dolby Vision | ⚠️ (DV-capable TVs) | ⚠️ |
Recommendation: Install VLC for Android TV alongside AnExplorer for maximum format compatibility. Use AnExplorer to browse files, VLC to play them.
AnExplorer vs Plex/Jellyfin/Kodi
| Aspect | AnExplorer + VLC | Plex/Jellyfin | Kodi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup required | Minimal (install, connect NAS) | Server + client setup | Plugin configuration |
| Server needed | ❌ (direct playback) | ✅ (Plex/Jellyfin server) | ❌ (direct) |
| Transcoding | ❌ (plays original) | ✅ (when needed) | ❌ |
| Metadata/posters | ❌ (folder/file names) | ✅ (rich metadata) | ✅ |
| Subtitles | ✅ (external .srt) | ✅ (embedded + external) | ✅ |
| Remote control | ✅ D-pad | ✅ D-pad | ✅ D-pad |
| Multi-user profiles | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Watch progress sync | ❌ | ✅ | ⚠️ (with plugins) |
| Cost | Free (AnExplorer free tier) | Free (server) / $5/mo (Pass) | Free |
Choose AnExplorer + VLC when: You want simple, fast playback without maintaining a server. Browse folders, tap to play, done.
Choose Plex/Jellyfin when: You want rich metadata, movie posters, watch progress tracking, and multi-user profiles. Worth the server setup if you have a large family library.
Organizing Videos for TV Browsing
Since AnExplorer browses folders (not metadata), organize your NAS video library for easy navigation:
Movies/
├── Action/
├── Comedy/
├── Drama/
├── Horror/
└── Documentary/
TV Shows/
├── Breaking Bad/
│ ├── Season 1/
│ └── Season 2/
├── The Office/
└── ...
With clear folder names, browsing with the TV remote is fast and intuitive — no typing, just navigate with the D-pad.
Compatible TV Devices
Works on all Android TV / Google TV / Fire TV devices:
- Nvidia Shield TV Pro (best — USB 3.0 + Gigabit Ethernet + powerful hardware decode)
- Google TV Streamer (USB-C + Ethernet)
- Amazon Fire TV Cube (USB-A + Ethernet)
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max (WiFi only, no USB-A)
- Sony Bravia, TCL, Hisense (Google TV models)
- Chromecast with Google TV
- Walmart Onn 4K Pro
Related Guides
- Video Player Feature — full video player capabilities
- File Manager for Android TV — complete TV guide
- SMB File Manager — NAS connection
- Open MKV Files — MKV format guide
- Open MP4 Files — MP4 format guide