NAS on Your TV — The Cord-Cutter's Dream
Connecting your Android TV to a NAS transforms your TV into a personal Netflix — browse your entire movie and TV show collection, play anything with one click, no subscription fees, no internet required (it's all on your local network).
AnExplorer provides the NAS connection that Android TV's built-in tools lack. No Plex server to maintain. No Jellyfin Docker container. No DLNA (which AnExplorer doesn't support anyway). Just SMB — the same protocol your PC uses to access network shares — now on your TV.
Why SMB on Android TV?
The problem: Android TV has no built-in way to browse NAS folders. You can cast from your phone, or set up Plex/Jellyfin, but there's no simple "browse NAS, tap to play" option built in.
AnExplorer's solution: Connect to your NAS via SMB, browse folders with the TV remote, tap any video to play. That's it. No server process, no account, no internet needed.
Best for:
- Movie/TV show libraries stored on NAS
- Family photo slideshows on the big screen
- Music collections played through TV speakers/soundbar
- Quick access to any file on your home network
Setting Up SMB on Android TV
Connection details
You need three things:
- NAS IP address: Usually
192.168.1.x— find in your NAS admin panel or router - Username: Your NAS login (e.g., "admin" or your personal account)
- Password: Your NAS login password
First-time setup
- Install AnExplorer from Play Store (or Amazon Appstore)
- Open AnExplorer → Network → SMB → tap +
- Enter IP, username, password
- Tap Connect → your NAS shares appear
- Navigate to your media folder → start browsing
The connection saves to AnExplorer's sidebar. Next time: one tap to reconnect.
Network recommendations
| Connection | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ethernet (Gigabit) | 100+ MB/s | Everything including 4K Remux (60+ GB files) |
| WiFi 6 (5GHz) | 40-80 MB/s | 4K HDR streaming |
| WiFi 5 (5GHz) | 20-40 MB/s | 1080p and most 4K |
| WiFi 5 (2.4GHz) | 5-15 MB/s | 720p/1080p only |
Recommendation: Use Ethernet if your TV has a port (Nvidia Shield, Fire TV Cube, Google TV Streamer). WiFi 5GHz works for most content but may buffer on large 4K HDR Remux files.
Streaming Media from NAS
Movies and TV shows
- Connect to NAS via SMB
- Navigate to your movie/shows folder
- Tap any video file → launches VLC or system player
- Playback starts immediately (no buffering on Ethernet/5GHz WiFi)
Organize for TV browsing:
Movies/
├── Action/
├── Comedy/
├── Drama/
TV Shows/
├── Show Name/
│ ├── Season 01/
│ └── Season 02/
Clear folder names = easy D-pad navigation without typing.
Photos and slideshows
Display family photos on the big screen:
- Navigate to photo folders on NAS
- Open images in AnExplorer's viewer
- Swipe through photos (OK button advances, back goes previous)
Music
Play music through your TV's speakers or connected soundbar:
- Navigate to music folders on NAS
- Tap audio files → plays in system audio player
- Background playback continues while you browse
AnExplorer + VLC vs Plex/Jellyfin
| Aspect | AnExplorer + VLC | Plex | Jellyfin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 2 minutes | 30-60 minutes | 30-60 minutes |
| Server needed | ❌ | ✅ (Plex Media Server) | ✅ (Jellyfin server) |
| Transcoding | ❌ (direct play only) | ✅ (when format incompatible) | ✅ |
| Movie posters/metadata | ❌ (folder/file names only) | ✅ (rich UI) | ✅ |
| Subtitle support | ✅ (external .srt) | ✅ (embedded + external) | ✅ |
| Multiple users | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cost | Free | Free (basic) / $5/mo (Plex Pass) | Free |
| Maintenance | None | Server updates, library scans | Server updates |
Choose AnExplorer + VLC if: You want zero maintenance, instant setup, and don't care about movie posters. Browse folders, tap to play.
Choose Plex/Jellyfin if: You want a beautiful media library UI with metadata, watch history, multi-user profiles, and remote access.
Troubleshooting SMB on TV
"Cannot connect to server"
- Verify NAS IP is correct (check router's device list)
- Ensure SMB is enabled on NAS (check NAS settings → File Services)
- TV and NAS must be on same network
- Try
WORKGROUP\usernameif plain username fails
Video buffers or stutters
- Switch to Ethernet if available (most reliable)
- Use 5GHz WiFi (not 2.4GHz)
- For 4K Remux: Ethernet is strongly recommended
- Check if NAS is under heavy load (other users, background tasks)
Audio but no video (or vice versa)
- Install VLC for Android TV (better codec support than system player)
- Some video codecs need hardware support (H.265, AV1) — check your TV's specs
- Try re-encoding problematic files to H.264 MP4 (universal compatibility)
Compatible TV Devices
All Android TV / Google TV / Fire TV devices support SMB via AnExplorer:
- Nvidia Shield TV Pro — best (Gigabit Ethernet + USB 3.0 + powerful hardware decode)
- Google TV Streamer — Ethernet + USB-C
- Fire TV Cube — Ethernet + USB-A
- Sony Bravia, TCL, Hisense — Ethernet port on TV itself
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Chromecast — WiFi only (no Ethernet without adapter)
- Walmart Onn 4K Pro — Ethernet included
Related Guides
- SMB File Manager — full SMB feature guide
- File Manager for Android TV — complete TV guide
- Video Player for Android TV — video playback on TV
- Transfer Phone to TV — send files to TV