How to connect Huawei to a TV via USB: step-by-step guide

Do you want to display your smartphone screen Huawei on a large TV, but don’t know how to do it through a standard one USB cable? Many users mistakenly believe that to broadcast video or mirror the screen, you definitely need HDMI adapter or Wi-Fi Direct. In fact, even the most ordinary cable USB Type-C → USB-A (or Micro-USB for older models) can become a bridge between your Huawei P60 Pro, Mate 50 or Nova 11 and the TV - subject to the correct settings.

In this article we will look at all possible connection scenarios: from simple viewing of photos/videos in MTP to full screen duplication via USB debugging (for advanced users). We will pay special attention to typical errors - for example, why the TV does not see the phone as a drive or why the image is not transmitted. All instructions are relevant for devices on EMUI 13/14 i Android 12/13, but most principles also work on older versions.

Before you start, check two key points: 1. Your TV must support USB-host (most modern models Samsung, LG, Sony Bravia and Xiaomi TV can do this). 2. The cable must be original quality - cheap Chinese wires often do not transmit data, but only charge device.

If at least one of the conditions is not met, further manipulations with the settings will not help.

1. Basic connection: phone as a USB drive

The easiest way is to use the phone Huawei as a flash drive. In this mode, you will be able to view on TV photo, video and music, but do not duplicate the screen. Suitable for models with EMUI 9.0 and newer.

How it works: TV recognizes the phone as an external storage device (like a regular flash drive). Files open through the built-in media player of TV (for example, Photo & Video on Samsung or Media Player on LG). Restriction: not all video formats are supported (for example, .mkv may not play).

🔌 Connect the phone to the TV USB Type-C → USB-A cable (or Micro-USBif you have an old model Huawei).
📱 A notification will appear on the phone screen "Charging via USB" - tap on it.
🔄 Select mode "File transfer" (or "MTP" on older versions of Android).
📺 On the TV, open the signal source USB (usually the button Source or Input on the remote control).

Problem? If the TV does not see the phone: • Try another USB port on the TV (usually one of the ports is marked as "USB 3.0" or "SS"). • Reboot both device. • Check whether the antivirus is blocking access (for example, Huawei Mobile Services sometimes restricts connections).

Use an original Huawei cable

Select the "File Transfer" mode in the curtain notifications

Connect the cable to the USB port on the TV (not HDMI!)

Open the "USB" source on the TV via the remote control -->

2. Viewing videos and photos: supported formats

Even if the connection is successful, the TV may not play your files. It all depends on codecswhich the built-in TV player supports. Here is the compatibility table for popular brands:

TV brand	Video formats	Audio formats	Photo
Samsung (Tizen)	`.mp4`, `.avi`, `.mkv` (partially)	`.mp3`, `.aac`, `.flac`	`.jpg`, `.png`, `.bmp`
LG (WebOS)	`.mp4`, `.mov`, `.ts`	`.mp3`, `.wav`, `.ogg`	`.jpg`, `.jpeg`, `.heif` (on new models)
Sony Bravia (Android TV)	`.mp4`, `.mkv`, `.webm`	`.mp3`, `.ac3`, `.dts`	`.jpg`, `.png`, `.raw` (limited)
Xiaomi TV	`.mp4`, `.flv`, `.m3u8`	`.mp3`, `.ape`, `.m4a`	`.jpg`, `.webp`

Critical detail: Android TVs (for example Sony Bravia or Philips) most often support more formats than TV on proprietary OS (like Samsung Tizen). If your video is in format .mkv does not play, convert it to .mp4 using apps like VLC or HandBrake.

Advice for owners Huawei: if you often watch movies via USB, create a folder on your phone TV_Movies and put files there in format H.264 (MP4) with resolution 1920×1080 —this is guaranteed to work on 90% of TVs.

💡

If the TV does not see files, but the phone is detected as a drive, try renaming the folders on the phone in English (without Cyrillic and special characters).

3. Screen mirroring via USB: myth or reality?

Many users are looking for a way to completely duplicate the Huawei screen to the TV via USB - like HDMI or Miracast. Technically this is possible, but with serious caveats:

🔧 Required USB debugging and access to ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
🖥️ TV must support OTG and be able to install APK (i.e. be on Android TV).
⚠️ On Huawei without Google Mobile Services (GMS) (models after 2019) the process is more complicated due to the lack of scrcpy standard repositories.

If your TV is on Android TV (for example, Sony, Philips, Nvidia Shield), you can use the utility scrcpy to broadcast the screen via USB Here are brief instructions:

Turn on USB debugging on Huawei: Settings → About phone → Build number (tap 7 times to become a developer) → return to Settings → System → For developers → USB debugging.
Connect the phone to the TV with a cable.
On the TV install scrcpy via Downloader or Send Files to TV.
Run the command c ADB:
```
adb tcpip 5555
adb connect [IP_TV]:5555
```

Warning: this method requires technical skills and may not work on TVs with closed firmware (for example, Samsung or LGFor most users it is easier to buy USB-C → HDMI adapter for 500–1000 rubles.

Why does Huawei block screen mirroring via USB?

The manufacturer limits this function due to security (data interception via USB) and promoting its own wireless technologies (Huawei Share). In addition, video transmission via USB requires high bandwidth, which can lead to lags on budget TVs.

4. Solving problems: the TV does not see Huawei via USB

If the connection fails, check these points:

Problem	Possible cause	Solution
TV does not respond to connection	Faulty cable or port	Try a different cable/port. Use `USB 3.0` (blue connector).
The phone is charging, but is not detected as a storage device	Mode `MTP` is not activated	In the phone's notification shade, select `"File transfer"`.
Files cannot be opened on TV	Unsupported format	Convert video to `.mp4 (H.264)` via VLC.
Connection is interrupted	Power shortage	Use Y-cable with additional power or connect the TV to a power outlet.

Specific problem for Huawei: on some models (for example, P40 Pro or Mate 30) an error may appear when connecting to a TV "The USB device does not identified". This is due to lack of MTP drivers the TV firmware. Solution: 1. Update the TV firmware to the latest version. 2. Connect the phone to the computer and copy the files to a flash drive, and then insert it into the TV.

💡

If the TV is older than 2018, there is a high probability that it does not support MTP over USB. In this case, use wireless technologies (Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast) or HDMI adapters.

5. Alternative ways to connect Huawei to a TV

If the USB connection does not work or is not satisfactory, consider these options:

📶 Huawei Share (wireless connection):
Works on models with EMUI 10+. Turn on Huawei Share in the notification shade and select the TV in the list of devices. Supports screen mirroring and file transfer.

🔗 HDMI adapter:
For Huawei s USB-C adapter USB-C → HDMI is suitable (price from 600 rubles). Provides complete screen duplication without lags.

🌐 DLNA/UPnP:
Install the application BubbleUPnP or LocalCaston your phone, and any DLNA player on TV (for example, TV Cast).

🖥️ Chromecast or Miracast:
If you Google TV or Android TV, use the built-in function "Screen broadcast" in the settings Huawei.

Comparison of methods:

|---------------------|----------|----------|-----------|------------|

| Chromecast | Average | 3000+ rub. data-i="233">or

To watch movies in high definition (4K HDR) is optimal HDMI adapter. Enough to transfer photos or music USB or Huawei Share.

6. Security: how not to lose data when connecting

Connecting your phone to a TV via USB is always a risk data leaks or virus infections (if TV is connected to questionable networks).Follow these rules:

🔒 Disable autorun:
In settings Huawei go to Settings → Applications → Autorun and disable automatic mounting of USB drives.

🛡️ Use antivirus:
Install Dr.Web or Kaspersky and scan your phone after connecting to public TVs (for example, in hotels).

🔐 Encrypt sensitive files:
Transfer personal photos/videos to an encrypted folder (for example, via Huawei PrivateSpace).

Attention: if you connect Huawei to a TV in a public place (cafe, airport), never select the "File Transfer" mode — limit yourself to charging. Attackers can copy your data through vulnerabilities in the protocol MTP.

💡

Before connecting to someone else's TV, create a guest profile on Huawei: Settings → Users → Guest. This will limit access to your personal data.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about connecting Huawei to a TV

❓ Is it possible to connect Huawei to a TV via USB and watch Netflix/YouTube?

No, in MTP mode you can only view downloaded files. For streaming you need screen mirroring (via HDMI, Huawei Share or Chromecast).

❓ Why does the TV see phone, but does not open video in MKV format?

The TV does not support the codec H.265 (HEVC) or container .mkv. Convert the video to .mp4 with codec H.264 via HandBrake.

❓ Does USB connection work on Huawei without Google (models after 2019)?

Yes, the mode MTP does not depend on Google Mobile Services. Problems can only arise with screen duplication via scrcpy (manual installation required). drivers).

❓ Is it possible to charge the phone from the TV while watching?

Yes, but USB port TV usually produces a current of 0.5–1Awhich is slower than standard charging. For long-term viewing, use Y-cable with additional power.

❓ Why does the "Device not supported" error appear when connecting Huawei P50 to a Samsung TV?

This is a known compatibility issue Samsung Tizen s Huawei on EMUI 12+. Solutions: 1. Update the TV firmware. 2. Use the adapter USB-C → HDMI. 3. Connect via Smart View (Wi-Fi Direct).

Connecting a Huawei phone to a TV via USB: complete guide with error solutions