LG TV Error Code US01 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

US01 on an LG TV means the USB device you plugged in is not recognised, not compatible, or not formatted in a supported file system. The TV cannot read the drive and will not show any media from it. This is almost always fixable by reformatting the USB drive or using a different drive.

Affected Models

LG OLED C3
LG QNED85
LG UHD 75UP8770
LG NanoCell 90
LG OLED evo G3

Common Causes

USB drive is formatted as exFAT, NTFS, or another file system the TV does not support
USB drive capacity exceeds 2TB which is the maximum supported by most LG Smart TVs
USB drive has a corrupted partition table that the TV cannot read
USB hub or extension cable is causing power or signal issues
The specific USB device type (card reader, encrypted drive) is not supported

How to Fix It

Remove the USB drive from the TV and plug it directly into a computer.

This confirms whether the drive itself is working — if the computer cannot read it either, the drive may be corrupted or failed.
On a Windows PC, open File Explorer, right-click the USB drive, and select Format.

Choose FAT32 for drives under 32GB, or exFAT for drives between 32GB and 2TB — LG TVs support both formats for media playback.
Complete the format (this erases the drive — back up your files first), then copy your media files back onto it.

Formatting removes any partition corruption or incompatible file system that was causing US01.
Plug the newly formatted USB drive directly into the TV USB port — do not use a hub or extension cable.

USB hubs and extension cables can cause power drops that make the TV report US01 even with a healthy drive.
On the LG TV, press the Home button, then navigate to the USB/Media Player app to browse the drive.

If the drive is now recognised, US01 is resolved — the original file system was the cause.
If US01 still appears with the reformatted drive, try a different USB drive to rule out a faulty drive.

Some older or low-quality USB drives have unstable controllers that LG TVs cannot communicate with reliably.

When to Call a Professional

US01 is almost never a hardware fault — no professional help is needed. All fixes involve formatting the USB drive or trying a different drive, both of which you can do yourself. If the USB port itself appears physically broken or damaged, contact LG support to assess a port repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file system should I use to format a USB drive for my LG TV?

FAT32 is the most universally compatible format for LG TVs and works with drives up to 32GB. For larger drives (32GB to 2TB), use exFAT — most modern LG Smart TVs support it. NTFS is supported on some LG models for read-only playback, but FAT32 or exFAT are the safest choices.

My USB drive works on my laptop but shows US01 on the LG TV — why?

Laptops support many more file systems and USB device types than TVs. Your drive is probably formatted as NTFS or has a partition layout the TV cannot handle. Format it as FAT32 or exFAT on your laptop first, then copy your files back — it should work on the TV.

What is the maximum USB drive size my LG TV supports?

Most LG Smart TVs support USB drives up to 2TB in size. Drives larger than 2TB may trigger US01 or not appear at all, even if they are formatted correctly. Check your specific model's specifications at lg.com/us/support to confirm the maximum supported capacity.