# USB ports on new television -- anything I should put in them before hanging television on wall? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661 "2024-09-24T15:33:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/21 "2024-09-26T20:16:58Z")
I use it to power the Google chromecast that hangs behind the TV. Eliminates the need to find connect it to an actual power outlet. Of course the USB port has to be powered and I think they mostly are. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/22 "2024-09-26T20:22:43Z")
When you say “do not support” does that include using it just for charging ? I was hoping to get one for my tv just to charge gadgets, ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/23 "2024-09-26T21:35:36Z")
As I mentioned, the USB ports on the sets I’ve owned power down when the set is off. So you might not be able to charge except when the set is in use. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/24 "2024-09-26T22:15:15Z")
Another issue is, even when the USB port is powered, the TV may support only the minimum amperage for a USB port (0.5 A). That may charge devices much slower than you’re used to if you’ve been using a USB wall wart. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/25 "2024-09-26T22:37:05Z")
Ok, thanks. That would be ok for me. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2024, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/26 "2024-09-27T02:37:15Z")
I just meant that you might plug in a three-port hub, for example, and the ports would not be recognized by the TV. A simple short extension (male to female) would work fine, but not a hub. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2024, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/27 "2024-09-27T09:00:53Z")
Thanks. I might try it, just for charging. If it doesn’t work i can always use it elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/28 "2024-09-29T16:24:29Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Wireless keyboard (current is +mouse/touch, K400?) is all I’ve ever connected. But I do use that a lot. I don’t know why this never occurred to me but this will come in very handy. I just ordered one. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/29 "2024-09-29T23:26:27Z")
OK, so this is weird. I just got that same keyboard and I have a newish LG tv. I plugged in the dongle and it worked right away. I went to thje web browser and it all worked correctly. Then I went to the YouTube app and the mouse and the arrow keys and Enter worked. When typing into the search box, only the number keys work including with the Shift key. It won’t type letters. Have you experienced this? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/30 "2024-09-30T06:08:51Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Then I went to the YouTube app and the mouse and the arrow keys and Enter worked. When typing into the search box, only the number keys work including with the Shift key. Sorry, I haven’t and the youtube searchbox is when you want it most. For what it’s worth, my TV doesn’t support mouse but the keyboard has never been a problem at all. Do you have a wired keyboard to try briefly? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/31 "2024-09-30T14:00:23Z")
Just noting that I am another fan of the Logitech K400 touchpad keyboard. Have a couple of them. Makes interacting with video devices a ton easier. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/32 "2024-09-30T15:57:28Z")
Have you specifically tried the YouTube app? I have Googled a bit and this seems to be a chronic problem with that app going back to 2019 and also affects some Samsung tvs as well as different keyboards. I uninstalled and reinstalled the app and it didn’t help. I guess I can get to youtube through the web browser. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661/33 "2024-09-30T16:14:37Z")
For some reason Google/youtube did this intentionally five years ago and is a problem regardless of the remote keyboard and the tv brand and also doesn’t work with the AppleTV box on a dumb tv. WTF? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661.md?page=1)