You’ve downloaded your favorite movie, plugged in your USB drive, and settled into your couch with snacks ready. But then your Sony TV throws up that frustrating message: “MP4 Not Supported.” It’s annoying, right? You know the file works perfectly on your laptop, so what gives?
This happens more often than you’d think, and it’s rarely about the file being “broken.” Usually, it’s about compatibility details that aren’t immediately obvious. Your Sony TV can be picky about which MP4 files it accepts, but here’s the good news: most of these issues have simple fixes you can handle yourself. We’ll walk through what’s actually happening when you see this error and how to get your videos playing smoothly.
By the end of this article, you’ll understand exactly why your Sony TV rejects certain MP4 files and have several practical solutions at your fingertips.
What “MP4 Not Supported” Really Means
When your Sony TV displays this error, it’s not rejecting the MP4 container itself in most cases. Think of an MP4 file like a box that holds different things inside. The box might be fine, but what’s packed inside could be the problem.
Your TV is probably balking at the video codec, audio codec, or both. A codec is basically the technology used to compress and package the video or audio data. Your Sony TV supports specific codecs, and if your file uses something outside that list, you’ll hit a wall. Common codecs your TV likely accepts include H.264 for video and AAC for audio, but files encoded with newer codecs like H.265 (HEVC) or AV1 might not work.
Resolution and bitrate matter too. If your video file has an extremely high bitrate or an unusual resolution, your TV’s hardware might struggle to decode it. Some older Sony models have limits on what they can process, even if the codec itself is technically supported.
File corruption can also trigger this error. Sometimes during download or transfer, bits of data get scrambled or lost. When your TV tries to read the file and encounters these corrupted sections, it gives up and shows the “not supported” message instead of trying to play a glitchy video.
Sony TV MP4 Not Supported: Likely Causes
Your MP4 file might look perfectly normal on the surface, but several hidden factors could make your Sony TV reject it. Let’s explore what’s usually behind this frustrating error.
1. Incompatible Video Codec
The video codec is often the main culprit. Your MP4 might be using H.265 (also called HEVC), VP9, or another modern codec that offers better compression than older standards. These codecs create smaller file sizes, which is great for storage, but many Sony TV models simply weren’t built to decode them.
H.264 (also known as AVC) is the safest bet for most Sony TVs. This codec has been around longer and enjoys near-universal support. If your file uses anything else, your TV might refuse to play it even though the file extension says “.mp4.”
You can’t tell which codec a file uses just by looking at it. You need to check the file’s properties using software on your computer, which we’ll cover in the solutions section.
2. Unsupported Audio Codec
Video gets all the attention, but audio can cause just as many problems. Your MP4 file might have perfectly compatible video but use an audio codec your Sony TV doesn’t recognize. Common troublemakers include DTS, Dolby TrueHD, or even certain variants of AC3.
Most Sony TVs handle AAC audio without any fuss. They usually manage MP3 audio as well. But if your file has multi-channel audio or uses a professional-grade codec, your TV might reject the entire file rather than play it without sound.
3. Excessive Bitrate or Resolution
Sometimes your video file is simply too much for your TV to handle. A 4K video with a high bitrate contains massive amounts of data that needs processing every single second. If you’re trying to play this on an older Sony TV or even a newer model that wasn’t designed for such heavy files, it’ll throw up the “not supported” error as a protective measure.
This happens even when the codecs are technically correct. Your TV’s processor has limits, and pushing beyond them causes problems. Files downloaded from certain sources or recorded at professional settings often have bitrates much higher than standard streaming content.
Think of it like trying to pour a gallon of water through a coffee filter. The filter works fine with normal amounts, but overwhelm it and things break down.
4. File System Format Issues
The USB drive or external storage device you’re using matters too. If your drive is formatted with a file system your Sony TV doesn’t support, you’ll run into trouble. Many older TVs only work with FAT32, which has a 4GB file size limit. Try to play a 5GB movie file, and you’re stuck.
Some Sony TVs support exFAT or NTFS, but not all models do. Your beautiful MP4 file might be perfect in every way, but if it’s sitting on incompatible storage, your TV can’t access it properly.
5. Corrupted or Incomplete File
Downloads don’t always finish cleanly. Network hiccups, interrupted transfers, or storage errors can leave you with a damaged file. From the outside, everything looks fine, the file size seems right, the icon appears normal. But inside, critical data is missing or scrambled.
Your Sony TV starts reading the file, encounters the corrupted section, and decides it can’t continue. Rather than risk showing you a glitchy mess or potentially crashing, it simply refuses to play the file altogether.
Sony TV MP4 Not Supported: How to Fix
Getting your MP4 files to play on your Sony TV is usually straightforward once you know what to look for. These fixes range from simple checks to quick conversions, and most won’t take more than a few minutes.
1. Convert Your Video File
Converting your MP4 to a more compatible format solves most codec-related issues in one go. Free software like HandBrake makes this easy, even if you’ve never done it before. Download and install HandBrake on your computer, then drag your problematic MP4 file into it.
Choose a preset that matches your TV. HandBrake has built-in presets for various devices. Look for options labeled “H.264” or something generic like “Fast 1080p30.” These settings will re-encode your video using codecs that virtually all Sony TVs accept. The process takes time depending on your file size and computer speed, but it runs automatically.
Once conversion finishes, transfer the new file to your USB drive and try again. This method has the highest success rate because it ensures everything about the file matches your TV’s requirements. You’re essentially rebuilding the file from scratch in a format your TV can digest.
2. Check and Reformat Your USB Drive
Your USB drive’s file system might be the invisible barrier. Plug your drive into your computer and check its format. On Windows, right-click the drive, select Properties, and you’ll see the file system listed. On Mac, open Disk Utility to check.
If it’s FAT32 and your video file is over 4GB, that’s your problem. You’ll need to reformat the drive to exFAT, which most modern Sony TVs support and handles large files easily. Before reformatting, copy everything off the drive because this process erases all data.
On Windows, right-click the drive, choose Format, and select exFAT from the dropdown. On Mac, use Disk Utility, select your drive, click Erase, and choose exFAT. After reformatting, copy your video file back and test it on your TV. This simple change often makes previously unplayable files work perfectly.
3. Verify File Integrity
Make sure your file actually downloaded completely and isn’t corrupted. Try playing it on your computer first using VLC Media Player, which handles almost any video format. If VLC struggles or shows errors, your file has problems that no TV can fix.
If the file won’t play properly on your computer, you’ll need to download or copy it again from your source. Pay attention during the download or transfer process this time. Make sure nothing interrupts it, and verify the file size matches what’s expected. A quick check now saves frustration later.
4. Update Your Sony TV Firmware
Sony regularly releases firmware updates that add codec support and fix playback issues. Your TV might reject certain MP4 files simply because it’s running outdated software. Check your current firmware version by going into your TV’s settings menu, usually under System or About.
Visit Sony’s support website and enter your TV model number to see if updates are available. You can usually download the update to a USB drive, then plug it into your TV and follow the on-screen prompts. Some newer Sony TVs can update directly over WiFi, which is even easier.
After updating, test your video file again. Firmware updates sometimes add support for codecs that weren’t available when your TV first shipped. This fix requires minimal effort and can solve multiple issues at once.
5. Try a Different USB Port
This sounds almost too simple, but USB ports can behave differently. Your Sony TV might have multiple USB ports, and they don’t all have identical capabilities. Some ports are USB 2.0 while others are USB 3.0, and this affects data transfer speeds and compatibility.
Try each USB port on your TV. Sometimes one port handles certain file types better than others due to how the TV’s internal hardware is configured. If you’re using a USB hub or extension cable, remove it and plug directly into the TV. These accessories can sometimes interfere with data transfer in ways that trigger compatibility errors.
6. Check Video Specifications
Install MediaInfo on your computer, a free tool that tells you everything about your video file. Open your MP4 file in MediaInfo and look at the codec information. You’ll see exactly what video codec, audio codec, resolution, and bitrate your file uses.
Compare these specs against your Sony TV’s manual or specification sheet. Most Sony TVs clearly list supported formats in their documentation. If your file uses unsupported codecs or exceeds the maximum bitrate, you’ve found your answer. You’ll need to convert the file as described in the first fix, but now you’ll know exactly what needs changing.
7. Contact a Professional Technician
If you’ve tried everything and your Sony TV still refuses to play MP4 files, something else might be wrong. Hardware issues, faulty USB ports, or problems with the TV’s media player could be at fault. At this point, reaching out to a Sony-authorized technician makes sense. They have diagnostic tools and access to parts that can address hardware-level problems you can’t fix at home.
Wrapping Up
That “MP4 Not Supported” message doesn’t have to ruin your movie night. Most of the time, it’s about mismatched codecs, file system issues, or bitrate problems that you can fix yourself in minutes. Converting your video to H.264, checking your USB drive format, or simply updating your TV’s firmware will handle the majority of cases.
Your Sony TV is pickier than your computer about what it plays, but that’s just how TVs work. They’re optimized for specific formats to ensure smooth playback. Now you’ve got the knowledge and tools to get any video working, so grab that remote and enjoy your content without the hassle.