Playing movies stored on pc through smart tv

[Weathered]

So I have a Samsung smart tv which I have connected to our wireless network. What I am trying to do is play movies stored on a pc on that smart tv. Now I figured out I can cast the movie to the tv and I am able to play it like that. But as soon as I exit out of the movie on the tv, I can't get back to it unless I go back to the pc and cast it again.

Now this may not be possible but what I would like to be able to do is be able to play that movie on the tv whenever I want without having to go to the pc each time. I know the computer would still have to be on for that to work.

On the computer where the movies are stored at, I have shared the folder that the movies are in but I am not able to see that folder on the tv. Through the network settings on the tv, I am able to see the computer but nothing else.

I also have that folder added in windows media player and when I go to streaming options in wmp, I can see the tv listed and it's set to allow.

Simple version, am I able to access a shared folder on the smart tv?

 

[quilciri]

Not enough information. Need make & model of TV.

 

[Rdslw]

I would use wireless mouse , and instead of casting I work with TV as screen this way I just set my laptop to display TV only and use wireless mouse. Simplicity, netflix approved.

if you don't want to mod laptop:
1. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EVVGAFI/ref=s9_acsd_zgift_hd_bw_buNOX_c_x_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-5&pf_rd_r=4RBTA392K4CMRJPZGY4X&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=05da1ecf-d1bf-536d-a13e-0943e329ff4d&pf_rd_i=13436301&th=1
Buy home nas system, Move movies to this drive and connect both TV and laptop to it.
This solution works well with me when I want to play moves from small HDD devices like android 2 in 1

also you can look at
Qmedia
Stream to Android TV and Apple TV
for faster/easier work with any media on NAS storage.

 

[13thmonkey]

First off, pop one of the movies onto a stick and see if it actually plays. Mine won't if it is in 5.1, Picture ok, but no sound. If this works then we need to figure out why you can't see the shared directory.

 

[Weathered]

Make and model of tv is Samsung UN40J5200AF

Can't really connect computer to tv as they are in totally different rooms, separate floors.

I am able to get a movie to play on the tv if I do the cast to device option. I am able to control it fine with the tv remote. But the issue is if you exit out of the movie on the tv, can't get it back without casting to device again from pc.

 

[reedo_43]

Look up Plex. I use it and it works

 

[Weathered]

The tv should be able to see the shared folder, right?

 

[reedo_43]

Download the app on the tv and program to pc. configure on the pc what and where will be included. Took awhile to figure out but it works. Pc must be on!

 

[13thmonkey]

Yes it should be able to see the shared folder. What are your sharing settings. Have you tested it using a film on a stick, this is very different to casting it to the screen, obviously.

 

[Weathered]

File and printer sharing is turned on, widows is set to manage homegroup connections, password protected sharing is off, use 128 bit encryption. The tv is set to allow under media streaming options.

No I haven't tested with a stick yet. And when you say stick, you mean a memory card or a flash drive right?

 

[Weathered]

Well I made a little progress. But there is something I can't figure out, maybe it's just me idk. But I put a movie on an sd card and put that sd card in a usb thumb drive, then put that into the tv. It played the movie fine.

Now with the thumb drive inserted in the tv, I was able to get to the folder I have been trying to get to. I can see all the devices on the network. But no videos show up in that folder.

Now here is the part I can't figure out. Maybe it's just me not knowing wth I am doing idk. But once I take the thumb drive out, it goes back to the home page of the tv, where it says press ok to watch tv. From that point, I can't figure out how to get back to where all the devices are listed without reinserting the thumb drive. I was trying to find the folder through the menu of the tv.

 

[13thmonkey]

yes, as it might be that it doesn't like the format and therefore doesn't give you the option to see them?

How is the folder shared? who is it shared to? everyone?

 

[Weathered]

yes, as it might be that it doesn't like the format and therefore doesn't give you the option to see them?

How is the folder shared? who is it shared to? everyone?

If the tv doesn't like the format, how is it able to play it just fine on a thumb drive? The movies are in 3 or more different formats, avi, mp4, mkv, didn't look at everyone one, and doesn't see any of them.

The folder is shared to everyone.

 

[13thmonkey]

that's why i'm asking does it work from a stick, I think that two of the posts overlapped.

 

[Weathered]

that's why i'm asking does it work from a stick, I think that two of the posts overlapped.

Yes it does work from a stick just fine.

 

[reedo_43]

Plex does not need sharing.

 

[Weathered]

I am able to see the shared folder and the movies on the tv now. Not sure what I did unless a restart on my pc was all that was needed, I don't know.

 

[reedo_43]

https://www.plex.tv/downloads/
Don't be scared homie!

 

[reedo_43]

It's free!

 

[marcolopes]

The user is asking about ACCESSING SHARED folders on a NETWORK from the TV!

I thought this was pretty standard, but IS NOT!! :\

It's a turn down for me... as i have a PANASONIC DS500 TV set and it's pretty straightforward! http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/tv/network/netfs/index.html

So, i just SHARE the folders in windows, and access them remotely with the TV! Seems other manufacturers are not in the same page with this...

I have a question: IS there any brand that can do this, with an APP (ANDROID TV) or their proprietary OS (SAMSUNG, LG, ETC)?

I just don't want:
1) TO STREAM! (i need SUBs and DLNA does not support them!)
2) TO plug and unplug my network drive into the TV just for the sake of sharing files to it!

Anyone?