Your TV's USB port has an underutilized benefit that can revitalize an old system

Recently, I wrote about the various uses of the USB ports that come standard on the back or side of any smart TV. In this article, I'm focusing on one particular important use: installing firmware updates using a USB device.

Also: How to disable ACR on your TV (and why doing so makes such a big difference)

Updates are essential because they ensure your TV has the latest software, features, and security patches. Most smart TVs are designed to automatically check for and install updates over Wi-Fi -- as long as they're connected to the internet and the automatic update feature is enabled. To confirm this, you can usually find a "Check for Updates" option in the TV's settings menu.

But if your TV has an unstable Wi-Fi connection -- or you simply prefer a manual approach -- the following is a walkthrough of how to use ...