Forum Discussion

wayn0r's avatar
wayn0r
Binge Watcher
2 years ago

“Allow Access to External Media”

Ever since my update to 12.5.0 (4176-48), I’ve been getting the “Allow Access to External Media” prompt asking if I want to allow apps to access attached media devices. I have a small hard drive with local media on it that I will continue to have attached to the tv on an ongoing basis and I’d rather not have to see this prompt every time I turn my tv on.

(As if the HUGE volume notifications and on-screen reminders that I have my physical Voice Control switch on my remote set to “off” aren’t unnecessary enough…)

28 Replies

  • wayn0r's avatar
    wayn0r
    Binge Watcher
    2 years ago

    Seems like fix for this is to disconnect your USB device, restart the Roku, connect the USB device, select “allow” when the prompt comes up, and then to restart again.

    Not sure why this is necessary, but it seems to work so far. 🤷🏻‍♂️

    • atc98092's avatar
      atc98092
      Community Streaming Expert
      2 years ago

      This is a new message that was added with the last update. It's merely some legalese to make sure you understand when you connect an external drive it can be seen by the device and any installed apps. It's no different than connecting an external drive to your computer, everything on your computer potentially has has access to the drive. It's just the lawyers covering their hind end... 😄

      • Teduardo's avatar
        Teduardo
        Binge Watcher
        2 years ago

        It could be a security feature to prevent a USB from infecting a Roku with a virus, if that is possible.

        However, I would like a setting to disable this.

  • Matty3's avatar
    Matty3
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    I just want to know how to get RID of this "Allow Access to external media" that keeps popping up every time when I keep installing it to my tv.

    • atc98092's avatar
      atc98092
      Community Streaming Expert
      2 years ago
      Matty3 wrote:

      I just want to know how to get RID of this "Allow Access to external media" that keeps popping up every time when I keep installing it to my tv.

      Until Roku adds a setting that makes the permission persistent, the only way to avoid the message is to leave the media plugged in. I have a USB drive plugged into my Ultra and I've never seen the message, other than when I first connected it. 

      • wayn0r's avatar
        wayn0r
        Binge Watcher
        2 years ago

        To the contrary; leaving the device plugged in just means the prompt comes up every time I turn the TV on.

  • Matty3's avatar
    Matty3
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    I have been trying to find a way to get rid of it every time I install my USB drive, but I don't know how. "To reset this setting please reconnect the external media." I don't know how to do that. 

    • atc98092's avatar
      atc98092
      Community Streaming Expert
      2 years ago
      Matty3 wrote:

      I have been trying to find a way to get rid of it every time I install my USB drive,

      The only way to not have the message appear is to not disconnect your USB drive. Not the answer you want, I'm certain. But there is no way to turn it off. 

      • wayn0r's avatar
        wayn0r
        Binge Watcher
        2 years ago

        It’s especially fun if you actually haven’t removed your media at all and it’s just your Roku device that’s been off.

    • wayn0r's avatar
      wayn0r
      Binge Watcher
      2 years ago

      That just means the prompt should appear when you remove the device from the USB port on your device, but it doesn’t.

      There are clearly a lot of bugs and necessary improvements to be made re: this setting.