The 7 best Google TV tips, tricks, and features everyone should know

Summary

• Turn your phone into a virtual Google TV remote: Access Google Assistant and control your TV with ease using your phone as a remote.
• Install apps on your TV from your phone: Use your Android phone to install apps on your Chromecast device or any TV running Google’s new UI.
• Customize your Google TV experience with Button Mapper: Remap your remote’s buttons to add extra functionality, like opening the Play Store with a double press.

Google TV has been kicking around for nearly a decade. It launched as Android TV in 2014. Android TV was a smart operating system for televisions that Google positioned as a solution for top streaming boxes and TVs to provide app integration and facilitate streaming.

Google TV is a facelift of the original Android TV ecosystem. It adds functionality. It also has closer ties to the Android ecosystem, an expanded focus on search, and support for gaming. Here are some of the coolest things you can do with Google TV, including tricks you may not have known were possible.

1 Turn your phone into a virtual Google TV remote

Remotes can be difficult to keep track of and can get lost in the stash of remotes in your entertainment setup. Instead of relying on these devices, use a device you constantly have on you: your phone.

The Google TV app includes a virtual remote that emulates a physical remote and is easier to use. It also allows you to access Google Assistant on your television, which is a nice touch for launching the app on an iPhone. You don’t need the original remote to get started. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Open the Google TV app on your phone.
2. Tap TV Remote.
3. Select the TV from the list.

   

   

4. Enter the six-digit alphanumeric code displayed on the selected TV on the next screen.
5. Tap Pair.

   

   

2 Install apps on your TV directly from your phoneGoogle TV and Android phones are among the best examples of the ecosystem advantage, something Apple is usually praised for. The pair improves your TV experience in many ways, and you don’t need to install apps on the big screen the conventional way. You can use your Android phone to install apps on your Chromecast device or any TV running Google’s new UI as long as both devices are logged in to the same Google account. Here’s the easy way to install apps on your Chromecast with Google TV using your phone:

1. Open the Google Play Store on your phone.
2. Search for the app you want to install on your Google TV.
3. Open the drop-down list on the app page to see more options.

   

   

4. You’ll see a list of connected devices on the pop-up screen. Select the TV you want to install the app on.
5. Tap Install. The app is ready to use on your TV in no time.

   

3 Become a power Chromecast user with Button Mapper

Google TV is nothing but a fancy-looking launcher running over Android TV. This means you get all the customization features that Android is known for. Button Mapper assigns multiple functions to the remote controller’s buttons, making them more useful.

For instance, you can program the home button to open the Play Store with a double press, along with its usual function of taking you to the home screen. This comes in handy often, considering Google TV doesn’t have an easy way to access the Play Store. This doesn’t mess with your existing playback controls on the remote. Before proceeding to the steps below, install the Button Mapper app on your TV.

Button Mapper uses the device’s accessibility services to activate its features, so this is a two-part process. First, give the app accessibility permissions.

1. Click your profile icon in the upper-right corner.

   

2. Open Settings.

   

3. Scroll down and select System.

   

4. Go to Accessibility.

   

5. Under Services, click Button Mapper.

   

6. Click Enable and then click OK.

   

This allows Button Mapper to remap the buttons on the remote controller. Next, program what you want Button Mapper to do.

1. Go to the app section of Google TV.
2. Open the Button Mapper app.

   

3. Select Home Button.

   

4. Turn on Customize.

   

5. Go to Double tap and click the category selector.

   

6. Click Applications.

   

7. Find Play Store in the list and click it.

   

After this, double click the home button to open the Play Store from any screen on Google TV. Similarly, you can set your TV to take a screenshot (like we did for this tutorial) using the Actions category when you long press the home button.

With the free app, you can only customize the home button, but paying a fee unlocks more in-app features.

4 Set up a Google Watchlist and never miss your favorite shows

Google Watchlist is a great example of the cross-platform integration (and incorporation of the Android ecosystem) that makes Google TV appealing. It’s an easier and more efficient process than looking for movies and TV to watch in a browser. Watchlist lets you create a curated wishlist of TV and movies you want to check out on a PC or your phone. Here’s how:

• When you search for a movie title, select the Want to watch button.

  

• From the Google TV app on your phone, select Watchlist from the movie title page.

  

• On your TV set, click the Watchlist button on the movie title page.

  

These methods add the movie or TV show to your synced watchlist. You can find it under the Library section of your TV or in the Your Stuff tab of the Google TV app on your phone.

5 Create Google TV profiles for everyone in your house

Google TV lets everyone in your family have an individual profile, so no one messes up your recommendations. This allows each profile to have its own watchlist and content suggestions tailored to their viewing pattern. You can create new profiles for each family member or set up a kids’ profile with a few easy steps.

1. Click your profile icon, then go to Add account.

   

2. From the profile manager page, select Add account.

   

3. Click Add an account, or Add a child to set up a profile for your kid.

   

4. Log in with the user’s Google account details, and that’s it.

   

5. You can switch accounts using the profile icon.

6 Use Google TV’s app-only mode to streamline the UI

App-only mode peels away the clutter of suggested media and leaves you with a clean view featuring your installed apps. Here’s how to activate it on Google TV:

1. In the TV Settings, go to Accounts and sign-in.

   

2. Select your profile on the next page.

   

3. Scroll down and turn on Apps-only mode.

   

4. Give your confirmation by clicking the Turn on button.

   

7 Enable HDMI-CEC

The Chromecast with Google TV supports HDMI-CEC, allowing you to use only the Chromecast’s remote with compatible TV sets. With the option activated, you can do basic stuff on your TV set, like turning on the Chromecast, which also turns on your smart TV. This is helpful, especially when casting your favorite Netflix series or Google Photos collection to your Chromecast, which automatically turns on the TV.

1. Under Settings, open Display and sound.

   

2. Go to HDMI-CEC.

   

3. Click Enable HDMI-CEC.

   

Make Google TV the core of your media empire

Google has launched some questionable initiatives that added unnecessary complexity to the online experience (for example, Google+), but Google TV is a home run. It doesn’t add another app or program you need to manage. Instead, it collates several apps and functions under a single, easy-to-use umbrella. If you have a smart home, add it to the Google Home app and control it with your voice via Nest speakers.

For more useful Google tips and tricks, check out our breakdown on how to manage your collection of snaps and videos in Google Photos.