There’s so much to love about Google TV: the sensible TV and streaming system working system appears to be like good, works properly, and successfully integrates all of your totally different streaming providers right into a single, intuitive interface that’s simple to make use of. With the Google TV Streamer launch, the OS is prone to appeal to much more customers.
Despite the fact that its interface is designed to be as easy and clear as doable, the software program nonetheless presents loads of options and choices in the event you dig deeper. Whether or not you’re utilizing Google TV on the brand new streaming field, a Chromecast with Google TV dongle, or a wise TV, listed here are some suggestions to pay attention to.
1) Simplify the Google TV interface
The Google TV interface is okay as it’s, however you can also make it even easier by opening All settings (the gear icon, prime proper), then Accounts and Profiles: Choose your identify, then allow Apps-only mode. The entire Google TV suggestions about what to look at will disappear from view, leaving solely the audio and video streaming apps you’ve put in.
2) Use your cellphone as a distant
Whether or not you’ve misplaced your precise distant someplace down the again of the sofa otherwise you simply desire the comfort of utilizing your cellular system, you may management Google TV utilizing the Google TV app for Android or iOS on a cellphone or pill. For the trick to work, you simply should be on the identical Wi-Fi community and signed into the identical Google account.
Within the app, it’s best to see a pop-up close to the underside toolbar that claims Join TVs or TVs close by. Faucet on this to decide on your Google TV system and enter the pairing code. You may then faucet the little distant icon to manage the big-screen interface out of your system. You get a trackpad, quantity controls, a Google Assistant button, and energy controls as properly.
3) Flip Google TV into a photograph body
If you wish to, you should use albums out of your Google Images library as a screensaver: Open All settings (the gear icon, prime proper), then choose System and Ambient mode, after which Settings. You’ll see Google Images listed as one of many choices—select this to get directions—and you’ll change settings resembling slideshow velocity from right here, too.
4) Change the house display screen structure
One thing that’s not instantly obvious from utilizing the Google TV interface day-to-day is you can change the order of the leisure apps on display screen. It means you may entry those you utilize most frequently extra shortly whereas conserving lesser-used ones out of the way in which—and that is one thing that’s doable on each the For you and Apps screens.
All it’s good to do is choose an app, press and maintain the choose button on the distant, and select Transfer from the menu that pops up. Put it the place you’d prefer it to be, then select Achieved to verify. The identical pop-up menu additionally has a View particulars possibility—you may observe this to seek out an Uninstall button for eradicating a selected app from the system.
5) Enhance your suggestions
Are the Google TV content material suggestions simply not doing it for you? Enhance the algorithm by opening All Settings (the gear icon, prime proper), then choosing Accounts and profiles, your identify, and Content material preferences. Google TV will then current you with a collection of films and reveals to which you’ll be able to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down.

6) Set up apps from anyplace
You’ll wish to fill your Google TV system with leisure apps, and it’s usually simpler to do that in your cellphone or laptop. So long as the identical Google account is related, you may open the Play Retailer app in your cellular system, discover an app you need, then faucet the arrow subsequent to the Set up button and select your Google TV system.
It really works equally on the internet, too—head to the Play Retailer net portal, search for an app you want, after which click on on the Set up or Set up on extra gadgets button to see a listing of gadgets related to your Google account. This could embrace your Google TV system. If the app is appropriate with Google TV, you may then choose it to start out a distant set up.
7) Add to your watchlist from anyplace
One in all Google TV’s greatest options is the watchlist you may entry by way of the Library tab, which hyperlinks to the streaming providers you’ve put in. You may add to this listing by way of Google from any system (in the event you’re signed into your Google account): Run a seek for the film or present you wish to add to your watchlist, then click on “Wish to watch” on the outcomes web page.
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