Android Smart TVs come with a significant load of features. It’s got WiFi capabilities, the option to install and sideload your favorite apps, and even the option to cast content quickly from your mobile device to your TV screen. One more helpful feature of Android TVs is that you can easily use your mobile phone as a remote control to control your Android TV.
Did you know that there are two different ways that you can follow to use your mobile phone device as a remote for your Android TV? Yes, both ways are simple, easy, and free to use with no ads. What is even better about these apps is that they are not third-party apps. Rather, they are first-party apps designed and developed by Google itself.
If you want to know what the apps are and how you can control your Android TV, read on!
While the remote is a super handy device, there have always been scenarios where the little remote either gets lost, damaged, or for that matter has its batteries exhausted. This can be frustrating and annoying, especially when you are waiting for a replacement remote. Since everyone has got smartphones with them, there is no harm in making use of the device itself to control your Android TV.
Pre-requisites
- Android Device
- WiFi Network
- Android TV / Google TV
- Google TV App
- Google Home App
How to Control Android TV using Google TV App
The Google TV app, previously known as the Google Play movies app is a great app that shows you all the Tv shows and movies from different streaming services. This helps you to see what you have already watched, what you are watching halfway, and what other new content you might be interested in. The Google TV app also has a remote control function that you can use to control your Android TV. Here are the steps.
- Launch the Google TV app. Make sure that the app has been updated to the latest version.
- You can check for updates on the Google Play Store
- Once you have launched the app, make sure your mobile phone as well as your Android TV is connected to the same WiFi network.
- On the main home screen of the Google TV app, you should see a TV Remote option at the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the TV Remote.
- Google TV app will now search for any smart TVs that are connected to the same WiFi network.
- Once it finds your TV, tap on it. The TV will now display a code.
- Enter this code in the Google TV app and you can now control your Android TV right away for free.
How to Control Android TV using Google Home App
The second method that you can follow to control your Android TV using your mobile phone is by making use of the Google Home app. You can use this method if you don’t want to bother with installing the Google TV app or even for that matter care about the watchlist of TV and shows that have been curated for you.
- Download the Google Home app from the Google Play Store.
- The app is free to download.
- Connect your mobile phone and Android TV to the same WiFi network.
- Now, launch the app and sign in with your Google account.
- On the Home screen of the app, you should see the Local Devices option.
- Tap on the TV tile. You should now see the volume slider on the screen.
- At the bottom of the app, tap on the Add to a Room option.
- You will have to choose a Home and then tap on the Move device.
- Choose the room that you want and tap on the Next button.
- The TV has now been added to the Google TV app.
- With the Google Home app, you will be able to control the playback of the content such as play pause, skip forward/rewind, and adjust the volume. There is no proper function to control the navigation of your TV using the Google Home app.
- The navigation will work only if you have a TV that runs on the latest Google TV OS or a Chromecast with a Google TV plugin device.
Conclusion
This concludes the guide on how you can control your Android TV with your mobile device for free. While the Google Home app is good for TVs running Google TV OS, the Google TV app is simply perfect, and the best remote is to use with TVs running on Android TV OS and even on Google TV OS as it has all remote functionality at your fingertips.
If you have questions or queries, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
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