Expand internal storage, connect a controller to play emulators or send and receive files from other devices. These are some of the many things you can do with Android on the TV and, perhaps, you still did not know. So we are going to show you the best tricks and tips for squeezing Android TV.
Get the most out of Android TV
The televisions of Sony, Philips, Xiaomi and many set top boxes on the market share something in common: Android TV. The Google operating system for televisions continues to gain points and although there are proposals as interesting as webOS or Tizen, Android’s versatility is superior thanks to its wide catalog of applications.
So if you still haven’t mastered all your options, here are some tips and tricks to get the most out of it. Some will sound familiar to you, because they are something basic to Android, but you still didn’t realize that you could also use them with your television.
Control purchases on Google Play
If you have configured your Google Play account with its corresponding payment method and want to avoid scares with unwanted purchases, in the Google Play options you can make it necessary to lose authentication to confirm the purchase. If you have little ones at home, it is an essential option.
Install applications beyond the Play Store
In the same way that you can install the APKs downloaded from the internet on an Android phone, you can also do it on an Android TV. What you should know and take into account is that, in the same way that happens with smartphones, you should only do it if you are sure of the origin of the source. So that your security and privacy is not exposed.
If you already have the APK you want to install, the next thing you have to do is allow those applications external to the Play Store. Go to Settings> Security and restrictions. Now, in Verify applications, deactivate and you will be able to install any application downloaded from an external repository.
File Browser
Install one of the many applications that are in the Play Store to explore the files on the internal storage of your Android TV or on external USB drives that you connect. Some options are: CX Explorer , File Explorer or File Commander .
Activate restricted profile
This restricted profile is nothing more than a PIN code that you can activate to prevent them from accessing certain applications. If you do not want small or other home users to use certain installed apps, no problem, create a code and then select which apps will require it to start or not.
This option is within Security and restrictions. When you access you will see the option to create the four-digit PIN. It will also affect the purchase and download of applications. In short, everything that involves modifying TV settings.
Filters for Google Assistant
When you use the Google Assistant on a TV with Android TV there are no limitations and you can search for anything you want. If you are of legal age there is no problem, but if you have children at home and want to avoid problems, you can activate safe search filters and blocking offensive words. In this way, you prevent them from searching for profanity and seeing the respective results.
To do this, go to Settings> Google Assistant and there you will find all the options that affect its use on the TV, such as what has been mentioned or others that reveal what applications you can search for. This is also interesting in case you want to limit the results to the apps you really need.
How to force close applications
If any application is giving you problems, with improper operation, you will be able to force the closure. To do this, go to Settings and then Device> Applications . If you access the Installed Applications section you will be able to select the application that is giving you problems just by selecting it and then clicking on Force stop.
Get the recommendations that interest you
Many applications, especially those for streaming content, are going to fight for your attention and that is why they look for you with recommendations on what to see on the screen. If there are services that you enter on time or to see something that you previously know it offers, these recommendations will not interest you.
To customize what the TV will show you or not, see Settings and on the Home screen you can modify these recommendation options. Deactivate those of all those apps that don’t interest you.
Expands storage
The number of applications that you are going to install on a Smart TV with Android TV will always be, a priori, less than what you could install on a smartphone. Still, the storage capacity of many models is very limited. For example, it is normal to have only 8 or 16 GB of memory. If you need to expand the storage capacity, you will be able to do it through a USB memory.
If you go to Storage and security you will see that after connecting a USB memory it is listed. Hit Delete and format it so that it becomes a second storage unit that you can easily access.
With this unit already connected, another thing you can do is move applications and games inside. This is true that it will depend on the television, but it is normally something that most current proposals allow. To do so, select the application from your menu of installed applications and click on the option to move to USB drive.
Add a gamepad or bluetooth keyboard and mouse
This is basic, but we still remember it because some people still think it is more complex than it really is. On Android TV you can use game controls as well as Bluetooth mice and keyboards. To do this, from Settings> Control and accessories you can add new devices.
In the case of the controls, beyond the PS4 or Xbox One control (Bluetooth version), you have to take into account that they support Android. We will tell you this because there will be controls that will connect, but then they will not offer a good experience by not recognizing the controls and buttons well. So be careful with the choice. And if you need ideas, here is a selection of the best gamepads you can currently buy.
Your smartphone as a remote control
If by any chance you lose the control of your television or it breaks, your smartphone can become a remote control . For this, in the case of Android phones you will only have to install one of the many applications that exist and that only have as a requirement being connected to the same WiFi network, and with iOS the same.
Some options of this type of Android apps are: Mi Remote Controller for Xiaomi televisions, Android TV Remote Control . And if you use iOS, well, that same official Google application: Android TV . They are not the most comfortable solutions with respect to the original remote control of the television, but they are a way of solving any possible problem or specific need.