They are not infinite, but the functions of an Android TV are numerous. So if you have this system on your TV or on a Smart TV box, you will surely be interested to know how to get the most out of it and completely dominate the system.
In this article, we review 10 features that may not be so well known while greatly improving the experience of using the Android system on the TV. From essential apps to guidance for accelerating performance.
A browser as a key to many other things
Go ahead, using a web browser on Android TV is not as comfortable as on mobile. However, most apps that exist for this offer quick shortcuts to access our favorite websites in a few keystrokes and thus avoid having to write the url with the command.
Although if there is something to highlight in the use of a browser, it is that it opens the door to other options. See the case of download apk which are not available on Google Play or access to online broadcasting platformseither because they do not work well or because it is a platform that does not have its own application on this system.
Install a file manager
For similar reasons to the browser, a file explorer on Android TV can be useful for several things. One of them is to be able to install APKs opening from there the downloaded file. Also good for opening other downloads you make from the browser.
Of course, it is also very useful for insert files from other sources such as videos and photos that you want to see on the big screen. They are very similar to Android file managers, so handling is very intuitive.
Browse Google Play for Games
Ok, your TV won’t be as powerful as an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, but it’s a good platform for casual games and even casual gaming with greater demand.
If you go to Google Play and go to the corresponding tab, you will find a huge list of games compatible with Android TV. In addition, it is possible to connect an external controller via WiFi or Bluetooth and that the system detects them as game controllers. Thus, the experience will become much more pleasant.
Set up quick shortcuts on your controller
Button Mapper app is available on Google Play and is, in my humble opinion, the best app for what it offers. And it allows you to assign new functions to the TV remote control to get shortcuts to open apps or perform certain features like taking a screenshot.
And it is that there are many buttons that include the controls of a television and surely many do not take advantage of them, so this application can help you make them useful. Moreover, they not only offer touch functionality, but also actions can also be configured with a double tap doing the same button can have two different functions depending on how many times you press it.
Goodbye caching and hello to more space and better performance
Just as clearing the cache on mobile is useful for deleting unwanted files and thus freeing up storage space, the same is true for Android TV. In this case it is especially noteworthy if your TV is tight on spacebecause it is easy for you to immediately encounter problems when downloading new applications.
The process to clear app cache it is extremely simple. You just have to go to the settings, enter the applications section and click on each of them to find the option to cache empty🇧🇷 Take for granted that this action is not problematic in the sense that it deletes important data or forces you to re-login to apps.
External storage devices can also be used
Another way to free up space on Android TV is to connect a USB flash drive or external hard drive with sufficient capacity. It’s also the best way to get more space without deleting anything.
the external device must be in FAT format so that the system can use it, although if it does not have it, you can format it from the TV itself as soon as you connect it. If you configure it as an “external” device, you can even use it to store apps inside.
Watch TNT and other free channels without antenna
If you have problems tuning your TV with the antenna or if you directly want to choose not to have extra cable, there are many applications with which you can watch TV for free and even exclusive channels that some of these apps have. See the case of Tivify as the best example.
All of these apps can be found on Google Play and allow watch live TNT content in streaming. And here they come from apps from the channels themselves (RTVE Play, ATRESplayer, Mitele, etc.) to others such as the aforementioned Tivify. And if you are not convinced by any, there are other possibilities like doing it via the web.
Customize the look with a launcher
Launchers for Android TV are by far the best way to fully customize the user experience of the system. They are very easy to install and set by default. And if you are tired, you can also remove them.
There are all possible styles, from minimalists like FLauncher to others trying to mimic the look of Google TV. And yes, they can all be downloaded from Google Play.
Use your mobile as a remote control
The Google Home application is the key to controlling Android TV from the mobile, being Available on Android and iOS. Using it for this is as easy as logging in with the same Google account as the TV and adding the TV.
Once you have configured it, you can have a trackpad to operate it with or by buttons. Although the function that stands out the most for its usefulness is to act as a TV keyboard, which saves a lot of time and discomfort compared to typing with the TV’s on-screen keyboard at the using the traditional remote control.
Also send files from your mobile
Following the thread of the above, we also find the possibility of sending files to Android TV from the mobile and even from the computer. All this goes through apps like “Send Files to TV”available on Google Play for Android phones and Android TV itself.
Talking about this utility at the end of the post is not trivial, and it is that This goes hand in hand with other things mentioned above. For example, you can download an APK from your mobile and send it to TV or quickly send photos and videos. Then you can manage everything from the file manager, which will be where you will receive the content.
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