If you’re like most people, you probably have a Google TV remote in your home. But what if you don’t have a Google TV? You can still use your Android phone as a remote for your Google TV. Here are some tips to help you use your Android phone as a remote for your Google TV:

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone and select “Remote.”
  2. Type “Google TV” into the text field and press “Enter.”
  3. If you’re using an older version of Android, you may need to enable Unknown Sources before using the remote. If that’s not possible for you, follow these steps:
  4. Open the Settings app on your Android phone and select “About Phone.”
  5. On the left side of the screen, click on “Build number” seven times. The seventh time will turn on Unknown Sources and allow you to install apps from unknown sources. Now open up the Settings app again and enable Unknown Sources again.

In late 2020, the Google Play Movies & TV app was rebranded on Android as simply “Google TV” to go along with the launch of the Chromecast with Google TV streaming device. That’s the app that you can use to control your Google TV.

RELATED: What’s the Difference between Google TV and Android TV?

Remote Control from the Google TV App

First, open the Google TV app on your Android phone or tablet. Look for a floating remote button in the bottom right corner.

Next, tap “Select a Device” at the top and choose your Google TV device.

Enter the code that’s displayed on the TV and tap “Pair” to connect the remote.

You now have a functioning remote on your phone! You can switch between a swipe remote or a d-pad from the three-dot menu icon in the top right.

Remote Control from the Quick Settings

The even easier method for opening the remote is from the Quick Settings menu. First, follow the steps above to do the initial setup. Next, swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap the pencil icon.

Find the “TV Remote” tile and tap and hold, then drag it up to the top section of tiles.

Release your finger to drop the tile in place, then tap the back arrow in the top left to finish.

Now you can tap the “TV Remote” tile from the Quick Settings to open the remote from anywhere!

Both of these methods are great for those times when you can’t find the remote or would simply rather use your phone. Searching for a specific app can be tedious, so it’s nice to have the Quick Settings option as well.

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