GoKawiilMegan Ellis / Android Authority
Google TV is the go-to platform for many streaming boxes and smart TVs, and it’s easy to see why. The platform has been around for ages, it supports literally millions of apps, and it has reasonably low system requirements.
There are loads of features worth knowing if you want to get the most out of Google’s OS. But what about the little-known tips and tricks? Here are a few pointers you might not know about.
What's your favorite under-the-radar Google TV tip? 11 votes Switch to apps-only mode 27 % Switch to an alternative launcher 36 % Tweak some settings via developer options 9 % Use a USB-C hub to get more ports 0 % Use the ATVTools app 18 % Use CX File Explorer for easy file transfers 9 % Other (leave a comment) 0 %
Switch to apps-only mode for a cleaner experience
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
The default Google TV launcher is fine, but there’s no shortage of complaints about it. This includes performance issues on some devices, recommendation overload, and ads on the home screen. It also comes with Gemini or Google Assistant, which can be handy but not ideal if you simply want to watch content. However, Google does give you one built-in solution.
You can enable apps-only mode by tapping Settings > Accounts & Sign-in > your Google account > Apps only mode. This mode will remove those tabs at the top of your TV screen, hide recommendations on the home screen, and disable voice functionality and search. It doesn’t address all these issues, but it certainly goes a long way to cleaning up your TV box menu.
Change your launcher to Projectivy
Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority
... continue reading