Meet the New Google TV Remote!

Grace Edwards 30 Sep 2021

Time to say goodbye to the good old Android TV remote as Google shuts the project down to roll out its new Google TV remote app. The new tool will fully replace the old one in terms of usability and will remain compatible with all Android TVs manufactured earlier. Let’s see what improvements they have for us. 

Direct Access

As Google says in the release note, it revamped the entire I of the app and its core logic. This resulted in a significantly faster user experience. The new application was also integrated right into the latest Android OS version as well as into the Google TV mobile app that can be installed on the vast majority of Android devices and iOS or iPad OS 12.2 or higher. Once the company ensures full availability of the new app to users, it will delete the older Android TV remote app and stop releasing updates for it. 

It doesn’t mean that your app will be deleted from your device, though. You can still use it if you don’t update your smartphone/tablet and Android TV. Still, if you do update one of the components, you have to do the same with the second one to make things work. To make the new remote app work with your Android TV OS television, you have to update it to Android TV Remote Service 5.0. Fortunately, a manual update is not necessary as Google has already started rolling out automatic updates. 

Once everything is updated, you can access the remote via the Google TV app or by tapping the icon in Quick Settings. 

Not For All Yet

For some reason, the new feature is currently coming only to Android users. There’s no mention of a version for Apple devices on the official website of the service. Perhaps, the company doesn’t see the need to give the feature to a very small user base of Apple owners. Have you already updated the new remote app? Do you find it better than the old one? Spread the word among fellow Android users and post your thoughts in the comment section below.