This free app makes Google TV so much better

Google TV is a stable streaming platform, but it surely’s nonetheless a couple of options wanting greatness.

There’s no straightforward option to entry your full app record, as an illustration, and you may’t shortly change between latest apps. Some Google TV gadgets additionally lack devoted fast-forward and rewind buttons, making it more durable to skip by way of video in sure apps.

The upside is you can repair these issues—after which some—with an app referred to as TVQuickActions. Whereas I discussed it a pair weeks in the past in my column on fast app switching, TVQuickActions consists of loads of additional performance that’s price exploring. When you have a Chromecast with Google TV, Walmart Onn 4K Streaming Box, Walmart’s new $15 streaming stick, or a sensible TV operating both Google TV or Android TV, comply with these steps to attain a extra very best TV setup.

Getting began with TVQuickActions

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TVQuickActions is a free download from the Google Play Store. A separate “Pro” version prices $4 and consists of extra customization options, together with a latest app switcher and a sleep timer.

After putting in the app, you’ll must allow a couple of settings to make it work correctly:

• On the “Permit present overlay” immediate, hit “Permit,” then scroll down and allow the “tvQuickActions” toggle. That is required for a few of the app’s further menu options.
• Ignore the “Disable battery optimization” immediate.
• When the “Begin accessibility service” immediate seems, hit “Agree.” You’ll be taken to your gadget’s Accessibility menu. Scroll down and choose tvQuickActions, then hit “Allow.” This lets you remap your distant’s buttons.

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• Within the Professional model, allow utilization entry beneath Settings > Apps > Particular App Entry > Utilization Entry. Be certain that tvQuickActions Professional is enabled this menu, because it’s required for switching between latest apps.

Jared Newman / Foundry

Now, you’re prepared to start out remapping buttons in your Google TV gadget. Beneath, I’ll stroll by way of some methods to do this.

Add an app launcher

To view your full app record on Google TV, you need to go to the house display screen, scroll all the way in which to the tip of “Your Apps” row, then click on the “See all” button. That’s a trouble.

To make issues simpler, TVQuickActions can map the app record to any button in your distant. I recommend utilizing a long-press of the House button:

• In TVQuickActions, choose “Buttons & Actions,” then hit “Add Button.”

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• Click on your distant’s House button.
• Click on “Button motion kind,” then choose “Standard motion.”

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• Click on “Single press,” then head to the Motion tab and choose “Go to house.”

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• Click on “Lengthy press,” then head again to the Motion tab and choose “Open apps aspect menu.”

Jared Newman / Foundry

With these steps, urgent the distant’s house button ought to take you to the house display screen as standard, however holding it down will present your full app record. You need to use this shortcut at any time, even from inside different apps.

On the draw back, this may exchange Google TV’s default fast settings shortcut, which usually seems if you long-press the house button. Should you worth this function, you may map it to a double-tap of the house button as a substitute:

• Again in TVQuickActions, choose “Buttons & Actions,” then choose “Button HOME.”
• Click on “Double press,” then head to the Motion tab and choose “Open notifications.” Your configuration ought to seem as follows:

Jared Newman / Foundry

Remap the app buttons

Jared Newman / Foundry

Most Google TV gadget remotes include preset shortcut buttons for apps comparable to Netflix and YouTube, with no official option to reprogram them.

Unofficially, although, TVQuickActions allows you to remap these buttons to no matter app you need. Right here’s how:

• In TVQuickActions, choose “Buttons & Actions,” then hit “Add Button.”
• Click on the shortcut button you wish to remap.
• Click on “Button motion kind,” then choose “Standard motion.”
• Click on “Single press,” then select an app to assign to the button.
• Optionally, assign different apps to the Double press and Lengthy press.

Add quick ahead and rewind buttons

Jared Newman / Foundry

Some Google TV gadgets, just like the Walmart Onn 4K Streaming Field, don’t have devoted fast-forward and rewind buttons, however they do have channel up/down buttons that you just would possibly probably not want. Remapping these buttons to quick ahead and rewind could also be extra helpful:

• In TVQuickActions, choose “Buttons & Actions,” then hit “Add Button.”
• Click on the distant’s channel up button.
• Click on “Button motion kind,” then choose “Standard motion.”
• Click on “Single press,” head to the Motion tab, then scroll down and choose “Quick ahead.”
• Repeat this course of for the channel down button, selecting “Quick rewind” as a substitute.

Quick-forward and rewind performance varies by app, however in some circumstances having devoted buttons is extra environment friendly than utilizing the directional pad.

Allow quick app switching

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This explicit function requires the Professional model of TVQuickActions, which is a $4 one-time buy. It’s well worth the worth if you need a fast option to bounce between latest apps, which we’ll assign to a long-press and double-press on the again button:

• In TVQuickActions, choose “Buttons & Actions,” then choose “Button BACK.”
• Allow the “Present button” toggle.
• Click on “Double press,” head to the Characteristic tab and choose “Earlier app.”
• Click on “Lengthy press,” head to the Characteristic tab and choose “Latest apps.”

Now, you may long-press the again button to deliver up an app switcher, or double-click the again button to leap on to the final app you have been utilizing.

Add a sleep timer

Jared Newman / Foundry

Whereas some sensible TVs with Google TV might have sleep timers built-in, exterior gamers such because the Chromecast with Google TV don’t. The $4 Professional model of TVQuickActions allows you to add one. Think about mapping it to one in all your distant’s app shortcut buttons:

• In TVQuickActions, choose “Buttons & Actions,” then hit “Add Button.”
• Click on the shortcut button you wish to remap.
• Click on “Button motion kind,” then choose “Standard motion.”
• Click on “Single press,” head to the Characteristic tab and choose “Sleep timer.”

Assign extra shortcuts to a single button

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As a substitute for fundamental button remapping the above, TVQuickActions presents a useful pop-up menu that may retailer as much as 5 of your favourite apps or shortcuts. This may be useful on the Chromecast with Google TV, whose distant doesn’t provide you with many buttons to reassign:

• In TVQuickActions, choose “Buttons & Actions,” then hit “Add Button.”
• Click on the button you wish to remap.
• Underneath “Button motion kind,” be sure that “tvQuickActions panel” is chosen.
• Click on “Button LEFT,” then select one in all your favourite apps.
• Repeat this course of for the Button DOWN, RIGHT, and UP features.
• Optionally map one other app or shortcut to the Button OK operate.

Jared Newman / Foundry

Now, if you press the chosen distant button, you’ll see a bit of pop-up menu with the 4 apps or shortcuts you’ve chosen. Clicking the distant’s directional pad in any route will load the corresponding possibility.

Experiment with it

TVQuickActions has numerous different features to select from, together with a screenshot shortcut, a profile switcher, an influence dialog menu, and extra. Relying in your wants—and the variety of buttons in your distant—it’s possible you’ll wish to create shortcuts for these features as a substitute of these ones I discussed above.

If at any level you wish to restore your distant’s unique features, simply uninstall the app. That’ll deliver issues again to how they was—limitations and all.

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