How to Use the Google TV App as a Remote Control

Google TV is the operating system used on Chromecast with Google TV devices and many smart TVs from Sony, TCL, and other brands. If you have one of these devices, the free Google TV app for iPhone or Android can turn your phone into a complete remote control — including a keyboard for typing searches, which is much faster than hunting through letters on screen with the physical remote.

The app works over your home Wi-Fi network, so your phone and TV just need to be connected to the same network. Once they're paired, you can use the app to:

• Navigate menus with a touchpad (swipe and tap, just like a trackpad)
• Open Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, or any other app on your TV
• Search for shows and movies by speaking into your phone's microphone (voice search)
• Type quickly using your phone's keyboard instead of the TV remote's letter-by-letter selector
• Adjust volume and change input sources
• Turn the TV on and off (if your TV supports it)

The Google TV app is separate from Google Home, though both are made by Google. The Google TV app is specifically designed for controlling your streaming device, while Google Home manages smart home devices. You want Google TV for this purpose.

This is particularly helpful if you frequently misplace the physical remote, prefer typing on a keyboard, or want to quickly voice-search for something to watch.