How to Set Up a Google TV Streamer or Chromecast
Set up Google TV on a Google TV Streamer or Chromecast to watch Netflix, YouTube, and more on any TV with an HDMI port.
3 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Plug the device into your TV's HDMI port
Plug the Google TV Streamer or Chromecast into an HDMI port on your TV. Connect the power cable to the device and plug it into a wall outlet. Switch your TV input to the corresponding HDMI channel.
Step 2. Download the Google Home app on your phone
Search "Google Home" in the App Store or Google Play. Open the app and sign in with your Google account. Tap "+" to add a device and follow the prompts to set up your device.
Quick Tip
Keep your phone near the device during setup — the phone and TV communicate via Bluetooth during the pairing process.
Step 3. Connect to Wi-Fi
During setup, you will be asked to choose your Wi-Fi network and enter the password. The device connects and downloads a software update (takes 3 to 5 minutes).
Step 4. Sign in to your streaming apps
Once set up, you will be prompted to sign into your streaming services (Netflix, YouTube, etc.). Use the remote to type, or open the Google Home app on your phone to type more easily.
Step 5. Browse recommendations on the home screen
The Google TV home screen shows a personalized "For You" feed. Scroll left and right to browse recommendations from all your streaming services at once without opening each app separately.
Google TV is Google's streaming platform. You can get it on Google's own box, the Google TV Streamer (about $100), which replaced the Chromecast with Google TV in 2024. Lower-cost boxes such as Walmart's onn. 4K also run Google TV, and many smart TVs have it built in. If you already own a Chromecast with Google TV, it still works and the steps below are the same. Each of these plugs into your TV's HDMI port and turns it into a smart TV.
Google TV provides access to thousands of streaming apps including Netflix, YouTube, HBO Max, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, and more. It also integrates with Google services — Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Assistant — and works with Google Home smart home devices.
Key advantages of Google TV over basic Chromecast: Earlier Chromecasts required you to cast content from your phone. Google TV has a full remote control and an on-screen interface. So you can browse and watch without needing your phone at all.
Google TV features a personalized home screen that pulls in recommendations from multiple streaming services in one place. Rather than opening each app separately to look for something to watch, Google TV shows a combined "For You" feed based on your preferences.
Google Assistant is built in. Press the microphone button on the remote and say "Show me comedies on Netflix" or "What is the weather tomorrow?" to search and get information hands-free.
Setup takes about 10 minutes and requires a smartphone (Android or iPhone), a Google account, and your home Wi-Fi password.
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