Android TV setup guide - All you need to get started with your new Android TV - Android - Canadian apps and news

Android TV setup guide - All you need to get started with your new Android TV - Android

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Got a new Android TV? Here is how to set it up and everything else you need to know.

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority

So, you’ve got yourself a brand new Android TV that you need to set up from scratch. Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basic setup process for Android TVs. Unlike Android on smartphones, there’s not much software segregation on Android TV devices. If you learn how to set up and use one, you’ve learned how to set up all of them.

Besides showing you where things are on your Android TV and how to use its various features, we’ll also help you with a list of apps you might want to download to get the most out of your Android TV.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at how to set up a new Android TV.

Android TV: Pre-setup requirements

Before you start setting up your Android TV, you need to make a note of a few things that you will need. Check that you have the following:

A Wi-Fi internet connection
A Google Account

If your TV doesn’t have Android TV built-in, you’ll need:

An external Android TV device
One TV or monitor that has HDMI ports and supports High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP)
One HDMI cable (usually provided within the box)

If you have all these prerequisites in place, you are now ready to start setting up your new Android TV. These are three ways you can do that: using your Android phone, using your Android TV remote, or using your computer.

Related: The best Android TV boxes you can get

We’ll detail all those methods bellow. If you’ve already completed the initial set up of your Android TV and want to jump straight to the other sections, you can do so by choosing the appropriate option from the menu on the left.

Initial Setup

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority

Step 1. Turn on your Android TV and pair the remote

Every Android TV has a different process for pairing a remote, and that’s the first thing you’ll have to do when you turn on your TV. By default, most Android TV remotes can only turn on/off your device using an IR connection. A Bluetooth connection is required for every other feature. Follow the steps below to pair your Android TV with its remote.

Turn on your Android TV or monitor attached to Android TV device.
Follow the on-screen instructions to pair your remote.
When the remote connects to the TV, you’ll see a checkmark on the screen.

Step 2. Set up your Android TV

Once you’ve paired your remote, you will get an option to quickly set up your Android TV using your Android phone or tablet. If you select this option, you can transfer account and network details from your Android device to your TV with a few simple clicks. You can skip this option to complete the setup using the remote. You can also set up your Android TV using your computer. Check out the instructions for all the three different methods below.

How to set up an Android TV using an Android phone?

When your TV says, “Quickly set up your TV with your Android phone?” use your remote and select Yes.
On your Android phone, open the pre-installed Google app.
Type or say, “Set up my device.”
Follow the instructions on your phone until you see a code. Make sure the same code shows up on your TV.
On your phone, tap the name of your TV when it shows up.
To finish setup, follow the instructions on your TV.

How to set up an Android TV using the remote?

When your TV says, “Quickly set up your TV with your Android phone?” use your remote to choose Skip.
Connect to Wi-Fi.
You might need to wait for the system to update.
Choose Sign in and then use your remote.
Sign in to your Google Account (you can also skip this step and do it later).
Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup.

How to set up Android TV using a computer?

When your TV says, “Quickly set up your TV with your Android phone?” use your remote to choose Skip.
Connect to the same Wi-Fi network as your smartphone or computer.
On your TV, choose Sign in and then use your computer.
Sign in to your Google Account.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Check for software and app updates

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority

If you’ve completed the steps above, you should be all set to start using your Android TV. The first thing you want to do is check for software updates. To do this head to Settings (gear icon) > Device Preferences > About > System Update.

The latest Android TV version is Android 9 Pie. This should be the software running on most Android TVs right now. If you have a really old Android TV, it might still be stuck on Android 8.0 Oreo, however. If that’s the case, you’ll have to wait for your Android TV OEM to roll out the latest software version. Google has also announced the Android 10 update for Android TV, but it could be ages before it starts rolling out widely.

Just to give you some sense of how slow Android TV updates are rolled out, Android TVs only started getting Android 9 at the end of 2019. So, you can expect Android 10 to rollout sometime around the end of 2020, or even later.

Also read: The best media streaming devices you can buy

App updates are also something you should check for when you first start using your Android TV. You will find several major streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and others, pre-installed on your Android TV. Before you start using them, you can check for app updates by heading to the Google Play Store on your Android TV.

The Play Store is located in the top row of your Android TV homepage. Alternatively, you can find it in the Apps channel on the left side of your home screen.

To update all apps, select Google Play Store, then navigate to the My Apps section on top and click on Update All.

To set apps on auto-update, head to the Settings (gear icon) withing Google Play Store > Auto-update apps > Auto-update apps at any time.

Where things are on your Android TV

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority

The interface

The Android TV UI is pretty simple to navigate. You’ll find all the default channels on the left side of your home screen, such as apps, Netflix, YouTube, Google Play Music, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

On the row beside each channel, you’ll see suggestions for that category. For instance, the apps channel will display suggestions for downloaded apps on your Android TV, the Netflix channel will show streaming suggestions, and so on. We’ll tell you more about customizing these channels below.

Also read: The very best movies on Netflix: Action, comedy, drama, and more

If you’re looking for your TV settings to personalize and adjust things like the picture quality, sound, app permissions, Bluetooth connections, etc, you need to head to the main settings menu. You’ll find the familiar gear icon for your Android TV’s settings on the top right corner of your home screen. Here, you can navigate to all the hardware settings and device preferences for your Android TV device.