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Android TV, Google’s OS for televisions, is one of the best smart TV platforms around. You get quick and easy access to every streaming and music platform, a variety of games and educational apps, and you also have the option to cast from your phone. Like with any operating system, though, Android TV might face software bugs and glitches that make their TVs challenging to use. Here’s a look at some common Android TV problems and how to fix them.
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Note: I used a TCL Android TV running Android 10 for the steps mentioned below. They might be slightly different, depending on the TV you have.
Unlike a regular TV, a smart TV depends on an internet connection to function. If you face any Wi-Fi or network connectivity problems with Android TV, there are a few ways to troubleshoot them.
Users often report slow or sluggish app performance with their Android TV. This is different from when an app fails to load, or loads slowly, likely caused by a slow internet connection.
The dreaded “download pending” error when installing apps from the Google Play Store isn’t just limited to phones, but is also seen on Android TVs.
The TV is unusable without the remote, and it’s a massive problem if it stops working.
Some users say they have problems seeing purchased Google Play movies or TV shows on their Android TV.
If you buy an app, movie, or TV show from the Google Play Store, you might face an issue completing the purchase on your Android TV.
Your set payment method might require additional verification to complete a purchase. Unfortunately, you cannot complete these verification steps on an Android TV. You can try changing payment methods to one that might not require extra verification. The better option is to buy the app, movie, or TV show on another device like your phone or computer.
For an app, select Android TV as the device you want to install the app on. It should automatically show up on your Android TV for movies and TV shows. Go through the account sync steps (see above) if it doesn’t.
With various manufacturers making Android TVs and the changing software, creating a comprehensive how-to guide on Android TV problems without accounting for every model and software version isn’t easy. Every TV maker has a different set of troubleshooting guides worth checking out. Popular Android TV brands include Sony, TCL (Android TV and Google TV), and HiSense.
Google introduced an exciting new interface and renamed its smart TV operating system to Google TV. The row UI you might be familiar with is gone, replaced with content tabs and new section labels. It brings a more unified look while showcasing content from different apps. Google TV also introduced smart home controls, the ability to use Google Photos as screen savers, and after a long wait, the option to set up individual user profiles.
But if you have an older TV, you might be in for a long wait. TV manufacturers like Sony and TCL have committed to updating some of their older models, but neither has set a specific timeline yet. You will get a notification once the update is available. You can also check manually by going to Settings–>Device preferences–>About–>System update–>Network update.
See also: The best Android TV you can get