Google TV app set to roll out replacement for Android TV Remote Control

The long-neglected Android TV Remote Control app looks set to be scrapped as Google TV expands its ecosystem

Google TV
(Image credit: Google)

Having left its Android TV Remote Control app languishing in the Play Store with no updates since 2017 and a 3.5 star rating, it looks like Google is preparing to replace it outright with a new remote control feature in the Google TV app. 

Google TV is an update that rolled out to the Google Play Movies & TV app, which took on the new moniker, so the move will see the remote control app get a new lease on life within the revamped ecosystem. 

XDA Developers' Mishaal Rahman found the feature in Google TV v 4.25, and while it's not been implemented yet, he managed to test it with a few devices, and reports that it's not compatible with Nvidia Shield TVs right now.   

Visually, there's not a lot going on, and it looks practically the same as the Android TV Remote Control app; there's a d-pad with navigation arrows, and that's about it. The app can find nearby devices to connect with, which you can select to kick off the pairing process. You'll need to enter a four-digit PIN code to complete the pairing process, and then you're good to go.    

The feature isn't actually live yet, so unless you're digging around in the code, you won't have to worry about setting it up for now. Google hasn't commented on the new remote control functionality either, but it's almost certainly going to roll out in a not-too-distant Google TV update.  

If Google gadgets are up your street, don't forget to swing by T3's best Chromecast devices to find the best gear for you. 

Shabana Arif

Shabana worked at T3.com as News Editor covering tech and gaming, and has been writing about video games for almost a decade (and playing them since forever). She's had bylines at major gaming sites during her freelance career before settling down here at T3, and has podcasts, streaming, and video content under her belt to boot. Outside of work, she also plays video games and should really think about expanding her hobbies. If you have any tech or gaming tips, shoot over an email or DM her on social media.