Find out how to make your Android TV yours

Times certainly are changing. Not too long ago, setting up your TV was a simple affair involving a handful of cables and nary an account login to be had. With the popularization of smart TVs like Google's Android TV platform, you can count on having to sign in to at least one streaming service, never mind your TV. So, let's look at how to get your Android TV up and running, so you can bask in the best the online entertainment world has to offer.

The first thing you need to know about even the best Android TV devices is that the remote control is the default way to interact with the TV. This means you need to use the directional buttons to highlight a button to press and the center button to click the button. The remote-based navigation is a little cumbersome, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be flying through the user interface.

When you first get your Android TV, be sure to do the basics, like connect it to the wall and any wired external audio devices you might have. From there, you can start setting it up, starting with the internet connection and a Google account.

Let's start by setting up your internet connection. This will vary depending on your situation. If your TV is close to your router, it's always best to use an Ethernet cable plugged into the router to make sure your connection is as stable as possible. If you'll be connecting to Wi-Fi, follow these steps:

Now that you're online, the next best thing to do is connect your Google account to your TV. Use the home button on the control to get back to the home screen, and then follow these steps:

Now that your Google account is connected to your Android TV, you can install apps to get access to more content or even play games if you want to do that. Installing apps on Android TV is much the same as on an Android phone or tablet.

To install an app, make sure you're on the homescreen and follow these steps:

Now that you have your Android TV set up and ready to go, we have a few handy tips and tricks to help you make the best of your smart TV experience.

One of the best things about a smart TV is that you can connect it to other smart devices in your home. For example, if you want a central hub to play music from in your home, you can wirelessly connect your Android TV to the speakers in your lounge or house to elevate the listening experience.

You can also connect a wireless keyboard to make navigation and searching a little easier than using the physical remote control. To connect a Bluetooth device, make sure the device is in pairing mode and, on your TV, go to Settings and find the option called Remotes and accessories. When you select Remotes and accessories, your TV automatically scans for nearby devices that you can connect to.

If you feel like the physical remote is cumbersome to use or want a better input method for those times when you need to search for something on your TV, using the Google TV app on your Android or iOS phone as a remote control is a free, easy workaround that you can try. If you don't like it, you've lost nothing by trying it out.

You can download the app from the Play Store, and we have a guide on how to set up the remote control functionality if you want to give it a go.

This tip mostly applies if you have more than one Android TV in the house, and you frequently connect to it wirelessly using your phone or computer. It also applies f you use your phone as a remote to control the TV. If you think any of that applies to you, or if you want to have a little fun with it, go into settings and rename your Android TV.

Changing the name on your Android TV is a good idea, especially if you wirelessly connect to the TV frequently and have more than one TV from the same manufacturer on your home Wi-Fi network.

Sure, setting up a TV is a little more work nowadays than it was back in the days when you plugged in your cables, and you were off to the races. In exchange for your hard work, you genuinely get a lot more to see, hear, and do on your TV.

Now that you've taken the time to set up your Android TV, it's time to sit back and enjoy it. You can start streaming some of the best new movies and then see where the suggestion algorithms take you.

Julian is a freelance writer with a passion for tech that enriches the human experience, and teaching others how to make the most of their gadgets. As a lifelong techie and Android user with background in product design, Julian has pedantic eye for function over form—an ethos that you'll spot if you ever walk past his cluttered workspace. When he's not clacking away at a keyboard, you can find him gardening, enjoying the outdoors with his family and pets, or playing a PC game.