Typing text with an Android TV remote control is slow and cumbersome, but there is a faster way to do it: using the mobile as a remote control. This was possible for a long time with the Android TV Remote application, which Google has now eliminated by integrating the remote control into the quick settings of the mobile.
The new Android TV remote control It is available as a quick setting if you have a recent version of Google Play Movies (now Google TV) installed. The problem is that it won’t work until you make some small adjustments to the TV: you need to have a recent version of Android TV Remote Service.
What you need to use the new remote control
Let’s start at the beginning: the new Android TV remote control is part of the Google TV app, still called Google Play Movies in some regions. This application is pre-installed on the vast majority of Android phones, but in case you have disabled it, you will have to enable it again to have access to the new Android TV remote control. You will need to add the shortcut to the quick settings of the mobile, to be able to use it.
This, on the mobile part. On the TV side, you need to have a version of Android TV Remote Service that is 5.0 or higher. This update should arrive soon through Google Play to the televisions with Android TV. You can check the version you have installed on your TV by going to the Settings> Applications> Show system applications and entering Android TV Remote Service.
Update Android TV Remote Service to version 5.0
If you already have Android TV Remote Service 5.0 or higher, then you don’t need to do anything else at the moment. If you have an older version – possibly Android TV Remote Service 4.7 – then you will have to upgrade to a higher version. You can update via Android TV Remote Service APK.
There are several ways to install APK on a TV with Android TV, but possibly one of the simplest is to download the APK to your mobile and send it with an application like Send Files To TV. You must install this application both on mobile and on TV, and both must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Otherwise, the process is simple. On TV, open Send Files to TV and go to Receive. On mobile, tap Send and choose the APK file on your mobile (usually it will be in the download folder). Finally, select the TV in the list of destinations.
The APK file will then be sent to the TV, which should be quite fast as it occupies a small size. Select it, press the button on the remote control and choose Open. This will start the update installation, although if this is your first time using Send Files to TV to install applications, you will need to first give you permission to install APK.
With the permissions in order, the Android TV Remote Service update will install over the current version without any major problem. When done, press the button To open, although the app itself doesn’t show anything. With this, the TV will be ready to use the new remote control integrated into the mobile.
Add the shortcut
The last requirement to use the new Android TV remote control is that you add the new shortcut to the quick settings of the mobile. The process is almost the same on all Android phones: display the notifications completely and press pencil icon, to enter edit mode.
Then, look in the list of available settings -in the lower half- for the button called Remote control. Long tap to be able to drag and drop it where you want in the shortcut list.
Connect the mobile to the TV
Now the easy part is missing: use the TV remote control quick setting on your mobile to open the new and modernized Android TV remote control. Best of all, you don’t need to do anything: detect television quickly. In case you have problems, make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
The first time you connect the Android remote to the Android TV, you will need enter a PIN code on the mobile, which is displayed large on the TV screen. Doing so completes the configuration.
Afterwards, you can use the mobile as touchpad or crosshead to navigate the Android TV menus. The interface of this remote control has been renewed with respect to the previous control, incorporating buttons to call the Assistant, return to the home screen, back and control the volume.
Last but not least, when you select a text box on TV, you can write using the mobile keyboard, which is one of the great advantages of using this system.