Google TV · Apps

Install, organize, and manage apps on Google TV

Apps on Google TV are installed and managed through the Play Store, with per-app storage, permissions, and default-app controls available under Settings → Apps.

How to open Apps Management

  1. Open Settings → Apps → See all apps.
  2. Select the problem app, then choose Force stop.
  3. Reopen the app from the home screen; if the issue persists, return to the same menu and select Clear cache.

What you should know

  • Open the Play Store app to browse, install, or uninstall apps — search results are filtered to apps built for Android TV OS.
  • Go to Settings → Apps → See all apps to view every installed app, force-stop a misbehaving one, clear its cache or data, or uninstall it.
  • Rearrange or hide apps on the home screen by long-pressing an app icon on the remote or home screen and selecting "Move" or "Remove from home screen".

Why it matters

A slow or frozen Google TV interface is frequently caused by too many background apps or a single app with a corrupted cache, not the device's underlying hardware — clearing cache or force-stopping the offending app resolves most of these without a factory reset.

Best practices

  • Uninstall apps you don't use rather than just removing them from the home screen — unused installed apps still consume storage and can run background processes.
  • Clear an app's cache (not its data) first when troubleshooting, since clearing data signs you out and resets in-app settings.
  • Periodically check Settings → Apps → See all apps for anything with unexpectedly high storage or battery usage as an early sign of a misbehaving app.

Common problems and fixes

An app is stuck or unresponsive
Go to Settings → Apps → See all apps → [app] → Force stop, then reopen it. If it recurs, clear its cache from the same menu.
Can't find an app that used to be on the home screen
Check whether it was uninstalled rather than just hidden — open the Play Store and search for it; if it shows "Install" rather than "Open," it was removed and needs reinstalling.

Tips and tricks

  • Settings → Apps → See all apps also shows notification permissions per app — useful for silencing a chatty streaming app's promotional notifications.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Android apps work on Google TV?

No — only apps published for Android TV OS (a distinct build from phone or tablet Android apps) appear in the Google TV Play Store, which is why some phone apps aren't available.