Google TV · Personalization

Search and control your TV with your voice

The Google TV remote's built-in microphone button (or "Hey Google" on supported devices) lets you search for titles, launch apps, and control playback and smart home devices using Google Assistant.

How to open Voice Search & Google Assistant

  1. Open Settings → Device Preferences → Assistant.
  2. Check whether "Hey Google" detection appears — it's only shown on devices with a far-field microphone.
  3. If available, toggle it on and complete the brief voice-training prompt.

What you should know

  • Press and hold the microphone button on the remote and ask to search for a title, actor, or genre — Google TV searches across your installed apps' catalogs simultaneously.
  • On devices that support hands-free "Hey Google," enable it under Settings → Device Preferences → Assistant → "Hey Google" detection; this requires a device with a far-field microphone, not every Google TV model has one.
  • Set up Assistant routines (e.g., "Movie night" dimming smart lights and launching an app) in the Google Home app, which then run from the same voice command on the TV.

Why it matters

Voice search is often faster and more accurate than typing with a remote's D-pad, especially for cross-app searches — but confusion about which devices support hands-free "Hey Google" versus mic-button-only search is one of the most common Assistant setup questions.

Best practices

  • Use the remote's mic button for on-demand search even on devices without hands-free support — no additional setup is required for that mode.
  • Review linked smart home and account permissions periodically in the Google Home app if Assistant controls devices beyond the TV, to avoid stale device links.
  • Mute the far-field microphone (via the physical switch on supported remotes, if present) when privacy is a concern, rather than disabling Assistant entirely.

Common problems and fixes

"Hey Google" doesn't respond
Confirm the specific device model supports far-field hands-free detection — many Chromecast with Google TV models only support the remote's mic button, not hands-free wake words.
Voice search returns wrong or unrelated results
Check Settings → Accounts & sign-in to confirm the correct Google account or profile is active, since search and recommendations are personalized per signed-in account.

Tips and tricks

  • Say "What can I say" or ask Assistant directly for a list of supported voice commands specific to your device and installed apps.

Frequently asked questions

Does every Google TV device support hands-free "Hey Google"?

No — hands-free wake-word detection requires a far-field microphone in the device or remote, which isn't present on every model; check Settings → Device Preferences → Assistant to see if the option is available on yours.