of Google TV streamer is Google’s latest TV streaming hardware. Adding new hardware, an all-new form factor, built-in Ethernet ports, and other useful features, Streamer is an improvement over the previous Chromecast with Google TV model in every way. However, Google TV itself focuses on content recommendations, so the interface can be a bit overwhelming.
To simplify things, you can enable a stripped-down “apps only mode” that strips out many bells and whistles (and ads), leaving you with a calmer home screen that’s easier to navigate. Here we explain what app-only activation mode does and how to set it up on Google TV Streamer.
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What is app-only mode on Google TV?
Google TV’s app-only mode is a stripped-down interface designed to bring apps to the forefront and tone down or disable additional features and functionality. App-only mode hides most content recommendations and ads from the Google TV interface, but does not affect the interface or content within individual apps. The large strip of non-personalized suggested content from Google TV’s standard interface will still appear in app-only mode, but other content suggestions will be removed from the interface.
App-only mode also disables some key Google TV features. When you switch to app-only mode, Google TV’s regular[For you],[Live],[Apps],[Library]tab is removed,[Home]Replaced with one tab labeled . This means you can’t access live channels or purchased movies and TV shows from your home screen. App-only mode allows you to access live channels from individual apps (such as Pluto TV), and content purchased through Google Play can be found in the YouTube app. In app-only mode, you can’t install new apps directly from Google TV, but you can add new apps using the Play Store web interface.
You can’t access Google Assistant while App Only mode is enabled. Google TV’s recently added Google Home integration is also disabled in app-only mode. If the Google TV Streamer’s customizable button is set to open the Google Home panel, it will do nothing when app-only mode is active.
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How to enable app-only mode on Google TV Streamer
The app-only mode option is hidden deep within several layers of Google TV’s system settings, but it’s easy to enable if you know where to look. Here’s how to turn on app-only mode on Google TV Streamer. (If you’re using another Google TV device, such as Chromecast with Google TV, the process is the same.)
- Press and hold the home button on your Google TV Streamer remote to open the quick settings panel. All settings.
- Scroll down and click Account and Profile.
- Click the profile for which you want to enable app-only mode.
- Scroll down.
- Please click App only mode.
- A full screen confirmation dialog will appear. click turn on.
If you want to turn off app-only mode again, the steps are the same. Following the steps above while App Only mode is active will restore the standard Google TV interface and functionality.
App-only mode is a trade-off
App-only mode makes the Google TV experience simpler and the OS shows significantly fewer ads, but it comes at a steep price: it disables most features other than opening already installed apps. It will be. However, if you find Google TV’s standard interface too cluttered and just want access to streaming services, it might be worth giving the app-only mode a try.
Google TV streamer
Google TV Streamer is essentially a souped-up version of Chromecast with Google TV. Turning on app-only mode makes navigating the Streamer’s interface easier, but also disables various features, including access to Google Assistant, Google Home integration, and quick access to purchased Google TV content. .
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