You might as well stick to the Google TV app remote.
What you need to know
- Google releases the Android TV remote in the Google Home app.
- The remote features some of the features found in the Google TV app remote, minus a few notable ones.
- Users will have to dig into the device page to access the remote.
It hasn’t been long since Google brought the remote function to the Google TV app. We heard that the company was working on bringing the feature to Google Home, and that day has finally come, thanks to the latest Google Home app update.
9to5Google spotted the feature, which arrives as part of Google Home version 2.46. It should theoretically make it more accessible to control any of the best Android TVs from the app used to control other smart home devices.
The remote is relatively simple and includes a large touchpad, home button, and Google Assistant button. However, the option to switch to a directional pad is noticeably missing, which is a bummer since it could help navigate certain scenarios. Additionally, it seems there are no volume or mute buttons.
Curiously, Google wouldn’t bring these over to the Google Home app as well, even though they’re present on the Google TV version of the remote.
The remote isn’t as prominently featured in Google Home and appears to be only accessible from the small “Open remote” button at the bottom of the screen when navigating to your device page.
This is in contrast to the large floating button that Google uses for the remote in the Google TV app. Hopefully, Google will make the remote easier to access in a future update. Otherwise, you’d probably be better off using the Google TV app remote to control your Android TV/Google TV or Chromecast with Google TV.
The new update for Google Home should be rolling out to users now (it doesn’t appear to be live on our devices yet), so you’ll be able to try it out yourselves.
Content for you
Chromecast with Google TV
$50 at Best Buy
Make your TV smarter
Chromecast with Google TV is an excellent option for anyone looking for the best smart TV experience. Thanks to Google Assistant and Google’s AI prowess, you can get smart content recommendations and quick, hands-free access to your favorite shows, movies, and apps.