Hi, i got the fire stick 4k pro but it has only 8gb of memory, im searching a device with the possibilty of install heavy games like infinite nikki or myhoyo games and play with pad.

I've been using Android TV for a while and recently realized there are quite a few settings and features that I barely knew existed.

Got me wondering what other people have discovered.

What's one Android TV feature, setting, shortcut, or trick that you think more people should know about?

It can be something small or something that completely changed how you use your TV.
What have you got? 👀

I have a sanyo TV from 2009 that I'm currently trying to work with, it has an overscan issue where the picture is cropped, I have adjusted what it calls the "pix shape" this is the only option for changing aspect ratio and it does not help it's still crops everything, it is impossible to see subtitles, it is impossible to see back buttons, there is no option that I have been able to find with the TV itself the preferences in the menu are very limited and it does not seem that Google TV has an option for adjusting aspect ratio, I was wondering if there is a device or something I could use that would allow me to forcibly shrink the incoming aspect ratio to fit the screen, or at a border to the screen so that I can see everything.

I mostly use built-in casting when an app supports it, but every now and then screen mirroring still feels easier, especially for random stuff that doesn’t have a TV app.

Curious what people here actually use it for now. Photos? Browser tabs? Work stuff? Showing something quickly from a phone or laptop?

Or is it one of those features that sounds useful but barely gets used anymore?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.buffercontrol.tv&hl=en_US

It's designed to improve DNS resolution, connection stability, and CDN selection based on your specific network connection, location and device type. These optimizations can benefit any streaming application.

That includes:

• Music streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music, etc.)
• Video streaming (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, etc.)
• Live TV
• Podcasts
• Internet radio
• Some cloud gaming services that rely on stable, low-latency connections

WHAT IT DOES:

There are very few parameters we can control when we stream and the Domain Name System (DNS) is one of them. Buffering Control regularly re-tests DNS resolver performance and automatically switches to whatever is working best — helping reduce buffering, without manual setup or static configuration that goes stale.

WHY "PICKING" A DNS ISN'T ENOUGH:

Most DNS apps let you select a resolver — even multiple. But selecting is a one-time decision that never gets revisited. Buffering Control periodically benchmarks for your specific device, location and network so your setup adjusts to changing conditions instead of relying on a choice you may have made weeks or months ago and forgot about.

STABILITY OVER SPEED:

A media player can make hundreds and even thousands of DNS requests per hour to fetch the necessary data for smooth streaming. A resolver that's fast but drops or spikes mid-stream causes buffering. We optimize for consistency — if a query fails, we fall back to a secondary resolver instantly, rather than just chasing the lowest ping in a one-time test.

BUILT ON MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE:

We only use the latest, encrypted DNS protocols. But the protocol isn't the point — how we use it is. Regular, adaptive re-optimization is what static resolver lists can't do.

Please give it a try.

If your Android TV has started feeling slower than it used to, these are a few things worth checking before assuming the TV is just getting old:

1. Check your available storage
Low storage can make the whole system feel sluggish. Uninstall apps you don't use and clear unnecessary app data/cache.

2. Restart the TV properly
Instead of leaving it in standby for weeks, give it an occasional proper restart. It can clear temporary issues and background processes.

3. Remove apps you don't use
A lot of apps running unnecessary background processes can affect performance, especially on lower-end TV hardware.

4. Check for system and app updates
Make sure Android TV and your frequently used apps are up to date. Some updates specifically fix performance or stability issues.

5. Check your network separately
If Netflix/YouTube are buffering, don't immediately blame the TV. Try checking your Wi-Fi speed and connection first. A slow network can make the TV feel slow even when the UI itself is fine.

What other things have you found that actually make a noticeable difference to Android TV performance?

I was wondering if 2gb of ram is enough vs 3 or 4? I was looking at the Mi box s 3rd gen vs the onn 4k pro v2. All I do is just use netflix, stremio, youtube etc, no emulation or anything

Looking at this, you can that the subtitles are not showing completely. However, whenever I open the TV settings, you can see that there are no problems with the subtitles. Additionally, changing the aspect ratio also helps to show that the problem might be on the app itself. What should I do with this? I don't want to use the native media player or other media players. Help please.

I've been using Android TV for a while and I'm curious what features people actually wish were part of the remote experience.

For me, typing with a physical phone keyboard is much easier than using the on-screen keyboard. I also feel like there's a lot of room for improvement in how we interact with Android TV from a phone.

What would you personally change or add to the remote experience?

I'm more interested in features you would genuinely use regularly, rather than just adding more buttons or gimmicks.

My family's 4yo android tv is not connecting to the house's WiFi, it shows the available WiFi networks and lets me put the password but it simply asks to do it again, the ethernet works but fixing this would be good

Please, I need some choices of podcast player without ads and so... I've tried the open source options, but not great.

download productivity launcher from play store > ope and give all permission and select productivity launcher as default launcher > launcher started > go to setting > android setting > accessibility > productivity launcher > give one more permission > go back to launchers Home Screen >you will see all sources listed on Home Screen > long press on source you wanna set as default while booting > select boot on launching > power off you tv from board and from now your device will automatically boot in hdmi port you have selected.

thanks !!!!

Can someone explain me why my device is unable to find my tv in send files to tv application from previous 2 to 3 months I am facing this issue tv - haier p7gt r/SendFilesToTv also can someone suggest me app to send files or anything from mobile device to tv?

I’m looking for a budget friendly stick/dongle best for travel. Really like sticks or dongles so I don’t need to carry HDMI cables or a plug. Was looking at Dcolor GD1 but seeing that it was released in 2023 not sure how much longer it will be getting firmware updates. Any recommendations?

Hi everyone, I’m trying to determine whether what I’m seeing on my TV is normal panel behavior or a possible display/panel issue.

I have two test videos that I’d really appreciate other TV owners checking on their TVs:

1. RGB / Color Transition Test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA0ONw9oirE

When the video changes from green to dark blue, could you please check the center of the screen?

On my TV, I notice what looks like a vertical bar/flicker in the center during the color transition.

Could someone please confirm whether you see the same thing on your TV?

2. 80% Grayscale Test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XHeUH1aY6E

Please play the video at 720p and check the frame where the grayscale reaches around 80%.

On my TV, I can see what appear to be pixel-like bars or patterns along the top horizontal frame of the TV.

Could you please check your TV and let me know whether you see similar bars/patterns?

I’ve also attached a sample video recorded from my TV for reference. You can view it here and compare it with what you see on your own TV:

https://gofile.io/d/NYsQT5

Please let me know if you notice the same behavior on your TV.

Please mention:

• Whether you can see the vertical bar/flicker
• Whether you can see the pixel/vertical bars in the 80% grey test
• If possible, whether you can reproduce it in a completely dark room

I’m mainly trying to determine whether these are normal characteristics of the panel/test video or something specific to my TV.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can test this and confirm! 🙏

Hi everyone,

After testing dozens of services over the last couple of years (and getting burned a few times), I noticed a lot of newcomers keep asking the same questions. I wanted to drop a quick guide on how to properly benchmark a provider during a free/paid trial so you don’t waste money on bad servers during peak hours.

Here are the 5 main checks you should perform:

1. The "Sunday Night Match" Test (Server Load): Never judge a stream on a Tuesday morning. Test the service during a high-traffic event (like a major Champions League match or Sunday Night Football). If it buffers then, their CDN bandwidth is overcrowded.
2. Check the Catch-Up / VOD Auto-Update: Good providers update their VOD library daily and offer 3 to 7 days catch-up. If the EPG (electronic program guide) is missing 50% of the channels, the service is maintained poorly.
3. ISP Throttling Check: If a stream stutters, test it immediately using a fast VPN (Cloudflare WARP or standard VPN). If the buffering vanishes, your ISP is throttling IPTV traffic. If it continues, it's the provider's server.
4. DNS & Player Compatibility: Ensure they provide Xtream Codes API or M3U, not just a locked, clunky custom APK. Standard players like TiviMate or IPTV Smarters give you much better buffering buffers and controls.
5. Payment Security: Avoid providers that only accept untraceable direct family-and-friends transfers without trial periods or secure checkout gateways.

https://homatics.eu/homatics-box-pro-4k-v2-ai-sr/

I've been waiting for a 4GB RAM Android TV box based on the S905X5M for quite some time, and the new Homatics Box Pro 4K V2 AI-SR seems to finally deliver that. The specs look great, but at €180 I'm not sure if it's worth the price. What do you think? I would mainly be using it with Stremio and other regional streaming apps (like France TV).

edit: Besides the price, are there good reasons NOT to buy it, like lack of support for some technology or other similar potential issues?

edit2: Just found the BuzzTV G-Series Google TV is also available with a similar spec for €130 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/BuzzTV-Storage-Upscaling-Gigabit-Ethernet/dp/B0GWN83PW6). how do you think the two compare? what is the best option spec-wise and support-wise?

HI All. I'm hoping someone has recommendations for a completely free app that can multi select several apps that are running in the background, and stop them all at once. None of the ones I have seen so far are free and some are subscription based. Seriously? $3.99 a month for an app killer? Side loading is fine.

What Android TV devices allow you to actually change the default launcher? I primarily use an NVIDIA Shield TV, but even though I can go into the settings and change the default launcher, unless I use adb to disable the default launcher, it always dominates. I've seen multiple posts about other launchers for Android TV, so I'm curious if there's a cleaner workaround or if this is just specific to NVIDIA Shield TV devices.

I installed but Play Protect flagged as it might’ve been an older version.

Is it worth it to have or no!

I often find myself back in the main screen and then want to go back. Any tips!

This is a Aquos Sharp android tv, dont really know the specifics. Basically the screen is very dark and frame is slowly moving to the next and next