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10 Tech How-To

How to Control Android TV from PC

Guide 10-18348 · Updated · Step by step

This guide shows you several ways to control an Android TV or Android TV box from a Windows PC, Mac, or Linux computer. You’ll be able to navigate menus, type text, launch apps, and even mirror your screen—all without picking up the remote. No special hardware is needed; you’ll use built-in features and free software.

What You’ll Need

  • An Android TV device (TV, set-top box, or dongle) running Android TV 9 or later (most devices from 2018 onward).
  • A PC (Windows, macOS, or Linux) with a web browser or the Google Home app installed.
  • Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network. For the best experience, use a 5 GHz network if available.
  • Your Android TV must be signed in to a Google account (for the Google Home method).
  • For ADB control, you’ll need to enable Developer Options on the TV (steps below).

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Using the Google Home App (Easiest)

  1. Install Google Home on your PC. If you’re on Windows, you can run the Android app via the built-in Windows Subsystem for Android (if available) or use an Android emulator. Alternatively, use the Google Home web version at home.google.com in Chrome or Edge.
  2. Open Google Home and sign in with the same Google account used on your Android TV.
  3. Click the Devices icon (a TV/monitor icon) in the top right corner.
  4. Find your Android TV in the list. It should appear under “Local devices” or “Devices”.
  5. Click on your TV to open its control panel.
  6. Use the on-screen remote that appears. You can navigate with the D-pad, press OK, go back, and use the home button. There’s also a volume slider and a mute button.
  7. To type text, click the keyboard icon in the remote. A text field will appear on your PC screen; type and press Enter to send the text to the TV.
  8. To launch apps, you can use the remote’s app shortcuts (if shown) or navigate to the app via the home screen.

Method 2: Using a Web-Based Remote (No App Required)

  1. On your Android TV, go to Settings → Network & Internet → and note the IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.42).
  2. On your PC, open a web browser and navigate to http://<your_tv_ip>:8008 (replace with the actual IP). This is the Android TV remote web interface.
  3. You’ll see a simple web page with a D-pad, OK button, back, home, and volume controls. Click these to control the TV.
  4. This method works without any app and is great for quick control.

Method 3: Using ADB (Advanced, Full Control)

  1. Enable Developer Options on your Android TV: Go to Settings → About → scroll down to “Build” and click it 7 times until “You are now a developer” appears.
  2. Enable USB debugging: Go back to Settings → Developer options → turn on “USB debugging” and “Network debugging” (if available).
  3. Install ADB on your PC: Download the Android Platform Tools (adb, fastboot) from the official Android developer site. Extract the folder.
  4. Open a command prompt/terminal in that folder (on Windows, Shift+Right-click → Open command window here; on Mac/Linux, use cd).
  5. Connect to the TV: Type adb connect <your_tv_ip>:5555 and press Enter. A prompt may appear on the TV asking to allow USB debugging—click OK.
  6. Test the connection: Type adb devices and confirm your TV shows as “device”.
  7. Control the TV: Use ADB commands. For example:
    • adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_HOME – go home
    • adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_DPAD_UP – up arrow
    • adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN – down arrow
    • adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT – left arrow
    • adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_DPAD_RIGHT – right arrow
    • adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_ENTER – OK/Select
    • adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_BACK – back
    • adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_MENU – menu
    • adb shell input text 'Hello' – type text (use %s for spaces)
    • adb shell am start -n com.netflix.ninja/.MainActivity – launch Netflix (replace with other package names)
  8. To disconnect, type adb disconnect.

Method 4: Screen Mirroring (Cast)

  1. On your PC, open Chrome or Edge.
  2. Click the three-dot menu → Cast (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+C).
  3. Select your Android TV from the list of devices.
  4. Choose “Cast desktop” to mirror your entire PC screen, or “Cast tab” to mirror just the current tab.
  5. Your PC screen will appear on the TV. You can then use your PC’s mouse and keyboard to interact with apps that support keyboard input (e.g., YouTube, web browsers).

Common Mistakes

  • Not being on the same network: Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi or LAN. If you have a guest network or VLAN, they won’t see each other.
  • Firewall blocking ADB: Windows Firewall or antivirus may block the ADB connection. Allow adb.exe through the firewall.
  • Using the wrong IP address: Make sure you’re using the correct IP of the TV. It can change if DHCP renews.
  • Not enabling USB debugging: Without it, ADB will not connect.
  • Typing spaces in ADB text: The input text command doesn’t handle spaces directly; use %s instead.

Tips

  • For the Google Home method, make sure your PC’s browser supports the required protocols (Chrome or Edge work best).
  • Use a static IP for your Android TV in your router’s DHCP settings to avoid the IP changing.
  • Create a batch script for common ADB commands to save time.
  • For screen mirroring, use a wired Ethernet connection on your PC if possible for smoother performance.
  • If you have an NVIDIA Shield, you can also use the Shield TV app on PC, but the methods above work for all Android TV devices.

Troubleshooting

  • Google Home can’t find the TV: Ensure the TV is powered on and not in sleep mode. Restart the Google Home app. Check that both devices are on the exact same network (not just same router).
  • Web remote doesn’t load: The port 8008 might be blocked. Try a different browser or disable the firewall temporarily. Also, some TV brands may disable this interface—use an alternative method.
  • ADB connection fails: Verify the IP and port. Try adb kill-server then adb start-server. On the TV, revoke USB debugging permissions and re-authorize. Make sure the TV’s developer options are still enabled.
  • Screen mirroring is laggy: Close other bandwidth-heavy apps. Reduce the resolution of your PC display temporarily. Use a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network.
  • Keyboard input doesn’t work in some apps: Some apps (like Netflix) don’t support text input via ADB or remote. Use the on-screen keyboard via the remote instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need root access on my Android TV?

No. All methods described work on stock, unrooted Android TV devices.

Can I control the TV when it’s in standby mode?

No, the TV must be powered on. Some TVs allow wake-on-LAN, but that’s not covered here.

Is there a way to control the TV without a remote at all?

Yes, if you’ve previously set up ADB over network, you can connect via ADB even if the remote is lost, as long as the TV is on and has network access.

Can I use my PC keyboard to type on the TV?

Yes, with the Google Home app’s keyboard or ADB’s input text command. However, some apps may not accept external keyboard input.

Does this work with Android TV boxes from brands like Xiaomi, TCL, or Sony?

Yes, as long as they run the official Android TV or Google TV operating system. Some proprietary interfaces may have minor differences.

Can I control multiple Android TVs from one PC?

Yes. With Google Home, you can switch between devices. With ADB, you can connect to multiple devices by specifying the IP address for each command.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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