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5 essential Google TV apps that have nothing to do with streaming


Google TV (along with Android TV) is one of the most popular smart TV platforms, thanks to its wide availability from brands like TCL, Sony, Hisense, and others. It has a massive selection of streaming apps and services, Gemini built in, and more. But did you know there’s a lot more you can do with that TV?

After you’re done catching up on the latest Netflix special or binge-watching your favorite show on HBO, you should try some of these awesome Google TV apps that have nothing to do with streaming. I’m talking about turning your TV into a web browser, smart home utility hub, a fitness coach, and so much more. It runs on Android, after all, and that gives your TV all sorts of possibilities.

TV Bro (Web Browser)

It’s the most underrated app for your TV

TV Bro app on Google TV Credit: Cory Gunther / How-To Geek

I recently discovered the TV Bro app for Google TV or Android TV, and now it’s one of my favorite apps. It’s essentially a web browser you use on a phone or computer, only fully designed and optimized for a big-screen TV and a remote.

TV Bro is a free, open-source browser built specifically for TV remotes. Not only is navigation and overall usage extremely fast, but it features voice search to avoid typing with a D-Pad, a built-in ad blocker, and so much more.

Yes, that means you can easily check your emails, browse the web, and read the news, view a calendar, or anything else you’d like to do on a TV with a web browser. You can bookmark your favorite streaming sites, play browser games, etc. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it.

Downloader for TV

A file manager and more

Downloader for TV Credit: Downloader for TV

One of the most useful non-streaming apps for any smart TV is a download tool and file manager of sorts. In this case, I’ll recommend the app called Downloader for TV.

It’s a web browser in a sense, but you’ll mainly use it for managing files and downloading APKs to sideload to your Google TV device. If there’s something you want on the TV that’s not available from the Play Store, Downloader for TV is the answer.

Projectivty Home Screen


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Home screen launchers aren’t only for phones.

Once you enable developer options to install apps from unknown sources on your TV, you’re all set. Then, this app becomes the easiest way for you to access, download, and manage third-party software.

A prime example is downloading a new Launcher, like Projectivy, which makes Google TV clean and fast and gets rid of all the junk or continue-watching boxes. If you want to sideload apps, you’ll want a downloader app.

VLC for Android

The best app for local media playback

A VLC Media Player logo on a blue and yellow gradiant Credit: Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek | VLC

Most people have used VLC at some point, and if not, it’s one of the most popular media players around. The VLC app for Android works better than you think on Google TV or Android TV, and if local playback is part of your entertainment plans, you’ll want this app.

If you’re sick of all the content on streaming services or the never-ending price hikes, load up a flash drive or plug your TV into a streaming box, then watch content with VLC. The best part of the app is the endless file format options, but overall, it’s just a great media player.

FitOn Workouts

Get in shape from your living room

FitOn workout app on Google TV Credit: FitOn / Google Play Store

Another thing you’ll want to consider is downloading a few different fitness apps that transform your TV and living room into an at-home gym. Sure, this is “streaming” in a way, but you’re streaming a workout, not a movie or TV show.

FitOn Workouts is one of the most popular options, but you can get apps from Peloton and various other brands, then follow along right from home.

Send Files to TV

Easily send files to the big screen

Transfering and installing an app with Send Files to TV 5

If you’re looking to play local media on your TV, download and sideload apps or other APKs, or do anything with a file on your TV, you’ll need an easy way to get them onto your device. And while we’ve already mentioned a few apps for that, Send Files to TV makes it easier than ever.

Since we can’t use Google’s built-in Quick Share protocol to share things to the big screen, you’ll need to use an alternative like this one. It’s especially easy to send files from a phone to the TV, and I like the app design, fast performance, good transfer speeds, and broad compatibility with different TVs, phones, tablets, and other devices.

More than just a streaming device

Your Google TV is more than just a streaming device. Some of the apps mentioned above should give you a good idea of the possibilities, and are great places to start. Don’t just watch Netflix and call it a day. Instead, use your TV as a command center for anything and everything, from email to workouts.

A few honorable mentions include the Wi-Fi Analyzer app to ensure your TV is using the best connection possible for faster streaming, AirScreen for mirroring content from a phone or tablet to the big screen, or atv Tools that turns your phone into a better remote.



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Android 17 is bringing a major change to multitasking—here’s how it works


After being teased in the second beta, the new “Bubbles” feature is finally available in Android 17 Beta 3. This is the biggest change to Android multitasking since split-screen mode. I had to see how it worked—come along with me.

Now, it should be mentioned that this feature will probably look a bit familiar to Samsung Galaxy owners. One UI also allows for putting apps in floating windows, and they minimize into a floating widget. However, as you’ll see, Google’s approach is more restrained.

App Bubbles in Android 17

There’s a lot to like already

First and foremost, putting an app in a “Bubble” allows it to be used on top of whatever’s happening on the screen. The functionality is essentially identical to Android’s older feature of the exact same name, but now it can be used for apps in addition to messaging conversations.

To bubble an app, simply long-press the app icon anywhere you see it. That includes the home screen, app drawer, and the taskbar on foldables and tablets. Select “Bubble” or the small icon depicting a rectangle with an arrow pointing at a dot in the menu.

Bubbles on a phone screen

The app will immediately open in a floating window on top of your current activity. This is the full version of the app, and it works exactly how it would if you opened it normally. You can’t resize the app bubble, but on large-screen devices, you can choose which side it’s on. To minimize the bubble, simply tap outside of it or do the Home gesture—you won’t actually go to the Home Screen.

Multiple apps can be bubbled together—just repeat the process above—but only one can be shown at a time. This is a key difference compared to One UI’s pop-up windows, which can be resized and tiled anywhere on the screen. Here is also where things vary depending on the type of device you’re using.

If you’re using a phone, the current bubbled apps appear in a row of shortcuts above the window. Tap an app icon, and it will instantly come into view within the bubble. On foldables and tablets, the row of icons is much smaller and below the window.

Another difference is how the app bubbles are minimized. On phones, they live in a floating app icon (or stack of icons) on the edge of the screen. You are free to move this around the screen by dragging it. Tapping the minimized bubble will open the last active app in the bubble. On foldables and tablets, the bubble is minimized to the taskbar (if you have it enabled).

Bubbles on a foldable screen

Now, there are a few things to know about managing bubbles. First, tapping the “+” button in the shortcuts row shows previously dismissed bubbles—it’s not for adding a new app bubble. To dismiss an app bubble, you can drag the icon from the shortcuts row and drop it on the “X” that appears at the bottom of the screen.

To remove the entire bubble completely, simply drag it to the “X” at the bottom of the screen. On phones, there’s also an extra “Manage” button below the window with a “Dismiss bubble” option.

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Bubbles make sense on smaller screens

That’s pretty much all there is to it. As mentioned, there’s definitely not as much freedom with Bubbles as there is with pop-up windows in One UI. The latter allows you to treat apps like windows on a computer screen. Bubbles are a much more confined experience, but the benefit is that you don’t have to do any organizing.

Samsung One UI pop-up windows

Of course, Android has supported using multiple apps at once with split-screen mode for a while. So, what’s the benefit of Bubbles? On phones, especially, split-screen mode makes apps so small that they’re not very useful.

If you’re making a grocery list while checking the store website, you’re stuck in a very small browser window. Bubbles enables you to essentially use two apps in full size at the same time—it’s even quicker than swiping the gesture bar to switch between apps.

If you’d like to give App Bubbles a try, enroll your qualified Pixel phone in the Android Beta Program. The final release of Android 17 is only a few months away (Q2 2026), but this is an exciting feature to check out right now.

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