Alex Ruben
How To Add a Second Remote to Google TV Streamer 4K and Chromecast with Google TV Effortlessly
Figuring out how to add a second remote on your Google TV device can feel like a small nightmare, especially if you’ve lost the original or just wanna have a spare handy. Usually, it’s not super obvious where the pairing options are, and sometimes the remotes just refuse to connect — or the settings are tucked away. But after messing around with the menus and trying some tricks, it’s pretty straightforward. Doing this means you can easily share control or swap remotes without disconnecting your setup. The catch? It’s best done on the latest Android TV OS versions (14 or 15), but it should work on most recent models.
How to add a second remote in Google TV
Access the settings menu properly
This is step one — kinda obvious, but if you skip it, nothing else works. Turn on your Google TV device and grab your existing remote (or even the app if you’re feeling fancy). Navigate to the top right corner of the home screen and click on the gear icon (Settings) or directly go into Preferences. If your remote is dead or acting fussy, you can also try the side menu by holding the home button and selecting Settings.
Find the “Remotes & Accessories” menu
This part took me a minute because things are kinda buried. Inside Settings, scroll down until you see Remotes & Accessories. Sometimes it’s right there, sometimes you gotta dig through the submenus. Once in, you’ll see a list of paired devices, including your current remote. If you’re unlucky, it might not be visible if your remote isn’t active or properly connected — so make sure your existing remote is working or you’re using the remote app on your phone.
Start pairing your second remote
Here’s where it gets slightly tricky but still doable. Hit the button that says Pair Remote or Accessory. Your TV will start looking for devices. At this point, on your new remote, you’ll want to put it into pairing mode — that usually involves holding down a couple of buttons at once (more on that soon). If you don’t see anything happening, try restarting your TV or toggle Bluetooth off and on; sometimes that helps. Expect the screen to show the new device popping up after a few seconds.
Get your new remote into pairing mode
This part is kinda meh because it depends on the remote model. Usually, you hold down the Back and Home buttons together for about 3–5 seconds until it vibrates or a pairing message appears. Some remotes might need a different combo, like Pairing or a dedicated button. Because of course, each remote has its quirks. If it doesn’t work, check the manual or online for your specific brand. On some setups, the remote might just land into pairing mode immediately when batteries are fresh and you hold the buttons down.
Finish the pairing and verify
Once your remote’s in pairing mode, head back to the TV screen. You should see a new entry — something like “Chromecast Remote” or similar — pop up pretty quickly. Select it. The TV might take a few seconds to confirm. When it’s done, both remotes should now be listed under the Voice Remote section or similar. If it didn’t show up, double-check that your remote is still in pairing mode and close enough to the device. Sometimes, restarting the TV and trying again helps. On some setups, the remote might pair instantly, on others, it takes a bit of patience.
Extra tips & troubleshooting hacks
If the remote refuses to show up, make sure the batteries are fresh and presses aren’t sloppy. Also, confirm your device is on the latest software version because outdated firmware can mess with pairing — check under Settings > System > About > System Update. If it still doesn’t work, try removing the old remote from the list by selecting it in Remotes & Accessories and choosing Unpair. Sometimes, just restarting the device or factory resetting your remote helps, especially if it’s a third-party model.
Wrap-up
All in all, adding a second remote isn’t rocket science, but it does require a little patience and some digging. Usually, if you follow the menu path—Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Pair Remote—you’ll be fine. The main thing is making sure your new remote is in pairing mode at the right time and that your device is updated. After it’s paired, it’s a game changer for households or if you ever wanna leave the original remote somewhere. Just keep trying if it doesn’t work the first time; sometimes it’s just a matter of timing or batteries.
Summary
- Access Settings, then Remotes & Accessories.
- Start pairing mode on the TV and remote.
- Put the new remote into pairing mode (hold Back + Home).
- Wait for the device to recognize the remote and confirm pairing.
- Remove old remotes if needed, update software, and check batteries.
Fingers crossed this helps
Hopefully, this shaves some stress off the process. On some setups, it’s a matter of trying a few times or rebooting the TV. But once it works, it’s all smooth sailing from there — a second remote really does make life easier.