Alex Ruben
How To Adjust Background Process Limits on Google TV Streamer 4K
Messing around with the background process limit on a Google TV Streamer 4K, Chromecast with Google TV, or any Android TV device can actually help boost performance — or at least make it feel snappier. If your device’s getting sluggish, apps are crashing unexpectedly, or scrolling feels laggy, trying this out might give it a second wind. This guide is about unlocking and tweaking developer options to set a cap on how many apps can run in the background. Basically, it’s about giving your device a bit of a performance boost, especially if you’re running HDR or smart home stuff that’s hogging resources. Just be warned: setting this too low might kill background apps you actually need, so a little trial and error might be involved. It’s kind of weird, but on some setups, this change doesn’t stick the first time — a reboot sometimes helps, so don’t lose hope if it seems like nothing changed right away.
How to Fix the Background Process Limit on Google TV
Access the Settings Menu
First, you gotta get into the Settings area. That’s usually straightforward:
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Use the arrow keys to navigate to the top right corner and select Settings. Sometimes it’s a gear icon.
If you’re struggling to find it, the path is often Home > Profile Avatar > Settings.
Navigate to System
Once inside Settings, find the System section:
- Scroll down and select System.
This varies slightly depending on firmware, but it’s usually near the bottom or under device info.
Access About Section and Enable Developer Options
Next stop, you need to unlock those hidden developer settings:
- Within System, go to About.
- Look for Android TV OS build. On some past versions, this is sometimes labeled as Build or Version.
- Tap on Android TV OS build seven times rapidly. You’ll see a little message saying “You are now a developer,” or similar. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries — because of course, Android TV has to make it harder than necessary.
Locate and Change Developer Options
Once activated, go back to System (press back or home and navigate again). ![Note that on some setups, you might see Developer Options directly there. If not, keep going:
- Look for Developer Options. It’s now visible in the menu.
Adjust the Background Process Limit
This is where things get interesting. Inside Developer Options:
- Find the Background process limit setting. It’s often near the bottom of the list.
- The default is usually Standard limit, but you can change it. Options include:
- At most 4 processes
- At most 3 processes
- At most 2 processes
Select what suits your needs. If performance is lagging, dropping down to 2 or 3 might help, but don’t go crazy and set it to just 1 unless you’re sure you don’t want background apps at all. Expect some apps to close automatically when switching between tasks. On some devices, this change might need a reboot to take effect. When in doubt, mellow out and go with 4; it’s the safest middle ground.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Remember, dialing down the process limit can boost responsiveness, but it’s a delicate balance:
- Too low might shut down apps you still need in the background.
- On some setups, setting it lower can cause apps to restart more often, which isn’t ideal for heavy multitasking.
- If you notice weird bugs or performance dips, revert back to Standard limit.
- Sometimes, a reboot after changing settings is necessary — thanks, Android.
Wrap-up
Playing around with the background process limit is a neat way to squeeze a little more juice out of your Google TV device. Not every tweak works perfectly for everyone, but it’s worth a shot if the device feels sluggish or can’t keep apps running properly. Just remember, it’s all about finding that sweet spot — too low, and you might kill useful background apps; too high, and you won’t see much difference. Do some trial runs, maybe reboot, and see how it feels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the background process limit do?
It basically controls how many apps can keep running in the background. Tweak it, and you might see a performance bump, especially if your device was feeling overloaded.
Will lowering the limit break anything?
Probably not, but if you restrict it too much, apps will close faster, or some might not work as intended if they rely on background activity.
Can I revert my changes?
Yep. Just go back into Developer Options and set it back to Standard limit. Easy.
Summary
- Enabled developer options by tapping build info 7 times.
- Found Background process limit in developer options.
- Set it to a lower number for better performance — but watch apps close.
- Reboot sometimes needed.
Final note:
Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours of frustration for someone. It’s not perfect, but hey, it might give that sluggish box a little more pep. Fingers crossed this helps.