Alex Ruben
How To Create Custom Shortcut Buttons on Your Google TV Streamer 4K Remote
When it comes to streaming setups, sometimes the default remote buttons are a bit limiting. You might find yourself toggling between apps all the time, or wishing there was an easier way to launch your favorite service without hunting through menus. The good news is, you can actually customize some of those buttons to open apps directly—saving time and frustration. Whether you’ve got Chromecast with Google TV, an Android TV box, or some other variant, these methods can beef up your remote game. If you’re tired of pressing multiple buttons to get to Netflix or Prime, read on.
How to Fix or Customize Remote Buttons on Google TV Streamer 4K
Method 1: Assigning Apps to the Dedicated Shortcut Button
This is the simplest way—if your remote has programmable buttons, you can get them to launch your favorite apps with a single press. It’s kind of weird, but usually, remotes have at least one dedicated shortcut button meant for customization. On one setup it worked straight outta the box, on another… not so much, but it’s worth a shot.
- Find that special button that seems to do nothing or is labeled for customization. Often, it’s near the volume or power buttons. Sometimes, it’s a little button on the side or the top.
- Press and hold that button. Keep holding. Depending on the model, a menu should pop up on the screen, or maybe you’ll see some options in your device’s settings.
- Head into Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Customize Buttons, or similar. (If you don’t see this, your remote might not support it, or check the manufacturer’s app if they suggest one).
- Choose the button you want to assign a new app to. You might see a list of apps or an option like Favourite Apps. Select it.
- Pick the app you use most—say, Prime Video—from the list of installed apps. If it’s not there, make sure it’s installed and recognized properly by the system.
- Confirm your choice, and voila, that button now launches Prime. On some setups, you might need to restart the device or re-pair the remote for changes to take effect.
On some devices, this setting isn’t super straightforward or available at all, so if it doesn’t work, move on to the next method.
Method 2: Remapping Buttons with Third-Party Apps
This is a little more involved, but sometimes necessary if your remote or TV OS isn’t flexible enough natively. A popular app called Button Mapper can do the heavy lifting. It’s kind of hit-or-miss depending on your hardware and Android version, but it’s worth a try if you’re feeling adventurous.
- Install Button Mapper from the Google Play Store. It’s free and straightforward to set up.
- Open the app, then tap Add Buttons. Make sure your remote is connected or paired beforehand.
- Press the remote button you want to reprogram—say, the Netflix shortcut. The app should detect the button, which might show as something like Button 4 191.
- Tap the detected button in the list, then turn on Customize. Pick Single Tap.
- Choose the app or action you want that button to trigger. For example, select Apple TV or any other app you keep open in your mind. (Note: sometimes this requires navigating to the app’s package name if it’s not listed.)
- Save everything, exit, and test your new setup—press the remapped button to see if it opens the new app. Sometimes you gotta restart your device or reconfigure to get it working right.
This method can be flaky, especially with certain remotes or if your device blocks deep system control. But on some setups, this is the only way to get full control of those shortcut buttons.
Extra Tips & Common Troubleshooting
- Make sure your device’s firmware and remote first-party software are updated—sometimes, old firmware can block customization features.
- Check if the apps you want to assign are actually installed and not hidden or disabled.
- If remapping with Button Mapper isn’t working, try rebooting your device, re-pairing the remote, or clearing app cache.
- In some cases, disabling Bluetooth or recalibrating your remote in Settings > Remotes & Accessories can help.
Wrap-up
Getting those remote buttons to do what you want isn’t always seamless, but with some trial-and-error, you can drastically cut down your navigation time and make everything faster. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of finding the right menu or that perfect app tweak. No magic, just tinkering. Hope it works out, and your setup feels a little more like how you want it—less time hunting, more time binge-watching.
Summary
- Try assigning apps directly via Settings if your remote supports it.
- If not, use Button Mapper or similar apps to remap buttons.
- Make sure your remote and device firmware are up to date.
- Reboot or re-pair if things get weird.
Final thoughts
Honestly, this kind of customization sometimes feels like hitting your head against the wall—because of course, Google and device manufacturers love to make things more complicated than they need to be. But after messing with it a bit, you can end up with a remote that actually works *for you*. Fingers crossed this helps someone save a few taps in their sticky remote routine.