Alex Ruben
How To Customize and Add a Shortcut Button to Launch Jio Hotstar on Google TV Streamer 4K
Getting frustrated because hitting that button on your Google TV remote doesn’t do anything or just opens some default app? Yeah, that’s pretty common. Sometimes, you want quick access to Jio Hotstar or any other favorite app, but the remote’s default setup doesn’t make that easy. Luckily, there’s a way to reassign one of those shortcut buttons—assuming your remote supports customization. It’s not always straightforward, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the menus or if the latest firmware has made things more complicated. But once you get it set up, launching Jio Hotstar (or any app) with a single press really does save a ton of time. Here’s how to do it, step-by-step, with some tips along the way to avoid common pitfalls.
How to Fix or Reassign Shortcut Buttons on Your Google TV Remote
Method 1: Using Settings Menu for Shortcut Customization
This usually works on Android TV OS 14 or 15 and newer Google TV versions. The idea is to go into the remote settings and assign your favorite app to a specific button. It helps if the remote itself supports customization directly, but sometimes you have to do it through the TV’s settings.
- First, go to Settings > Remotes & Accessories. If you don’t see that, try Device Preferences > Remotes & Accessories. Keep in mind, menu paths can vary slightly depending on the device or firmware version, so poke around if needed.
- Look for an option called Button Customization or Remote Controls. If your device supports it, you’ll find a section where you can remap buttons.
- Select the button you want to change (like the one that doesn’t do much). Then, choose to assign an app shortcut or a specific action instead of its default.
- Pick Jio Hotstar from your installed apps list. If it’s not there, double-check if the app is installed and updated through the Google Play Store.
- Confirm the changes. Now, pressing that button should launch Hotstar instantly. Keep in mind, on some setups, this process might not work perfectly the first time or require a reboot.
Method 2: Using Developer Options & ADB commands
This is more advanced but can be quite effective if the settings menu doesn’t give you what you want. Basically, you connect your Google TV via USB or network debugging to your PC and use adb commands to remap buttons.
- Enable Developer Options: go to Settings > Device Preferences > About, then click Build Number seven times.
- Connect your PC to your TV using a USB-C or network connection with debugging enabled. To activate debugging, go to Developer Options > turn on USB debugging.
- On your PC, open a terminal or command prompt, then type:
adb shellto connect to your device. - Use commands like the following to identify and remap buttons:
adb shell 'dumpsys input' | grep -i keyThis shows key mappings and allows you to reprogram buttons via
input keyeventcommands. - Because it’s kind of weird, but sometimes remapping those keys needs custom scripts or specific apps like Winhance for Windows or similar tools for Android — not always straightforward.
Extra Tips & Troubleshooting
On one setup it might work immediately, on another, it takes a reboot or firmware reset. Make sure your TV’s firmware is fully up-to-date, because old versions sometimes lock down options or make remapping impossible. If the app doesn’t launch even after assigning the shortcut, verify that the app has all permissions enabled — especially if it’s a custom app or one from an unofficial source. Also, check if the app is updated to the latest version, since outdated apps can sometimes break launching from shortcuts.
Wrap-up
Honestly, customizing remote shortcuts can be a bit of a hunt — especially on newer Android TV or Google TV OS versions. But once it’s set, it’s a game changer for fast access to Hotstar or other streaming apps. The key is poking around the menus, updating everything, and sometimes using a bit of tech wizardry via ADB. Not all remotes or TVs support this seamlessly, so patience is your friend here. And yeah, it can feel kinda clunky — like Windows trying to be clever but missing some obvious options — but it’s doable.
Summary
- Check your Settings > Remotes & Accessories for customization options.
- Ensure the app (Jio Hotstar) is updated and installed correctly.
- If simple settings don’t work, try ADB commands after enabling debugging.
- Firmware updates might be needed, so keep your device current.
Final Wrap-up
Fingers crossed this helps out someone tired of pressing the same button and hoping for the best. Sometimes a little bit of tinkering with menus or ADB is all it takes to turn an annoying button into your new fast direct launch. It’s not always elegant, but it works. Just remember, different setups—different results. Good luck!