Alex Ruben
How To Enable a MIDI Device on Your Google TV Streamer 4K and Connect a MIDI Keyboard
This guide is kinda useful if you’re trying to connect a MIDI device—like a USB keyboard or controller—to your Google TV Streamer 4K running Android TV OS 14 or 15. It’s a bit of a hassle sometimes because Android TV isn’t always straightforward with hardware support, especially MIDI. So, if you’re trying to jam, compose, or just test out your music gear, these steps will hopefully get that MIDI device recognized and working. Keep in mind, hardware support can be spotty, and on some setups, the MIDI support might need a bit of fiddling. Usually, it’s about enabling the right developer options and configuring USB settings properly.
How to Enable MIDI Devices on Google TV Streamer 4K
Check your Android TV OS version to make sure it’s compatible
This is step one because, if you’re running an older version, MIDI support might not even be there. Head over to Settings > System > About. Find the Android TV OS build and tap it repeatedly—like seven times—until it says you’re now a developer. The reason? Many of the advanced USB options are hidden behind developer settings. It’s kinda weird, but that’s just how Android works for TVs. Expect the OS version to be 14 or 15; anything older might not have native MIDI support, and you might need custom firmware or workarounds.
Enable Developer Options to unlock more settings
- Go back to System menu once you’ve enabled build info.
- Select Developer Options—it should now be visible.
- If it’s not there, double-check you tapped the build number enough times. Sometimes, it takes a couple of tries.
Enabling developer options is essential because it gives access to USB configuration settings that aren’t available otherwise—really useful for MIDI support. On one setup, it took a couple of reboot attempts for the menu to show up, so don’t be surprised if it’s not instant.
Configure the USB settings for MIDI support
Inside Developer Options, look for Set USB Configuration. It’s often in the Networking section, but on some setups, it’s buried a bit. You want to switch this to include MIDI support; sometimes you’ll see options like Media Transfer Protocol (MTP), Charging only, or USB debugging. Sadly, Android TV doesn’t have a built-in option explicitly labeled “MIDI,” so you might have to use the Audio Source or similar options or rely on the fact that connecting a MIDI device via USB just works after enabling debugging. If not, look into apps like USB MIDI Host or check if your MIDI device shows up in the list when connected.
Connect your MIDI device and test it out
Plug in your MIDI keyboard/controller into a USB port. Because of how Android TV handles USB devices, you might need an OTG adapter if your device isn’t a USB-C or micro USB port. Once plugged in, open a MIDI-compatible app—like a music app or MIDI tester—and see if it detects your hardware. On some setups, the device gets recognized automatically; on others, you need to enable MIDI support in the system settings or through third-party apps like Winhance.
Disabling MIDI support if it causes problems
If things go sideways or your device just refuses to work, go back into Developer Options > Set USB Configuration and pick a different option—maybe stick with Charging only or MTP. Sometimes turning off MIDI support and rebooting helps clear any funky states.
Extra tips & troubleshooting
If MIDI devices aren’t recognized, check if your USB cable or hub is powered properly. Android TV doesn’t always supply enough power for multiple or high-draw MIDI devices, so a powered hub could be needed. Also, try unplugging and plugging back in, or rebooting the whole thing. Sometimes the recognition just needs a kick. Another thing: if your device is recognized but not producing sound or MIDI signals, it’s probably a driver issue—Android TV doesn’t have all the drivers pre-installed, especially for niche MIDI gear.
Summary
- Check your Android TV version is 14 or 15.
- Enable Developer Options by tapping the build number repeatedly.
- Configure USB settings to support MIDI (or use debugging options).
- Connect your MIDI device with a decent cable or powered hub.
- Test with compatible apps, maybe grab a MIDI tester app from the Play Store.
- Revisit settings if recognition issues pop up.
Wrap-up
Getting MIDI devices to work on Google TV isn’t exactly out-of-the-box friendly, but it’s doable if you’re willing to poke around in developer options and USB settings. Sometimes it’s just a matter of rebooting or toggling a few options. Overall, once you get it setup, you should be able to do basic MIDI stuff without much fuss. Just remember, hardware support can be inconsistent, and not every MIDI device plays nice with Android TV. Hopefully, this saves someone some time and annoyance.