Alex Ruben
How To Install a Game on Google TV Streamer 4K: Two Simple Methods
If you’ve been trying to spice up your streaming setup with some gaming, then you probably ran into a few hurdles. Maybe the games don’t show up, or the Google Play Store seems less friendly than expected. Honestly, it’s kind of weird, but sometimes Google TV just doesn’t make installing new apps as straightforward as on regular Android phones. So, here’s a quick rundown of the methods that worked for me, and hopefully, they’ll help get you playing without too much fuss.
Method 1: Install Games via the Google Play Store
This is the most straightforward way if your Google TV’s Play Store is working normally. It’s what you’d do on a phone, but on Google TV, just gotta navigate a bit differently. Works when your TV can connect to the internet and you can access the store. Sometimes it’s just a matter of searching the right way or clearing cache if things act up.
Open the Play Store from the Home Screen
- On your Google TV’s main menu, go to Apps and open the Google Play Store.
This is usually in the list of installed apps. If it’s not immediately visible, try searching for it with the magnifying glass icon — sometimes it’s tucked away in a corner or under “See all apps”.
Search for a game
- Navigate to the top search bar. Type in the game name — say,
Orbia. If you don’t see the search box, you might need to go into the Search menu or use the voice input if your remote supports it (say, “Hey Google, search for Orbia”). - Most of the time, you should see suggestions pop up quickly. If not, double-check your internet connection or try closing and reopening the store.
Install the game
- Once you find your game, click on it, then press Install. Watch the progress bar — sometimes it’s slow, depending on your network speed. Because of course, Google TV has to make it harder than necessary.
- Once installed, launch the game directly from the store or find it in your apps list. Easy as that, usually.
Method 2: Use Voice Commands to Install Games
This one is a bit more hit or miss, depending on how well your voice recognition is working and how well your TV responds. But it’s kinda cool if you can get it to work — no messing around with menus or remote buttons.
Start by accessing system apps
- Press the Settings icon (gear symbol) in the top right or from the main menu.
- Navigate to Apps > See All Apps.
- Look for the toggle to Show System Apps and turn it on — that will expose apps like Google Play Store, which are hidden by default sometimes.
Open the Google Play Store from the list
- Find Google Play Store and open it. It might be a bit clunky, but usually, it opens up just fine.
Search and install with voice
- Tap the search icon inside the store and say, “Install Orbia” or whatever game you want, if your remote supports microphone input.
- Alternatively, you can say, “Hey Google, search for game name on Google Play” — if your TV supports voice commands that include app searches.
- Once the search results come up, select your game and hit Install. Sometimes it’s a bit finicky, but on one setup it worked immediately, on another, not so much. Weird tech stuff.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Because of course, Google TV isn’t perfect, and sometimes you gotta troubleshoot. Make sure your TV is connected to the internet and that everything in Settings > System > About has been checked for updates. Outdated firmware can break app installs or cause weird glitches.
If installing fails or apps won’t load, a quick restart of the device often helps. In some cases, clearing the cache of the Play Store app itself (in Settings > Apps) can resolve persistent issues. Also, enable Unknown Sources if you plan on sideloading APKs, but that’s a different ballgame.
Wrap-up
Honestly, installing games on Google TV isn’t always straightforward, but these methods tend to work pretty well. If the Google Play Store refuses to cooperate, sideloading APKs from trusted sources (like APKPure) might be your next move. Just be careful with what you install, because sometimes security gets lax when manually sideloading.
Summary
- Make sure your internet connection is solid
- Check for TV software updates
- Use the Google Play Store or voice commands to find and install games
- Restart if things go sideways – it fixes most quick glitches
- Consider sideloading APKs if needed, but proceed with caution
Final thoughts
Getting games onto a Google TV can be more of a chase than on regular Android devices, but it’s doable. Sometimes just playing around with the menus and commands is enough to get your favorite titles up and running. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone, and you get your gaming fix sorted without too much hassle.