Alex Ruben
How To Manage USB Audio Routing on Your Google TV Streamer 4K
Getting the audio to work just right on your Google TV Streamer 4K can be a bit of a headache—especially if you’re trying to hook up a fancy external DAC or audio interface via USB. Sometimes the sound either doesn’t output, or it’s all crackly, and you wonder if there’s a hidden menu or secret setting. Luckily, there is a way to toggle USB audio routing, but it’s buried pretty deep in the settings, especially if you need access to developer options. This guide walks through how to do it, step-by-step, so you can finally get that crisp sound without frustration.
How to Fix USB Audio Routing Issues on Google TV Streamer 4K
Access the Settings Menu
Start by getting to the Settings menu on your device. Use that remote to find the gear icon or navigate to Settings from the home screen—usually in the top right corner or in the quick menu. Once you’re in, you’re looking for anything related to device preferences or system controls.
Go to About and Enable Developer Options
Inside Settings, head over to System (sometimes just called Device) and then find About. Now, this part’s kinda weird. Look for the Android TV OS Build entry and press OK on your remote seven times. About the only reason for doing this? To unlock Developer Options. After a few taps, a message should pop up saying you’re now a developer. Weird, but hey, better access to those sneaky settings.
Navigate to Developer Options and Find Media Settings
Back out to the main Settings menu, and you should see Developer Options now. It’ll probably be under System or a separate menu. Dive in and scroll down to the Media section (sometimes it’s just a list of options that are not very obvious). This is where the crazy USB audio stuff lives.
Adjust the USB Audio Routing Setting
Spot the setting called Disable USB Audio Routing. It’s usually enabled by default, which actually disables routing via USB. If your goal is to *enable* USB audio, turn this switch off. If you want to completely disable USB audio routing (maybe for troubleshooting or preventing conflicts), switch it on. This toggle controls whether your external USB devices can send audio signals through the device. From time to time, on some setups, toggling this can fix audio issues or give you more control over what plays where.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
Before diving into complicated fixes, triple-check your connections. Sometimes, a loose USB cable or incompatible device causes more headaches than any setting. If, after tweaking this, the sound still won’t cooperate, try a quick restart—power off, unplug, wait a few seconds, then turn back on. Also, double-check your audio device settings—some DACs or interfaces have their own configs or need drivers, even if they’re just USB audio devices.
And yeah, if you’re messing around in developer options, be cautious. Turning off or on stuff randomly might cause unexpected bugs, but usually, toggling Disable USB Audio Routing is safe enough for just fixing routing issues.
Wrap-up
Once you’ve toggled that setting, your audio should behave better—either routing through your external USB device or staying internal, as needed. It’s kind of strange how hidden these options are, but at least now, there’s a clear way to control it. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of a reboot and a quick toggle, and suddenly everything sounds right again.
Summary
- Head to Settings > System > About and tap Android TV OS Build seven times to unlock developer options.
- Open Developer Options and find Media > Disable USB Audio Routing.
- Toggle the setting depending on whether you want to enable or disable USB audio routing.
- Restart your device if necessary, and test your external audio device.
Fingers crossed this helps
Getting this part of the settings unlocked isn’t immediate or intuitive, but once you do, it makes troubleshooting a whole lot easier. Happy listening, and hopefully, this shaves off a few hours of head-scratching for someone.