Alex Ruben
How To Remap the Netflix Button on Your Google TV 4K Streamer Remote
Adjusting the Netflix button on your Google TV Streamer 4K remote can make life simpler—especially if you’re tired of it always opening Netflix when you’d rather use it for something else. It’s kind of weird that these remotes lock you into default apps, but thankfully, there’s a workaround using apps like Button Mapper. This can be a game changer if you want quicker access to your favorite streaming apps or even custom functions. Just a heads up, on some setups, this process works cleanly the first time, and on others, it might need a bit of tinkering or a reboot to get things running smoothly. Because, of course, Google and Android love to make this stuff more complicated than necessary.
How to Fix or Remap Netflix Button on Google TV Remote
Install the Button Mapper App
This is the starting point for assigning new functions to your remote buttons. Why it helps—Button Mapper grants the ability to reprogram what those buttons do, bypassing the stock limitations. Usually, the app needs permission to access your device’s remote inputs, so expect to tap “Allow” when prompted. On some devices, if this doesn’t seem to work right away, a quick restart might be needed.
- Head over to the Google Play Store.
- Search for Button Mapper.
- The official one from “flying Fox” or “Apps & Games” is usually fine—click Install.
Open Button Mapper and Detect Your Netflix Button
Once installed, you gotta tell the app what button you want to remap. This step is a little bit magical because the app scans for all remote buttons—so grab your remote and get ready to press that Netflix button. This tells Button Mapper which key to hijack.
- Launch the Button Mapper app.
- Select Add Buttons.
- Press the Netflix button on your remote when prompted.
- If it’s detected (usually shows a number or label), press Done.
Be aware: sometimes, it might register as “Button 491” or something similar, but don’t sweat it. Just remember which one it is for the next steps.
Remap the Netflix Button to Another App or Function
This is where the magic happens—changing Netflix to do something else. You might want it to open, say, Apple TV or another streaming app. Doing this can save time and frustration, especially if you prefer a different service or want to consolidate buttons.
- Find the added button (it might be labeled Button 491 or similar).
- Enable Customize (you may need to toggle a switch).
- Choose Single Tap as the action type—that’s the simplest way.
- From the list, pick the app or action you want. If your desired app isn’t listed, you can select Open App and browse to the app manually.
- If you want it to open a specific app, you might need to create a custom intent or use a third-party app to launch specific activities, which is a bit messier but doable.
- Press Save.
Honestly, it’s a little trial-and-error, but it works once you find the right app IDs or shortcuts. Just remember—different Android TV devices and remotes might behave differently, so don’t be surprised if this takes a few tries.
Test the New Functionality
Now, go back to your home screen or wherever you normally are. Hit that remapped Netflix button. If everything went right—it should open your chosen app (or perform the assigned action). If not, double-check the button detection, permissions, or try a reboot, because sometimes Android gets stubborn about recognizing input changes.
On some setups, you might have to wipe the cache of Button Mapper or redo the detection process if it doesn’t take on the first try.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here are a few things that trip people up:
- If remapping doesn’t work, make sure your device has granted accessibility permission to Button Mapper under Settings > Accessibility > Services.
- Check if any system updates are available—sometimes, Android updates can reset or block third-party remapping apps.
- Try unplugging the remote Bluetooth or resetting the remote pairing because sometimes the remapper doesn’t override the native input properly.
- Be aware that on some devices, root access might be required for deep remapping, but for most casual users, this isn’t necessary.
Wrap-up
Changing or remapping the Netflix button isn’t too complicated, but it’s far from seamless on some setups. If you’re okay with a little messing around and don’t mind granting permissions, Button Mapper is your best bet. Just keep in mind that updates to Android TV or Google TV might break it temporarily, so check forums or apps latest version info if it stops working.
Hopefully, this saves some time for someone and makes Netflix or other apps more accessible with just a click of a button.
Summary
- Install Button Mapper from Google Play Store
- Detect your Netflix button by pressing it
- Remap it to another app or function of choice
- Test and tweak if needed