Alex Ruben
How To Remap YouTube and Netflix Buttons on Your Google TV Streamer 4K Remote
If you’re like many, those dedicated YouTube and Netflix buttons on your Google TV remote can sometimes be more of a hassle than a help. Maybe they open the wrong app, or you just want quicker access to your favorite streaming service or app launcher. The truth is, remapping these buttons isn’t super straightforward out of the box — but with a little tweak using Button Mapper, you can make those buttons do just about anything you want.
This whole process is kinda worth it if you want to cut down the time spent opening apps, especially if those buttons are set to launch apps you hardly use. It’s not perfect, and sometimes it feels like Windows — or Android TV — has to make everything harder than it should, but once it’s done, it makes navigation so much smoother.
How to Fix or Remap the YouTube and Netflix Buttons on Google TV Streamer 4K Remote
Install the Button Mapper App
First, you gotta get Button Mapper from the Google Play Store. This app is the core of everything here. It will let you assign new functions to those stubborn buttons.
- Open Google TV, go to the Apps tab.
- Search for Button Mapper. You might want to ensure it’s the latest version, as older versions can be buggy.
- Download and install it. Yes, it’s that simple — but sometimes it takes a minute due to updates or slow Wi-Fi.
Open the Button Mapper App and Grant Permissions
Before you start remapping, make sure the app has all permissions. On Android TV, this usually means going into Settings > Apps > Button Mapper > Permissions and enabling accessibility or overlay permissions. Without this, it just won’t work. Weird, I know, but Android TV can be finicky about permissions.
Once permissions are sorted, launch Button Mapper. It’ll probably ask for accessibility permissions — grant those, because otherwise, the remapping just fails half the time.
Configure Button Remapping
- In the app, tap on the option to Add Buttons.
- Press the YouTube button on your remote; it should appear in the list. If not, double-check your remote is paired and working.
- Select it and set the button ID – on Android TV remotes, the IDs often are
390for YouTube and191for Netflix, but this can vary a bit depending on the remote and firmware. Sometimes, you might have to use Winhance or a similar tool to get exact button codes if default detection fails. - Set the action to No Action, then enable Customize. This step is kinda weird, but it’s necessary for advanced remap options.
- Configure the tap to be Single Tap.
- From the Actions dropdown, pick Applications (or “Launch App”)
- Choose the app you want to open, e.g., Prime Video for the YouTube button or Gio Store for Netflix, depending on what you prefer.
Remap Netflix Button
Same as the YouTube button, just for Netflix:
- Tap Add Buttons again.
- Press the Netflix button; it should show up. If it doesn’t, double-check button codes or try recalibrating.
- Assign it the button ID
191. Again, sometimes the IDs are different or need a custom lookup. - Make sure to select No Action and turn on Customize.
- Set it to Single Tap and pick whatever app or function you want — like opening the Gio Store or even a launcher app.
Test Everything
Once all the remapping is done, go back to your home screen. Test each button:
- Press the YouTube button — it should now open your chosen app, like Prime Video.
- Press the Netflix button — this one should launch whatever app you assigned, maybe the Gio Store or Netflix itself.
If it’s not working immediately, don’t panic. Sometimes a quick restart of the remote or the TV helps, since Android TV can be weird about updating button functions in real-time.
Extra Tips & Troubleshooting
- Make sure your remote is properly paired to avoid any weird button detection issues.
- Check if the app permissions are granted — accessibility permissions are particularly picky on Android TV.
- If remapping refuses to work, try removing and re-adding the button in Button Mapper, or even uninstalling/reinstalling the app.
- For more precise button codes, some folks use Winhance or a smartphone IR blaster to decode remote signals.
Wrap-up
Getting those dedicated buttons to do what you want isn’t always straightforward, mainly because Android TV can be a pain with button codes and permissions. But once it’s set up, it feels a lot more customized. Just keep in mind, remapping can be a bit sensitive — sometimes it works perfectly, other times you gotta try a few tweaks. Still, it’s pretty satisfying once done.
Summary
- Install Button Mapper from the Google Play Store.
- Grant the necessary permissions (accessibility, overlay).
- Add the buttons you want to remap, find their correct IDs, and assign new apps or functions.
- Test them out and tweak if needed.
- In some cases, you may need to look up or decode button IDs manually.
Conclusion
Remapping those buttons on Google TV Remote isn’t always simple, but with some patience and the right tools, it’s totally doable. This way, you’ll skip the unnecessary app switching and make your streaming setup more efficient. Fingers crossed, this helps cut down your frustration and makes your remote feel more like your personal assistant.