It took a while, but remote-tracking features are finally gaining more traction onsmart TVsandmedia streamers. Yes, you can often use a phone app to control a TV in a pinch, but that’s less convenient than a physical remote, especially when you’re sharing viewing with friends and family. Devices based on Google TV in particular are gaining a Find My Remote feature. Here’s what you need to know about the feature’s compatibility and how to use it when it’s available.
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Which Google TV devices support Find My Remote?
Only one right now
Onn 4K Pro
The Onn 4K Pro is a budget-friendly streaming device that offers 4K Ultra HD resolution and supports popular streaming services.
As of this writing, the only device that actively supports Find My Remote is theOnn 4K Pro Streaming Devicesold by Walmart. The good news is that there’s a hidden reference to the feature in the Android 14 for TV beta, recently spotted byAndroid Authority. This suggests that after Android 14 launches toward the end of 2024, the feature will ultimately become universal, even though it might take a few years.
Why is that? The bad news is that a remote needs some way of responding to Find My Remote, namely a speaker. Some remotes may already have one; however, in other cases, manufacturers will have to release new products. Even if a remote does have a speaker, its host device might not be upgradable to Android 14.
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How to use Find My Remote for Google TV
It’s simple
Implementations may vary depending on your TV or media streamer.
Here’s the general process:
If you don’t see any references to the feature in Settings, even after updating to Android 14, your device and/or remote are probably incompatible. In the future, you might be able to buy an enhanced remote, but we’re not aware of any companies offering that yet.
