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Article ID : 00258140 / Last Modified : 28/02/2023Print

What is Google TV?

    IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.

    This article describes the main functions of BRAVIA Google TV and how to use them. For more detailed descriptions of functions and the setup process, you can always refer to the Help Guide of your Google TV. You can find your TV's Help Guide on the product page on this support website. Insert your model name in the search to reach your product page. 

    Contents

    What’s Google TV?

    Google TV brings together movies, shows, live TV* (depends on what is available in your country/region), and features your favourite apps and subscription-based services, and organizes them just for you. Discover new things to watch with recommendations based on what you watch and what interests you, from across your subscriptions and content available to you. Ask Google to find movies and shows, answer questions, control smart home devices, and more, using your voice. And with the Google TV app you can watch it anywhere, anytime.

    • To use the full functionality of the TV, logging in to a Google Account is needed.
    • Google Assistant is only available in certain languages and countries/regions.

    How to set up your Google TV

    Set up Google TV

    Select Set up Google TV at the initial setup screen, and complete the network and Google Account settings.

    If you selected Set up basic TV during the initial setup, you can Set up Google TV from the Home or Settings menu.

    Enjoy content and apps

    Enjoy content

    Content from various apps (depending on your country and region) is displayed throughout the For you tab*. Also, content purchased or rented on your Google Account can be accessed directly on the Library tab. Content added to your watchlist will also appear in your library. You can even add to your watchlist from your smartphone while you are out and have the content waiting in your library when you return home.

    Search content and apps with your voice

    Speak to the mic on the TV remote control while pressing the Google Assistant (or MIC) button on the remote control.

    Enjoy preinstalled apps

    The list of installed apps is displayed by selecting See all located at the rightmost position of Your apps on the Home menu.

    Install apps

    Select your favourite apps which are organized by category in the Apps tab. If you want to install an app using a search function, search by voice by pressing the Google Assistant (or MIC) button on your remote control, or search by using the on-screen keyboard. You can also search for the app you want to install from Search for apps under the Apps tab on the Home menu. Be mindful that the Google Play Store app is not displayed on the Home menu.

    Casting from mobile devices

    With Chromecast built-in, you can easily cast your movies, shows, photos and more from your Android™ mobile or iOS device right to your TV.

    AirPlay

    With Apple AirPlay, you can stream movies, music, games, and photos to your television right from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

    Voice Control

    Access Google Assistant or voice search by pressing the Google Assistant (or MIC) button on the remote control. Google Assistant and voice search require an Internet connection and setting up Google TV. 

    Other functions and notes

    Living Decor

    Living Decor is a function that your TV is used as a photo frame, clock, or decorative feature. For instance, you can display your favourite image and sound at a set time by selecting Living Decor for the On timer function.

    Timers and clock

    Timers

    The On timer, Sleep timer, and Alarm are time notifications with sounds that can be set. With the On timer, you can turn on the TV with your favourite channel or input.
    Select Timers & Clock from Your apps or select each timer from (Quick Settings).
    (Alarm can be added from + (Edit) in Quick Settings)

    Clock

    The clock can be displayed on the TV screen all the time, or every hour. To display the clock, select Clock display from Timers & Clock. It is useful to display the clock in cases where you keep watching a video without tracking the time. OLED models can't display the clock all the time, in order to reduce image retention.

    Hands-free voice control (only TVs with built-in MIC)

    To use the built-in MIC on the TV, the Built-in MIC switch needs to be ON, and you'll need to complete the set-up to use the built-in MIC feature. When you press the Google Assistant (or MIC) button on the remote control for the first time, the confirmation message to enable the built-in MIC feature is displayed. If you want to enable the built-in MIC on the TV, turn the feature switch ON by following the on-screen instructions. (The location of the Built-in MIC switch on the TV is illustrated on the screen, but you can also find detailed information in the Reference Guide)

    If there's no response after saying Hey Google or Ok Google followed by a voice command, then the Built-in MIC switch on the TV may be set to OFF. When the Built-in MIC switch is set to OFF, an amber LED (A) light will appear at the bottom of the TV.

    Linking with Smart Speaker (TV Control with Smart Speakers app supported country/region only)

    By linking the TV with your smart speaker supported Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, you can control the TV with your voice. In order to use this function, select the TV Control with Smart Speakers app from Your apps, and sign in to Sony's Cloud Service for Home Entertainment & Sound Products by following the on-screen instructions to complete linking with your smart speaker.

    *Whether the TV supports TV Control with Smart Speakers app depends on your country/region.

    Hint: You can use this app even if you did not select Set up Google TV as a default setting.

    Bring the cinematic experience home, enjoy movies included with BRAVIA XR™ (BRAVIA CORE™)

    BRAVIA CORE is where entertainment meets technology, developed to add value and showcase a unique Sony experience. The BRAVIA CORE app is a video service included with every eligible BRAVIA TV - offering access to a range of the new releases and classic catalogue Sony Pictures Home Entertainment films, the largest IMAX Enhanced movie collection, lossless UHD quality with Pure Stream, behind the scenes Studio Access, and more! Offers vary by market & device. Please visit the Bravia Core website for more information. 

    Availability: BRAVIA CORE is not available, or may not be supported, in every country and language. For applicable countries or regions, refer to the BRAVIA CORE support page.

    Added IMAX Enhanced in the Picture mode setting

    IMAX Enhanced, which is optimised for viewing IMAX Enhanced content the way it was intended, is added to the Picture mode.

    *Google, Google TV, Google Play, Chromecast built-in, and other related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC.
    *iPhone, iPad, Mac and AirPlay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
    *Amazon, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.