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Google TV is the name of the brand new interface that Google introduced last year with the latest Chromecast. The layout of the home screen is focused on discovering content that is relevant to you, with access to your applications and settings that are hidden in a secondary window of the UI – but there is no real way to access the full Play Store on the Chromecast with Google TV. At least not obviously. But the Play Store is there – you just have to use one of a few simple tricks to access it.
While this tutorial is focused on the Play Store, you can also apply the same steps to two other apps pre-installed on the Chromecast with Google TV, but not easily accessible: Google Play Games and Google Play Movies & TV.
Why access to the full Play Store is important
The Programs tab on Google TV is enough to start the programs and games you have installed, and to check new ones to try. You can even use voice searches to search for specific programs. But this is where the interface stops. To run your existing apps, manually check and install updates, and change settings, you must have access to the full Play Store.
The Play Store app has tabs to browse through apps and games, but also a proper settings menu where you can manage and update the ones you have installed, swap accounts to change apps your partner or roommate has purchased , and some settings for automatic updates, payment methods, parental controls and more.
While it may be trivial for most Chromecast users, many of us still like access to and control over these features, and this is where opening the Play Store app is important.
Method 1: Google Assistant
The easiest way to access the Play Store on the Chromecast with Google TV is to simply tap the Assistant button on the remote and say “Play Store.”
The Assistant will open the Play Store for you. It’s really as easy as that.
Method 2: App settings
The second method is a bit more involved, but it is useful if you do not want to speak out loud or if you would rather not use Assistant. Open the sidebar on your Chromecast, then go to Settings> Applications> See all applications> Show system apps> Google Play Store> Open. The steps are outlined in the screenshots below.
Method 3: Button Cards
This third method requires a bit of setup, but once done, you have one button to access the Play Store whenever you want. First you need to download Button Mapper and follow the steps in our previous manual to install it and give it the permissions it needs.
When done, open Button Mapper and select the remote button you want to use to launch the Play Store. In the screenshots below, I selected the home button, but only if double-tapped. Choose to set it up Home button> Double tap, and switch to in the popup Applications in the menu and search the Play Store. The steps are outlined below.
Out of all these methods, button cards suit me best. I only do the button combination when I need to go to the full Play Store app and launch it, without talking to Assistant or digging six levels deep into the submenus.