Losing the remote to your TV is arguably one of the most inconvenient experiences in all of human history. That’s probably why the Google TV Steamer (4K) is equipped with a handy button on the back of the device.
When pressed, it makes the accompanying remote control beep repeatedly, allowing you to find it and resume streaming your favorite shows.
If the $100 price tag is just too much for you to endure, fear not. Instead of some high-tech feature that allows you to find your Google TV Streamer remote, you can do what I do: Use your smartphone as a remote until it turns up on its own.
Using your smartphone as a Google TV remote
It’s easy and it’s fun
The interconnectedness of the Google ecosystem is a boon for users, particularly when faced with a lost remote.
If you’re sporting a Google TV product like the old Chromecast with Google TV Streaming, you can download the Google TV app and take advantage of the remote function to control your device as if your physical remote wasn’t lost in the couch somewhere.
When you open the app, there should be a bubble in the lower-right corner that shows how many TVs you can connect to. After you pick your desired TV, you’ll be able to use the interface to turn on Google TV and browse your selection.
Most of the buttons on your remote are available, including the home and back buttons, although the Netflix and YouTube buttons are missing.
Are you trying to quickly skip the intro, but you can’t find the remote? Finding and then opening the app to then select the remote icon can take a bit of time.
Luckily, there is a quick step that can give you access to the remote quickly. The Google TV widget offers a banner of shows to choose and peruse, but there’s also a small icon in the upper right-hand corner that will allow you to instantly open the remote control interface.
There’s no delay on opening like other apps, too, so you should be able to quickly access the remote to skip those pesky intros before it’s too late.
Don’t have a Pixel device or even an Android phone? That’s not a problem. The Google TV app is available across devices on the Play Store, so even your Samsung Galaxy S25 can get access.
Even better, the Google TV app is available on the App Store, so your iPhone 16 will be able to act as your remote if you’ve decided on a Google TV device instead of Apple TV hardware.
It would be nice to have the Google TV Streamer (4K)
The Pixel smartphone remote can’t do it all
To be clear, I’m not saying I won’t eventually buy the Google TV Streamer (4K).
After all, the specs are notably more impressive, offering twice as much RAM and four times as much storage, with Google insisting that it’s 22% faster than its predecessor.
It also offers more AI and Gemini features that can help you decide what you want to watch and provide you with some handy smart home features to control your ecosystem from the couch.
On top of that, using your smartphone as a Google TV remote has limitations.
For starters, the Google TV remote is compatible with soundbars, while the Google TV app on your smartphone is not.
That means that if you have a soundbar and you want to turn the volume up while your remote is lost, you’re out of luck. Like me, you’ll have to stand up and walk to your soundbar, which is worse than giving up on your show halfway through.
Plus, using a touch screen for your remote control needs is simply less intuitive. The physical buttons provide a more seamless experience, allowing you to make selections without looking down at the screen.
If you’re trying to peruse with speed, physical buttons are a must.
On top of all that, not everyone in my home is as tech-savvy as I am. My wife and three-year-old daughter aren’t as ingrained in the Google ecosystem, which means that a lost remote can’t be solved with a smartphone for two-thirds of my household.
There’s always a work around
Google ecosystem for the win
The Google ecosystem is far from perfect. Just last night, I had to factory reset my Google Nest Hub Max to get it to connect to Wi-Fi, and was forced to go through the (admittedly brief) setup process to get my main source of music back online.
Still, in the case of the missing remote, the Google ecosystem provides an easy win, solving one of the world’s biggest problems with something as simple as an app.
Hopefully, they can figure out that soundbar compatibility thing, though, because I can’t keep getting off the couch to turn up the volume when the air conditioning kicks in.
