When Amazon announced earlier this year that all future Fire TV Sticks would run Vega OS (Linux) instead of Android, I took that as my cue to move away from my Fire TV Stick 4K Max if I wanted the best Android streaming experience going forward, and the Google TV Streamer seemed like the perfect replacement.
I snagged the Google TV Streamer for just $75 on Prime Day back in June, and I’ve really enjoyed using it ever since. Its user interface is clean, it offers all the freedoms of Android, and, hardware-wise, it’s packed with 32GB of storage and Gigabit Ethernet, both of which were major upgrades over my Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
However, after using the Google TV Streamer through the summer and into the fall, I began experiencing a frustrating issue: lag.
I’ve dealt with lag on every streaming device I’ve owned at one point or another, so I wasn’t exactly surprised when it started happening on my Google TV Streamer. Still, it’s annoying to deal with, especially when I’m just trying to launch an app.
That’s when I decided to dive into the settings menu to find a fix. Fortunately, I not only found a way to eliminate the lag on my Google TV Streamer, but also a way to make all my apps much easier to access. And the best part? It only took turning on one setting.
How I fixed the lag on my Google TV Streamer
One home screen setting solved my problems
At first, when I started experiencing lag on my Google TV Streamer, I thought it was my Wi-FI, so I routed an Ethernet cable to my device, thinking its Gigabit Ethernet port would swoop in and save the day. However, even with a much faster connection, I still got bursts of stuttering every so often, so I knew it wasn’t the culprit.
That’s when I dove into the settings menu to find a fix and came across Apps only mode.
Google TV doesn’t offer much home-screen customization beyond reordering your apps, but it does offer an Apps only mode, a feature Fire TV doesn’t have.
As the name suggests, Apps only Mode transforms your Google TV home screen, so your apps are the sole focus. It removes all the other home screen tabs Google TV has, including Gemini, Movies, and Shows, and leaves only the Home tab.
This means most of the ads and recommendations that Google usually crams onto the home screen are gone, and you’re left with only a Home tab with a single row of recommendations, followed by all your apps listed in a grid view (as you can see in the image above).
Since Apps only mode cuts down on so much of the clutter the Google TV home screen has, particularly all the personalized recommendations and ads, this frees up a lot of your device’s system resources, as it’s no longer having to process all that information in the background, and it shows.
Ever since I turned on Apps only Mode, my Google TV Streamer has not only performed better and been lag-free, but it’s also been much easier to use. Now, when I turn it on, all my apps appear immediately, and I can jump right into streaming instead of wading through all the clutter the Google TV home screen usually has.
How to enable Apps only mode
To enable Apps only mode on your Google TV Streamer, all you have to do is select Quick Settings in the top navigation bar, then navigate to All settings > Accounts & Profiles. Then select your profile and scroll down to Apps only mode.
From there, you can toggle it on, and once you do, a screen will appear prompting you to confirm it.
Once Apps only mode is enabled, your Google TV home screen will instantly transform into the minimalistic look I described earlier, with all your apps front and center.
That said, there are a few caveats to be aware of with Apps only mode, the main one being that you can’t install any new apps while it’s enabled. If there’s an app you want, you’ll have to turn it off, go to the Apps screen to search for it, and download it, then re-enable Apps only mode once that’s done.
You also can’t use voice search while Apps only mode is enabled. I personally never use voice search, so this doesn’t really bother me, but if you use it often, it’s something to be aware of.
QuizGoogle Chromecast
Trivia challenge
From the original dongle to Google TV — how well do you know Google’s streaming stick?
HardwareHistoryFeaturesStreamingGoogle TV
In what year did Google first launch the original Chromecast?
Correct! Google unveiled the original Chromecast in July 2013 at a price of just $35. It was a surprise hit, selling out almost immediately after launch and popularising the idea of casting content from a phone to a TV.
Not quite. The original Chromecast launched in July 2013. It debuted at just $35 and quickly became one of Google’s best-selling hardware products, helping to mainstream the concept of smartphone-to-TV streaming.
What shape was the original first-generation Chromecast dongle?
Correct! The original Chromecast had a distinctive circular disc shape with an HDMI connector sticking out. This design was later updated in the second generation, which retained the round form but added a more flexible HDMI cable.
Not quite. The original Chromecast was a small circular disc with an HDMI connector. It was compact enough to sit mostly hidden behind your TV, which was a key part of its appeal over bulkier set-top boxes.
What is the core technology that allows a phone or laptop to send content to a Chromecast called?
Correct! Google Cast is the underlying protocol that powers Chromecast. Rather than mirroring a screen, it tells the Chromecast to fetch and play content directly from the internet, freeing up your phone’s battery and processing power.
Not quite. The technology is called Google Cast. Unlike simple screen mirroring, Google Cast instructs the Chromecast to stream content independently from the cloud, meaning your phone acts more like a remote control than a video source.
Which Chromecast model was the first to come with a remote control included in the box?
Correct! The Chromecast with Google TV, released in 2020, was a major departure from previous models because it shipped with a dedicated voice remote. It also introduced a full interface so users could browse apps without needing a phone.
Not quite. It was the Chromecast with Google TV, launched in 2020, that first included a remote control. This marked a significant shift in Google’s strategy, turning Chromecast from a casting accessory into a fully standalone streaming device.
What maximum video resolution did the Chromecast Ultra support at launch in 2016?
Correct! The Chromecast Ultra launched in November 2016 and was Google’s first Chromecast capable of streaming 4K HDR content. It was priced at $69, making it significantly more expensive than the standard Chromecast at the time.
Not quite. The Chromecast Ultra supported 4K HDR streaming when it launched in 2016. It also supported Dolby Vision and HDR10, and was the premium option in Google’s lineup for users with high-end 4K televisions.
Which port does every Chromecast model use to connect to a television?
Correct! All Chromecast devices connect to a TV via HDMI. This makes them compatible with virtually every modern television. The devices draw power separately via a micro-USB or USB-C cable connected to a power adapter.
Not quite. Every Chromecast plugs into an HDMI port on your TV. HDMI carries both audio and video signals digitally, which is why Chromecast can support features like 4K, HDR, and Dolby Audio without any signal degradation.
What was the name of the operating system used on Chromecast devices before Google rebranded it as Google TV in 2020?
Correct! Before Google TV, Chromecast with a full interface ran Android TV. Google TV is actually built on top of Android TV but adds a redesigned content-discovery layer that aggregates recommendations from multiple streaming services in one place.
Not quite. The answer is Android TV. Google rebranded and relaunched the experience as Google TV in 2020, but it is still built on the Android TV foundation. The main difference is Google TV’s unified home screen that pulls content from across different apps.
Which Google assistant feature can be used hands-free on Chromecast with Google TV via a compatible speaker or display?
Correct! Google Assistant is built into Chromecast with Google TV and can also be triggered via a Google Nest speaker or display on the same network. You can use it to launch apps, search for content, or control smart home devices directly from your TV.
Not quite. The correct answer is Google Assistant. It is deeply integrated into Chromecast with Google TV and can be activated via the voice button on the included remote or through a linked Google Nest device on the same Wi-Fi network.
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Other ways to fix lag on your Google TV Streamer
Clearing the cache is a tried-and-true method
If you’ve enabled Apps only Mode on your Google TV Streamer but are still experiencing some lag, there are a couple of additional things you can try to improve performance.
First, I’d try clearing the cache on your device. You can do this by going to All settings > System > Storage > Free up storage > Clear cache. This removes temporary data that apps have stored, such as image thumbnails and preview videos, while still keeping you signed in to your apps. Clearing the cache frees up storage space and can help remove data on your device that causes lag or app crashes.
Another way to make your Google TV Streamer feel faster is by reducing the amount of time its animations take. To do this, you’ll first need to enable Developer Options by going to All settings > System > About and selecting Android TV OS Build seven times. Once you’ve done that, go back to All settings > System and select the new Developer Options menu.
From there, change Window animation scale, Transition animation scale, and Animator duration scale from 1x to 0.5x. This won’t actually make the hardware any faster, but it can make your Google TV Streamer feel noticeably more responsive by speeding up the animations.
