Google TV, the new software layer on top of Android TV, introduced a whole new way to browse your content on Google’s latest Chromecast. The home screen is now focused on programs and movies recommended for you, and your apps and Play Store are integrated into the launcher as a secondary guide. For many users, this is a simple way to access their installed apps and games, as well as try new ones, but some of us will miss having access to the proper Play Store.
While this tutorial is focused on the Play Store, you can also apply the same steps for two other apps that are pre-installed on Chromecast with Google TV, but are not readily accessible: Google Play Games and Google Play Movies and TV.
Why accessing the full Play Store is important
The Apps guide on Google TV is enough to launch the apps and games you’ve installed, as well as check out new ones to try. You can even use voice search to search for specific applications. But this is where the interface stops. If you want to manage your existing apps, manually check for updates and install and change the settings, you need to access the full Play Store.
The Play Store app has guides for browsing apps and games, but also a proper settings menu where you can manage and update the ones you’ve installed, switch accounts to pick up apps your partner or roommate has purchased, and change some settings at regarding automatic updates, payment methods, parental controls and more.
While all of this can be trivial for most Chromecast users, many of us still enjoy having access and control over these features, and that’s where opening the Play Store app is important.
Method 1: Google Assistant
The easiest way to access the Play Store on 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 really is that easy.
Method 2: application settings
The second method is a little more complicated, but it will be useful if you don’t want to speak out loud or if you prefer to never use the Assistant. Open the side panel of your Chromecast and go to Settings> Apps> See all apps> Show system apps> Google Play Store> Open. The steps are described in the images below.
Method 3: button mapping
This third method will require a bit of setup, but once done, you will have one-button access to the Play Store whenever you want. First, you will need to download the Button Mapper and follow the steps in our previous tutorial to install it and provide the necessary permissions.
When you’re done, open the Button Mapper and choose the remote button you want to use to launch the Play Store. In the images below, I chose the home button, but only when it is touched twice. To configure it, select Home button> Double tap, and in the pop-up, switch to Forms in the drop-down menu and look for Play Store. The steps are described below.
Of all these methods, button mapping is what I like most. I just do the button combination whenever I need to go to the full Play Store app and it starts, without speaking to the Assistant or diving into submenus on six levels.