I replaced my Google TV remote with this app, and I'm never going back

None of my close friends share the same level of interest in Android as I do, so I try not to harp on about new apps and features to them.

However, one recommendation I always make is to replace the default Google TV launcher with Projectivy.

Usually, the phrase "ad-free" is enough to make them switch to the superior launcher, and I can bask in their admiration for the rest of the day.

However, there's one more crucial app I use with my Google TV.

I don't tend to bring it up like Projectivy (phrases like "wireless debugging" and "developer options" aren't as sexy as "ad-free"), but for me, it's as essential as that launcher.

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By  Sydney Butler

ATVTools is the digital controller I can't live without

Google, take notes

If my friends are sufficiently impressed by Projectivy to listen to me some more, I point out the digital remote in the Google Home app.

"Behold!" I say, indicating the ability to control their TV using their phone, "Now ye need not worry about losing thy remote!"

Light applause follows, and my friends cluster around a phone, marveling at their newfound liberation from physical remotes.

But I have a secret.

Despite my recommendation, I don't use the remote in the Google Home app. Instead, I use ATVTools's remote.

Left: Google Home. Right: ATVTools

I've always been annoyed by the limitations of Google Home's remote. Why is there no input switcher? Why are there no playback controls? Why is there no back button?

This remote is a supplement to your physical remote, as my friends inevitably discover (by which time I have made my escape).

ATVTools's remote, on the other hand, has completely replaced my physical remote.

It does everything I need, plus extras like a strangely in-depth keyboard and a larger and better-positioned swipe control panel.

But ATVTools is much more than a digital remote. It's a fantastically powerful app that has made me enjoy using my Google TV again.

The advanced remote is just the tip of the ATVTools iceberg

It unlocks the door to total control

Through the ATVTools app, I can sideload apps from my phone, manage installed apps, take screenshots, send files, paste text from my phone, clear the app cache, force-stop apps, and check hardware usage.

The tool I've been using the most is the simplest.

I watch a lot of movies and shows by myself, but I love texting friends about my favorite moments while doing so. These texts invariably start with "You know that scene in…" followed by a brief description.

Only then, with the right context, can I talk about what I wanted.

Now, with ATVTools, I tap the screenshot button, tap Share from the pop-up window, and send it to my friends with my reaction.

Simple functionality like that is what I care about. The screen recording tool is also extremely useful, though it sometimes loads too slowly to be truly helpful.

ATVTools gives me the functionality I wanted

Plus some I didn't know I needed

I can't remember the last time I installed an app using the Play Store app on my Google TV. Instead, I install them remotely via the Play Store app for Android, as it's much easier to use.

However, I've never bothered sideloading apps on my Google TV before, as it's frustratingly complicated.

ATVTools simplifies the process by letting you install them from your phone, just like you would in the Play Store app.

The built-in file manager is also incredibly useful.

I don't often need to transfer files between my TV and phone, but, just like sideloading apps, this was mainly because it was overly frustrating.

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ATVTools allows me to access my TV's local storage directly, enabling me to load videos and music onto it from my phone.

Worried about storage? I can check the Info tab to get an approximation of how much I have left.

Finally, I can run shell commands through ATVTools. This is handy for clearing my TV's cache, and it even comes with a bookmarking tool so I can reuse commands.

ATVTools is an essential part of my Google TV experience.

The only catch with ATVTools is that I would only use it with the Pro version. However, this is a one-time purchase, and you can choose how much to contribute, from a minimum of $2.

It's well worth it for me, and I recommend it to anyone who uses their TV for more than accessing streaming channels.

The only personal concern I have is that the app took much longer to set up than I expected.

While enabling developer options on my TV was a breeze, I regularly encountered bugs and errors in the app during setup.

While these disappeared after some forced restarts, I'm worried that the app isn't stable enough to work consistently across all devices.

Nevertheless, I recommend it if you're becoming frustrated with your smart TV.