When it comes to installing Apps it may help if you think about them as belonging to two functional groups.
There will be a few that are used to Set up and Maintain your device meaning they are used less frequently.
There will be a whole lot more that let you Stream content or use Services from your favourite sites.
In either case these Apps should automatically receive updates but it's worth checking now and again to see that they are all still relevant.
Click here for the support page at Google named "Install apps on Google TV"
These are all a matter of personal choice depending upon the type of content you intent to watch.
The BBC has now officially listed the iPlayer app with support for Google TV on the new Chromecast.
For the time being [as @ 16/10/2020] it appears that this is the only device with support for iPlayer.
Android Police found that it won’t show in the UK Play Store for devices such as the Nvidia Shield or Xiaomi Mi Box.
If you subscribe to TV service like Virgin Media you will have their decoder box [V6 or whatever] with it's EPG, Films and Box Sets, Live TV, Catch Up TV [streamed over link] and Recorded Programs - all accessed with a dedicated remote handset.
In addition to this you can also install either the Virgin Media Player or the Remote Control for Virgin Apps that are available in the Play Store which give you a similar experience to the physical remote but by using the touch screen of your Android device.
Depending on your TV's features you should be able to get an App to use an Android device as an additional handset.
For example in the case on LG televisions there is an App called LG TV Plus that is available in the Play Store.
There are countless Apps available for streaming content from the web and you may already have some favourites of your own.
You may have heard of TV Tap Pro that provides Films and TV shows but did you know it also lets you watch great sport including some football matches not available elsewhere.
You can also see many more recommendations at the same site called Help For Watching Movies and TV.
There are several handy Apps that you can use to perform housekeeping tasks at set up and then only use them occasionally for carrying out changes.
Click here to see how easy it is to install any App from the Play Store by using the Search [Google Assistant] feature on your Remote Handset.
Click here to see a video by TechDocUK that covers the set up and use of the tvActionsPro App [for a one off cost of around £2 for Android 12 and above from the Aurora Store] that explains how to configure it for a useful Virtual Mouse, and loads of other useful shortcuts [you get to choose 5 active ones from a long list], to a button you choose on your device's handset. The five actions you select are allocated [or mapped] to the 'Up' / 'Down' / 'Left' / 'Right' and 'OK' keys.
The video shows him using the back button to trigger the App but you could for example use the dedicated Netflix button instead, then use it for Netflix and four other actions, meaning the back button still operate as normal.
Click here to see an article by Cordcutterweekly called "26 free TV apps to help you stream for less"
The presenter says he can not find an icon for the Play Store but if you hold down the Assistant Button and say "Open Google Play Store" an it will load showing all the usual options.
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download Background Apps And Process List" which will allow you to see what Apps are running on your device, even after you've stopped using them but they are still running in the background and are therefore unnecessarily hogging resources. The easdy to follow menu system lets you easily identify them and fully close down those you don't require to free up memory etc.
This is a great tip that can be used to provide better solutions than the TV App Repo that is featured lower down this page.
Click here to see a video by TechDoctorUK that provides an alternative solution that overcomes some deficiencies that are sometimes encountered when trying to create shortcuts to be used in browsers on your device. A bonus is that it also shows you how to give your 'app shortcut' a custom name and attach a suitable [png format] icon. The video also shows how to use the site atvlauncher.trekgonewild.de on a PC to generate the apk [pointer] files, then download them to local disk, then transfer to your device using a USB, and finally do the installation with a file mangement tool. The one featured in the video looks like ES File Explorer but other decent file manager will do the same job.
N.B. Click here to see another video on the same topic. The solution is not as elegant as the one above but it does demonstrate [at the midway entry point] how you can use the TVApp Repo App and it's Web Shortcut option to create an 'apk' [pointer] file that will launch this bespoke website. As you see there are some personal links available [possibly hosted at a website or simply a published Google Drive Spreadsheet] to provide easy access to frequently used web addresses - great idea that you can copy if you like.
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download Downloader"
Once installed you can use the mail search/URL box on screen to download and install the ad-on called browser.aftvnews.com that extends the browser functionality.
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download File Commander"
N.B.
This App is also recommended by Robby @ Chrome Unboxed for sideloading Apps not available on the Play Store.
Click here for Robby's video that shows how to use File Commander in conjunction with a storage area like your Google Drive.
He recommends that you create a specific folder for this, say "All APKs", in your Google Drive and that you obtain [non Play Store] APKs from a trusted source such as APK Mirror
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download Nebula Manager"
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download Puffin TV" although you might find the TV Bro App [see below] a better proposition.
Not available from Play Store for this device but it can be sideloaded by following this video guide. This approach requires ....
'Dev Mode' to be configured on the Chromecast and the File Commander App installed - use voice to obtain in Downloader. [See Settings > System > About > Dev]
A Smartphone or Computer to download the apk fo "Chrome install file" from apkmirror.com "Google Chrome : Fast & Secure" for ARM, and move it to Google Drive. [Share to Drive > Upload]
Open the File Commander on Chromecast to access Cloud > Drive and install Chrome from Drive.
The vlogger points out that using the standard handset is not very satisfactory and he recommends using a better bluetooth device with keyboard etc.
When ready you'll notice that the Chrome App is not listed in usual App menu, but can be found at Settings > Apps > See All Apps
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download Sideload Launcher"
This is a no brainer. It is a highly customised browser with really useful built in features These are listed below, including the "download manager" that is great for sideloading ...
Optimised for Android TV OS
Free to use web browser
Simple navigation and user-interface
Easy Settings configuration
Smooth video playback
Works on all Android TV devices running Android OS
Quick page loading and rendering speed
Built-in download manager
Voice search support
Support for tabs and bookmarks
Click here to see a Stream & Tech NOW video that gives download details [from the Vloggers Filelinked store using his code 51829986] before he goes over the key features for downloading APK files [not available in the Play Store] from any hosting website. He also demonstrates using the X-plore App [recommended file manager] available via his Filelinked store.
Click here to go straight to a middle section of a video that shows how to install the Virtual Mouse App. The presenter says there are issues activating it [at present] with the supplied handset and advises using another type, such as an Amazon TV Remote, which has the additional button "Play" button that works well with a double click.
See recommendations for online streaming of TV and Movies at the Sites page.
Click here for details of many Android Apps that are covered more fully in another Help site.
These are a couple of more no brainers that make it a lot easier to manually install and maintain whatever other Android Apps you are interested in using.
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download Google Duo"
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download JustWatch"
Click here to a video on the use of the App. It aggregates content from different services in a similar way to the Chromecast with Google TV software and can be used 'as is' or it could be used as a 'substitute' for the the Chromecast feature that can be turned off to 'tidy' the standard user interface.
If you just want to install this App you need to use the Downloader then visit mobdro.bz where you will see a button to download the current apk file to local storage - you can then click on it to complete the installation.
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download Old Movies"
If you just want to install a single App you can simply select the Search icon then hold the Assistant Button and say "Download Pluto TV"
Available on Web and by Android App - Free 'full' service via App ?
Available on Web and by Android App
Click here to see Free Tech video. Perhaps not the flashest of Apps with the latest 'Box Office' films but it does provide a good variety of choice and, very importantly, it does NOT require the use of a VPN [why can't they all be like this ?] so you can watch streams from around the world. As the presenter mentions he has observed a 'black screen' occasionally that only lasts a second or two and suggests that this might just where adverts have been removed automatically - o.k. by me !
The video tells you how to install the App but if you are already familiar with using "Downloader" on your device just launch it and enter either "LETSCRACKON.ORG" or the code "71940" and press "GO" - now wait for go.aftvnews.com/71940 to load / be redirected to https://letscrackon.org
Use the menu to select "Downloads" then when the page appears there will likely be a big advert on screen - just close it by clicking the "X" near the top right corner.
Now that you can see the page properly scroll down to the section "LIVE TV & MOVIES" where there is a list of what is available. You will find an entry for XUMO near the bottom of the list - just click it and it's page will load. You can now page down to locate the blue "DOWNLOAD" button - just click on it and follow the on screen instructions.
After it installs remember to click the option to "delete apk" on the way out - all done !
Your device comes with a total of 8GB of storage of which there are approximately just 4GB for storing new Apps on. You therefore need to be proactive and delete any Apps that are no longer required.
There are a handful of Apps already installed some of which you may not required and can be removed. However as you acquire more Apps over time space limitations can become a problem so you need to check frequently and keep things tidy.
From the Home screen simply hover over any App you want to remove ....
Long-press the centre button on the top of the remote
Select ‘View details’
Then hit ‘Uninstall’
Simple as that!
Alternatively you can navigate to the Apps section of the Settings menu. from where you can locate and remove any Apps you wish to free up space.
N.B. After set up [and before adding extra storage] there was only 4.4Gig available so removed Spotify and Prime Video in order to save room - these can be re-installed later.
Click here to see a Stream & Tech NOW video that explains 3 different ways of customising your device that you may want to experiment with if you like the way they work.
Click here to see another Stream & Tech NOW video that concentrates on how to get access to his site and install the alternate launcher mechanism. He mentions that this is not always straight forward and that you may need to restart the device and / or 'force close' other apps that may be running as exclusive access is required [temporarily] to ADB debugging feature.
Click here to see 9to5Google article "Android TV: Must-have apps for 2022 [Video]" for a Feb 2022 updated list.
Streamline Your Home Screen [limited]
You can use the built in settings to have "Apps Only" mode but while this looks neat you do lose the use of the microphone for the Google Assistant facility {except in Apps like the Play Store} which you may consider too high a price to pay.
Customise Your Home Screen [fully] with Wolf Launcher
Click here to jump straight to later section of a video by TechDoctorUK that shows you how to install this special launcher that lets you take complete control of the layout and content of your home screen. This includes losing all the ads, and getting some neat widgets, but without breaking the microphone.
Mix It Up
The Wolf Launcher [which is only available for the Chromecast with Google TV devices] and some others can be used in conjunction with the TechDoctorUK's Launcher Manager that lets you dynamically select your preferred interface, so nothing is lost and you can revert to using the standard Google TV layout whenever you want. Click here for a short clip about customising the Wolf interface.
Re-map the buttons on your remote with this App. You can either totally replace the default action of a button or, more usefully, you can assign a different action to the same button so that it reacts differently when pressed in different ways.
e.g. the default action [quick single click] of the Netflix button will launch the Netflix page - however by assigning a long click action [press and hold down] you can trigger something different such as opening the Play Store.
Click here to see a video called "Remap Buttons On Any Android TV Remote", by the popular FREE TECH vlogger, that you might find useful.
Mentioned by some Vloggers - not sure if required due to other installation / maintenance apps
Cross Platform
Mentioned by some Vloggers - RetroArch can run on the usual platforms like Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, but it stands alone in that it can support far more platforms beyond just that.
Supports operating systems that not even Microsoft and Apple themselves support anymore, such as macOS X on PowerPC Macs, and RetroArch being available on Windows OSes as far back as Windows 95.
On top of all that, RetroArch also runs on iOS and Android for tablets and phones, as well as on game consoles like PS2, PS3, PSP, PS Vita, Wii, Wii U, 2DS, 3DS, Switch and more !
Can be obtained with Filelink or Downloader and used to create icons for the Home screen for Apps that have been sideloaded e.g. Zini Tevi.
N.B. See also the "Bespoke App Launch Icons" and the "Nebula Manager" entries in the "Set Up and Maintenance" section near the top of this page.
Click here to go a later section of the above video that shows you how to install a special launcher [only for the Chromecast with Google TV device] that lets you take complete control of the layout and content of your home screen [losing all the ads and getting widgets etc.] without breaking the microphone. It is used in conjunction with the TechDoctorUK's Launcher Manager.