“OK Google, play the next item on my Netflix watch List”. Imagine being able to control your tv with Google Home voice assistant. Now stop imagining and do it in real life; you can issue voice commands to your tv with an easy DIY setup using Google Home mini. How do you use Google home in to control tv?
What Is Google Home?
Google Home is aminimalist smartspeaker/hub sold by Google. It was Google’s answer to the Amazon echo. While most people think of the voice assistant when asked about Google Home, the smart speaker can do a lot more. For example, you can use any Google Home smart speaker as a hub to control other smart devices, like television sets, within your home.
Introducing theGoogle HomeMini?
Among the line of smart speakers by Google, the mini is, by far, the cheapest and most popular option to date. The Google Home mini isa miniature but fully-featured version Google home hub similar to the Echo dot. You can use the Google Home mini to control compatible android TV sets or those equipped with a Chromecast dongle using Google cast.
Google Home mini features and pros
- Touch controls
- Multicolored light indicators
- Support for Google cast
- Superior sound recording and volume
- Can control compatible smart home devices
- Affordable-cheapest Google Home speaker
- Built-in Google assistant
- Aesthetically pleasing and functional fabric texture finish
Do you have a Google Home mini or plan to buy one? Here is what you need to do if you want to control your tv with Google Home mini.
How toUse Google Home toControl Tv- Step by The Step Guide?
What You Needto Connect Google Home to Your Tv?
A supported tv with Chromecast built-in or an external Chromecastdongle?
For external Chromecast dongles, you may need to check that your TV supports HDMI-CEC. This feature is required if you want to use Google Home to wake or turn on the tv.
Don’t worry, most modern tv sets from popular brands like Sony, Samsung and the rest have HDMI-CEC support. It may also be listed under a different name like T-Link, RIHD, Easy Link, Bravia Sync, SimpLink among others. Ensure you locate the feature in the TV settings and enable it.
A google Home Mini? With initial setup completed, meaning you can already issue typical voice commands like checking the weather or latest news.
An active WI-FI connection? both the TV and Google Home Mini should be connected to the same Wi-Fi connection.
Smartphone/Tablet (iOS or Android) with Google home App installed.
Once you have all these things in place, it’s time to connect your tv to the Google Home Mini speaker using the following steps.
Turn on your TV and Google Home Mini
Launch the Google Home app on your smartphone and tablet
Locate the menu icon on the top left of the homepage and tap on it then navigate to “More settings” menu itemthen locate the services tab.
Next, tap or select the TVs and speakers’option and tap on the plus icon (+) to add your tv to Google Home.
You will see your Chromecast enabled tv Or Chromecast device listed in the next screen. Select it and tap Add. This will add your tv to the list of supported devices in Google Home Mini. You can start issuing voice commands for your TV via the Google assistant.
Additional Steps-Custom Device Name?
It’s always advisable to give your tv a custom namethat you will use when issuing voice commands. For example, you could say, “OK Google, open Netflix on my bedroom TV” if you have more than one tv in your Google Home setup.
Here is how you can assign names to different TVs in Google Home mini:
Launch the Google Home app on your TV and locate the TV and speaker icon.
Locate the TV or Chromecast you added earlier and tap on its menu icon (three vertical dots) to access its settings.
Tap on the Name and type a custom name on the next screen then save.
Having a custom name gives you the convenience of using a recognizable name and avoiding conflicting outcomes whenever you issue a generic command.
With your Google Home mini connected to your TV, you can use it to control many things and services using voice commands without ever touching the remote. Popular services supported for voice control include but are not limited to:
- Netflix
- HBO Now TV app
- YouTube
- Hulu
- Sling, Among others.
Have fun controlling your TV with Google Home Mini!