7 Most Common Problems With Android TV (Explained) | TechPenny (2024)

Android TVs might be the future of television for many, but they still come with some issues.

But luckily, these issues are fairly easy to fix.

1. Android TV Won’t Connect via Wi-Fi

One of the most common issues for any smart TV, regardless of the operating system, is Wi-Fi connectivity.

Many factors contribute to poor Wi-Fi connectivity, but the most common is the distance from the Wi-Fi router to the Android TV.

• Ideally, you should keep your TV as close as possible to the router.
• You can try installing Wi-Fi repeaters and extenders if the router is too far.

Now, should other devices connect to the Wi-Fi, but your TV still can’t connect, consider doing some troubleshooting.

Here are some steps that can resolve your Wi-Fi issues.

Date and time settings

• Open the Settings or the gear icon at the upper right corner.
• Then go to Device Preferences.
• Under Device preference, go to Date and Time, then select Automatic Date and Time.
• For this option, make sure you select Use the network-provided time.

Resetting your router

• Turn off the router and unplug it for two minutes, then turn it on again.

Reset Network

• Open your Network and Internet option under the Settings menu.
• Make sure that Wi-Fi is on, then open the Wi-Fi access point.
• Go to the bottom of the menu and select Forget Network.
• Then reconnect to the Wi-Fi network and re-enter your password.

Proxy settings

• Open your Network and Internet option under the Settings menu.
• Make sure that Wi-Fi is on, then open the Wi-Fi access point.
• Set the Proxy to none and the IP settings to DHCP, which you will find under the Wi-Fi access point.

Router settings

If your Wi-Fi network does not appear on your Android TV, you will need to make adjustments to the router.

Using a computer or smartphone that’s already connected to the Wi-Fi network, follow these steps:

• Input the IP address of your router, often 192.168.0.1, on a browser.
• Look for the SSID Broadcast setting and check if it’s on.
• The SSID setting is usually found under the Wireless section.
• Turning it on makes your Wi-Fi network detectable.

Bandwidth

Another thing to check is if your TV supports 5 GHz bandwidth. The newer Wi-Fi routers support both 2.4 and 5 GHz bandwidth. If your TV does not support 5 GHz bandwidth, you will need to connect to 2.4 GHz bandwidth.

To ensure that your Wi-Fi router broadcasts for both bandwidths, follow these steps:

• Open the Wireless Settings of the router and enable wireless radio for both bandwidth channels.
• Should your TV support both bandwidths, it is highly recommended to connect to the 5 GHz frequency, as it can handle congestions better.

Hotspot

If you are using your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot for your TV, and you’re experiencing no connection, you need to disable the data saver. You can find this in the Settings menu, under Network and Internet.

Factory Reset

The last resort would be to factory reset your Android TV.

There are two kinds of resets for Android TV: soft reset and hard reset. A soft reset is easier to do and can be done using the TV settings. A hard reset is used to access recovery mode and is often used when you cannot access the System settings.

To do a soft reset:

• Go to the Settings and look for the Storage and Reset menu under Device.
• Select Factory Data Reset, then select Erase everything.
• Your TV will wipe out all data and restore the system to the same state from purchase.

For a hard reset:

• Unplug your TV then press and hold the reset button at the bottom of the TV.
• While holding reset, plug back the TV and keep holding until Google appears on the screen.
• Once you see the Normal Boot option, press the reset button to switch to Recovery mode.
• Press and hold the reset button for two seconds for Recovery. The Android mascot with a red exclamation mark will appear onscreen.
• Press and hold the reset button for two seconds to pull up the menu.
• Press the reset button to scroll down until you select Wipe Data/Factory Reset.
• Press and hold for two seconds to select, then press and hold the button once more for two seconds to select Yes.
• After this process, the TV will wipe out all data, and return the system to a clean slate.

This can also be a problem related to the specific model. Check problems with Bush TVs here.

2. Android TV Streams Pixelated Videos

There may be some occasions when the videos streamed on an Android TV appears pixelated.

• Pixilation happens when your TV is not getting enough Internet speed for the resolution set, as streaming apps have required speeds for streaming content.
• Often, you will need five Mbps to stream in HD, while 4k resolutions need at least 25 Mbps.
• If your Internet speed does not meet these prerequisites, streaming apps will adjust to your Internet speed or stream at the resolution set, but the video will stutter.

The best way to resolve this is to disconnect any other device that may be hogging the Internet connection so it can all be devoted to your streaming!

3. Google Play Store Crashes During App Installation

There are instances when the Google Play Store does not function properly. There may be times the TV crashes during the installation of an app, or the Play Store itself crashes.

To fix this issue, you will need to access App Menu under the Settings.

• Look for Google Play Store, and open its Settings.
• From here, you need to select Clear Cache.
• You may also opt to restart the TV after and check if it solves the problem.
• If it still does not work, you can also opt to Clear Data under the same App Menu, then restart the TV.

In the worst-case scenario, you would need to do a Factory Reset, which is outlined in Question 1, but that is for extreme circ*mstances.

4. Netflix Won’t Stream in 4k

There are two reasons that Netflix would be unable to stream in 4k.

The first is your Internet connection.

Netflix automatically adjusts the video resolution to match the speed of your connection.

Should your Internet connection be normal but Netflix still does not stream in 4k, it could be that your TV is not included on the 4k-certified list.

Netflix only allows 4k streaming on select 4k TVs.

• A good example of an Android TV that is Netflix-certified and will stream in 4k is the Sony A8H.
• You may check this list to see if your TV is part of the Netflix-certified devices.
• If your Android TV is not part of the list, it means your TV cannot stream in 4k.

This is a known issue with Netflix, and you can read more in our article listing typical problems with Netflix.

5. Android TV is Slow

There are times when an app’s performance can be quite sluggish. It may launch slowly, or actions and commands are not immediately reflected on the TV’s screen.

We have made a quick guide on how to speed up your smart TV.

Should this happen, try clearing the cache of the app that is sluggish.

• You may also choose to restart the TV after clearing the app cache.
• You should also check for any app updates, as these may contain fixes to performance issues.

Another contributor to lagging performance is the remote control.

• Many smart TVs on the market come with a remote control app that you can download in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
• To check if the remote control is the culprit, download the smartphone remote control app and use it with your TV.
• If it’s working normally, then the remote control is the problem.
• Should this be the case, a simple battery replacement for the remote is in order.

6. Android TV Turns Off at Random

If your Android TV turns off at random times, this issue might be because of the Daydream or Screen Saver settings.

Make sure to turn off this option under the Device Option or Screen Saver menu in the Settings.

Also, check your Timers in the Power menu of the TV. You can turn off the timer there.

If it still does not work, you may need to factory reset your TV. Should the problem persist after the reset, there may be a defective component in the TV and will need servicing.

7. Poor or No Audio

You may notice audio issues with your Android TV such as weak volume or no audio outputs.

To diagnose this, you should adjust the volume of the TV and try other video services. If the issue is consistent with different content, there is something wrong with the system.

A good way to fix this is to restart the TV.

• Restarting the TV entails turning off the TV and unplugging it from the power source.
• If you are using an Android box, just unplug its power adapter.
• Restart the TV using the remote control by holding the power button until a pop-up menu appears, then select Restart.

If restarting does not fix the issue, you should check for firmware updates. If there is no firmware update, you may have to Factory Reset your TV.

If a Factory Reset does not fix the sound issues, it means that the issue is with the hardware. A qualified technician can help you fix the problem.

General Pros and Cons of Android TV

Here are a few great things about Android TVs.

There are more options to choose from

One of the biggest advantages of Android TVs is the availability of options.

• Unlike other smart TV platforms, there is no monopoly over the usage of the Android TV platform. Many brands use it, and these options also come with a wider price range to choose from.
• If you’re on a budget, you can get budget-friendly Android TVs, and should you be willing to spend more, you can go for a top-of-the-line Sony.
• If you already have a decent TV but want to upgrade systems for a low price, you can opt for Android TV boxes.

Given the possibilities, you won’t have a problem choosing an Android TV that suits your needs.

Access to the Google Play Store

Android TV gives you access to thousands of apps on the Google Play Store.

You won’t run out of apps to try, as the Google Play Store is one of the biggest app repositories on the market.

Integration with Google Chromecast

Many of the newer Android TVs come with Google Chromecast integrated into the system.

• The Chromecast integration lets you take content from your smartphone to the big screen.
• As some apps may not be available for Android TV, there’s a good chance it may work with Chromecast through a smartphone app.
• This gives you more options for streaming content from your smartphone.

Disadvantages of Android TV

• Android TVs take time to start up and have boot-up times similar to computers.
• Android TVs may be a bit sluggish, as they run a lot of things in the background, just like their smartphone counterpart.

Final Thoughts

Many of the issues with Android TV are common problems with smart TVs.

You can’t say it’s an Android TV bug, as other smart TV platforms also have issues with sound, connectivity, and performance.

If you are thinking of getting a smart TV, Android TVs deserve your attention, especially when on a budget, as there are plenty of options available.

For more information about Android TVs, check out our article .

Sources:

How to Fix All Google Play Store Errors in Smart TV (Android TV)

The Android TV™ cannot be connected to the Internet: how to perform a network diagnosis

5 Pros Of Android TV vs Smart TV(+Simple Difference Explained)

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