BRAVIA TV apps - How to install, solve problems and more

You can download apps by accessing the Google Play Store on your Android TV and Google TV. The Google Play Store is where you can find all the apps available on both Android TV and Google TV.

If you can't find the app in the Google Play Store, it's possible that it doesn't exist or is currently unavailable on Android and Google TV platforms. In that case, you might resort to casting content.

How to download apps on Android TV

How to download apps on Google TV

How to download apps on non-Andriod TV

Your TV has certain apps pre-installed; however, you may be able to install new apps from the Google Play Store, depending on your model.

First, you should check whether you have an Android or Google TV, or a non-Android TV. Here is a guide you can use to distinguish between the three.

Unfortunately, only Android and Google TVs can download new apps. Other TVs have pre-installed apps.

Your Smart TV doesn't support new apps? Here is how you can get new apps

Google and Android TVs can access the Google Play store and download apps. Other smart TVs come with pre-installed apps and are unable to download additional apps.

Why can't they download newer apps?

It's because Smart TVs run on a different operating system (Linux) and don't connect to the whole Android space.

Moreover, older TVs can't support new apps because of system requirements and a lack of processing power.
It's like trying to install a new app on first-generation smartphones. It requires too much of the device.

Luckily, there are low-budget and easy solutions to enjoy newly developed apps on older TVs that can't install apps:

• Use a Chromecast or Fire TV stick. If your TV has an HDMI port, you're sorted.
  You plug these devices with the HDMI port, and it will let you cast content from your phone to your TV. Install the app you want on your phone, and play its content on the TV.
  • How to use the Google Chromecast
  • How to use Amazon Fire TV
• Connect a laptop with an HDMI cable: You play content on a laptop and use an HDMI cable to connect it to the TV to enjoy a larger screen.
• Use a PS4 or PS5: Gaming consoles also have access to popular streaming apps. If your PlayStation doesn't already display the app in the "All app section", please download it from the Playstation store. The availability of the app does still depend on your country.
• For more information, visit our article on Mirror, cast, or display the content or screen of a mobile device on the TV screen

Can't find an app in the Google Playstore? It's not (yet) supported where you live

There are two main reasons you can't find or use an app: availability and location. In this case, location can mean your country, region and sometimes even territories.

1. A service provider doesn't always have an app on the market. It's possible that your favourite smartphone app doesn't have an equivalent (yet) on Android or Google TV. Google has an online list of available Android TV apps.
2. Secondly, your location (country, region, territory) also matters. Some apps are only available in a certain region or country.
   When in doubt, contacting the app provider and checking their website for supported countries and information is always best.

Now that you're ready to install all your favourite apps on your TV, it's time to make it easy for you to navigate and manage all these apps. Let's have a look at the App mini-menu.

The App mini-menu

Every app has a mini menu that allows you to take several actions. Hover over the app (as if to open it), and on your remote control, long-press the OK button. If you accidentally opened the app, you didn't press the OK button long enough because a pop-up menu should appear:

Google TV mini-menu

• Move
• Open
• View details

Android TV mini-menu

• Open
• Move
• Add to favourites
• Info
• Uninstall

Adding TV apps to favourites quick-menu

Google TV

The Your Apps bar on the Home screen includes all your installed apps, so there's no need to add any new ones here. To move your favourite apps to a more convenient position, refer to the next chapter: "Moving TV apps around in the favourites menu and app screen."

Android TV

• On your Home screen, there's a banner featuring your favourite apps. It's a quick selection bar.
• Navigate to the right to reach a plus sign. Press OK to add new apps to your quick selection bar.

You can also use the app-mini menu to bookmark an app to favourites.

Moving TV apps around in the favourites menu and app screen

This applies to both Google TV and Android TV

1. Hover over the app (as if to open it), and on your remote control, long-press the OK button to open the app mini-menu.
2. Select Move and drag the app tile to your preferred position.
3. On your remote control, press Back to stop moving the app around.

It's not entirely necessary for you to manually update an app. If your Google TV or Android TV is connected to the internet, it will automatically update your apps whenever the service provider releases a new version. Your apps should run the latest version if your TV is connected to the internet.

Google updates applications in phases, so it's possible that your TV hasn't received an app update yet, even though it's available. In that case, there is a way to check for updates manually:

• Google TV: access the Google Play Store via voice search or the input menu.
• Android TV: navigate to the Apps tab and access the Google Play Store.

Once in the Google Play Store, you can check the Apps and games management, which is hidden under your Google Account icon in the top right corner. Under the Google Account icon, you'll find the Apps and games management, in which you can check any available app updates.

If you're not using an app anymore, you might as well remove it and clear some memory:

1. Use your remote control arrow keys to navigate to the Apps tab.
2. Navigate down to see all your apps listed in a grid.
3. You can hover over any app you want to delete and access the mini-menu (long-press OK button) to select View details (Google TV) or Uninstall (Android TV) to uninstall.
4. If the uninstall option is greyed out, you can't uninstall the app (e.g. YouTube™). Pre-installed TV apps can't be removed.

Each of these steps might be a possible solution:

1. If you feel like something's wrong with an app, the simplest thing to do is reset the app by doing a force stop (see steps below).
   • You can also opt to clear data and cache in the app settings menu.
   • You can also opt to uninstall and reinstall the app in the app settings menu

   How to force stop an app on Android TV

   In short: keep pressing the OK button on the app in the APPS TAB (not Home Screen!) to access the app mini-menu, select INFO, and force stop the app in the Info section.

   1. Press the Home button or back button to return to the Home screen.
   2. You can see several tabs at the top of your Home screen. Use your remote control arrow keys to navigate to the Apps tab. This won't work when on the Home screen.
   3. Hover over the app that's having an issue.
   4. Long-press the OK button on your remote to open the app-mini menu. (The OK button is the central button in the middle of your arrow keys).
   5. In the pop-up menu, select Info and press OK on the remote.
   6. In the info section, select "Force stop" and confirm twice with the OK button on the remote.
   7. After force-stopping the app, you can open the app and check if it runs as expected.

   How to force stop an app on Google TV

   1. Access the TV settings via the Quick settings button (it's the first option).
   2. Use your arrow keys to move down to Apps and press the OK button (The OK button is the central button in the middle of your arrow keys).
   3. Underneath Recently opened apps, you can select See all apps.
   4. Move around to the app you want to reset, press OK and select the second option: force stop by confirming.

2. If you can't reach the Home, App or settings screen, press and hold the remote control power button and select Restart TV.
3. Unplug the TV power cord from the electrical socket, leave it for 30 seconds, and plug it back in. This is called a power cycle, and it's an easy way to reset your TV when something's not working.
   Unplugging the TV does not cause any damage and doesn't remove any Google account data.
4. On rare occasions, the service might be down.
5. Perform a factory reset

1. Unplug the TV power cord from the electrical socket, leave it for 30 seconds, and plug it back in.
   This is called a power cycle, and it's an easy way to reset your TV when something's not working. Unplugging the TV does not cause any damage and doesn't remove any data.
2. Try [Refresh Internet Content]
   1. Press the [HOME] button, then select [Settings]
   2. Select [Network or Network Setup]
   3. Select [Refresh Internet Content]

Initialise the browser settings and delete all cookies (Applicable for W9xxA, W8xxA, W7xxA, W6xxA, X90xxA, X85xxA, X95xxB, X90xxB, X85xxB, W9xxB, W8xxB, W7xxB, W6xxB and W750C Series only)

Initialise the TV personal information: (Applicable for For W75D, W6D, W75E, W6E, X70E, W6F Series only)

3. Check our article on how to Perform a factory reset