Digital signage on Google TV / Android TV
Works, but you must install a browser first — there is no built-in one.
Also sold as: Chromecast with Google TV, Sony, TCL, Philips, Nvidia Shield, most Hisense sets
Browser installable
The browser
A browser from the Play Store — Google TV and Android TV ship without a web browser, and desktop Chrome is not available. Install a TV-oriented browser from the Play Store — options that are navigable with a D-pad remote work best. Devices that allow sideloading can run a fuller browser, at the cost of a more involved setup.
Opening the player
- From the Play Store on the device, search for a TV web browser and install one.
- Open it and enter play.sheencast.com
- On your computer, sign in at app.sheencast.com, open Screens, choose this screen, and click Generate Pairing Code. Type the digits it shows into the box on the TV. Codes last 10 minutes — use New Code if it runs out.
- Set the player as the browser home page if the browser supports it, so the screen recovers after a reboot.
- If the browser offers a kiosk or full-screen mode, enable it.
Settings that keep the screen on
| Setting | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Screen saver | Settings → System → Power and Energy → Screen saver (older: Settings → Device Preferences → Screen saver) | Set "When to start" to Never / Off. On Google TV this also controls Ambient Mode, which is the usual cause of a screen quietly turning into a photo frame. |
| Energy saver / turn off display | Settings → System → Power and Energy → Energy saver | Set "Turn off display" and any sleep delay to Never. Older Android TV puts this at Device Preferences → Power / Sleep. |
| Ambient mode | Settings → System → Ambient mode (Google TV) | Disable it outright where the option exists, rather than relying on a long delay. |
Worth knowing
- Remote-navigable browsers vary in quality. Test your actual content on the actual device before rolling out to more screens.
- Cheaper Android TV boxes often have too little memory to hold a browser open indefinitely. An Nvidia Shield or a Fire TV Stick is a steadier choice for a wall.
Try it on this device
Three screens are free forever and no card is needed, so you can find out whether this device works in your building before spending anything.