Turn on developer options
On Google TV devices, such as the Google TV Streamer, Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV televisions:
Open About
From the home screen, open SettingsSystemAbout.
Press the build number seven times
Highlight Android TV OS build and press OK seven times. A countdown shows how many presses are left, then the message “You’re now a developer!” appears.
Open Developer options
Go back to System: Developer options is now listed there.
On older Android TV menus, the build number sits under Device Preferences instead: Google’s developer documentation describes opening About and clicking Build several times until “You are now a developer” appears.
Allow an app to install others
The permission you need to install an app from outside Google Play isn’t inside Developer options. It’s a per-app permission:
- Open SettingsAppsSecurity & Restrictions (on some devices, under Device Preferences).
- Choose Unknown sources or Install unknown apps.
- Switch it on for the one app you’ll install from, such as a downloader or file manager.
On some devices this option only appears once developer options is on. The full process, with safety checks, is in how to sideload apps on Android TV and Google TV.
Developer settings that help IPTV
| Setting | What it does | For IPTV |
|---|---|---|
| Window animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale | Control how long menu and app animations take | Set them to 0.5x, or off, for menus that feel quicker |
| USB debugging | Lets a computer connect with Android’s debugging tools (ADB) | Only if you install apps from a computer; switch it off afterwards |
| Background process limit | Limits how many apps keep running in the background | Leave it on the standard setting, so players and recordings aren’t closed |
Google’s Cast documentation shows developers connecting to Android TV devices over the network with ADB once debugging is on. Only allow connections from your own computer, and switch debugging off when you’ve finished.
Stay safe
- Install apps only from their developers or Google Play. Avoid “modded” or premium-unlocked copies. See Android TV box malware.
- Leave Google Play Protect on.
- Turn permissions off once you’ve installed what you needed.
For a Fire TV device, the menus differ: see Firestick developer options.