How to Set Up Apollo Group TV on Google TV and Chromecast with Google TV

Google TV is the interface Google puts on many streaming devices and smart TVs: the Chromecast with Google TV, the Google TV Streamer, and TVs from brands that ship with Google TV built in. If you own one, you're closer to watching Apollo Group TV than you might think.

Underneath its interface, Google TV runs Android TV OS. That means the Android TV installation method, which our Fire TV and Android TV guide covers, applies here too. Only the menus are in different places, so each step below uses the Google TV menu names. Storage, performance and common problems come after.

Which Google TV devices work

Google TV appears on a range of hardware:

• Chromecast with Google TV (4K and HD models)
• Google TV Streamer
• Smart TVs with Google TV built in, from several manufacturers
• Other set-top boxes running Google TV

Because these devices run Android TV OS, the Apollo TV app installs on them with the free Downloader app. Menu names can vary slightly between manufacturers, especially on TVs, but the steps are the same. If your device's menus look very different from the ones below, or anything doesn't work as described, contact our support team with the device's make and model before you buy a pack.

Android TV vs Google TV

In short: if a device says Google TV, follow this guide; if it says Android TV, the Fire TV and Android TV guide fits.

Step 1: Turn on developer mode

Google TV hides the setting that allows app installs until you turn on developer mode.

1. On the home screen, select your profile picture in the top-right corner, then Settings.
2. Choose System, then About.
3. Scroll down to Android TV OS build.
4. Press the select button on that line seven times. A message says "You are now a developer".

You only do this once. It doesn't change how your device works day to day.

Step 2: Install Downloader

1. From the home screen, go to the Apps tab (or use Search).
2. Search for Downloader.
3. Choose the app by AFTVnews and select Install.

Downloader is a free, long-established app for fetching files on TV devices. Its developer keeps an official page about Downloader. Our article on the Apollo TV Downloader code explains everything Downloader can do and what its error messages mean.

Step 3: Allow Downloader to install apps

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Security & Restrictions.
2. Select Unknown sources.
3. Turn on Downloader.

This lets Downloader, and only Downloader, install apps that don't come from Google Play.

Step 4: Download and install the Apollo TV app

1. Open Downloader. If it asks for permission to access files, choose Allow.
2. In the address box on the Home tab, type the official Apollo TV code: 6684068.
3. Select Go. Downloader fetches the installer.
4. When the installation screen appears, select Install, then Open.
5. Back in Downloader, choose Delete to remove the installer file and free up space.

Always use the code from our website. Codes shared elsewhere can be out of date or point to modified files.

Step 5: Sign in

1. Open My Account on your phone or computer. Your login details appear there once your subscription is active.
2. Open the Apollo TV app on your Google TV and enter your details.
3. Give the app a minute to load the channel list the first time.

Typing with a TV remote is slow. The Google TV app on your phone can act as a remote with a keyboard, which makes entering login details much easier.

Storage on Google TV devices

Streaming devices have limited storage, and Google TV devices are no exception. The Chromecast with Google TV in particular has a small amount of internal storage, which fills up as apps are installed and updated.

Keep space free by:

• Deleting installer files in Downloader after each installation.
• Uninstalling apps you don't use: Settings > Apps, select the app, then Uninstall.
• Clearing app caches: Settings > Apps, select an app, then Clear cache.
• Checking storage under Settings > System > Storage.

A device that's nearly full gets slower and can fail to install updates. Our guide to clearing cache on a Firestick explains the same principles in more depth; the menus differ, but the reasons are identical.

Connection tips for live TV

Live TV needs a steady connection. On Google TV devices:

• Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi if the TV is within a room or two of the router.
• Consider a wired connection. The Google TV Streamer has an Ethernet port, and Ethernet adapters are available for the Chromecast with Google TV. Our comparison of Ethernet and Wi-Fi explains why a cable helps live TV in particular.
• Test your speed on the device itself in the evening. Our guide to internet speed for IPTV explains what to look for.

Keeping the app up to date

Apollo TV updates arrive inside the app: when a new version is available, the app offers it when you open it, and you approve the installation. If Google TV asks whether to let the Apollo TV app install updates, allow it.

If an update ever fails, installing the latest version with Downloader and the same code upgrades it in place. Our guide to updating Apollo Group TV covers Android TV and Google TV in its own section.

Google TV devices also receive system updates. Check under Settings > System > About > System update.

Use your phone as a remote and keyboard

Entering a username, password or code with a TV remote is the slowest part of any setup. Google's phone app for Google TV devices includes a remote with a keyboard; depending on your phone and region, it's built into the Google TV app or the Google Home app, and Android phones may also show a TV remote in Quick Settings.

1. Make sure your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the Google TV device.
2. Open the remote in the app and pair it with your TV using the code shown on screen.
3. When a text box is selected on the TV, use your phone's keyboard to type.

You can also paste: copy your login details from My Account on the phone, then paste them into the remote's keyboard. It's quicker and avoids typos.

Setting up a second Google TV device

Adding Apollo TV to another Google TV in the house is the same process: turn on developer mode on that device, install Downloader, allow it under Unknown sources, enter the code and sign in with the same details from My Account.

Each device playing at the same time uses one of your subscription's connections. Our article on IPTV connection limits explains how streams are counted.

Moving to a new Google TV device

If you're replacing a device, for example moving from a Chromecast with Google TV to a Google TV Streamer:

1. Set up the new device and follow Steps 1 to 5 above.
2. Sign in with your details from My Account.
3. On the old device, uninstall the Apollo TV app or factory reset it before you give it away or sell it, so the next owner doesn't have your login.

Resetting the Apollo TV app on Google TV

If the app misbehaves, these steps escalate from gentle to thorough:

1. Restart the device: Settings > System > Restart.
2. Clear the app's cache: Settings > Apps, select Apollo Group TV, then Clear cache.
3. Clear the app's data: in the same menu, Clear data. This signs you out, so have My Account ready.
4. Reinstall: uninstall the app, then install it again with Downloader and the official code.

Kids profiles and restricted accounts

Google TV lets you create kids profiles with their own approved apps. Apps you install with Downloader appear in your own profile, and a kids profile only shows apps a parent has approved for it. If someone in a kids profile can't find the Apollo TV app, switch to an adult profile, or add the app to the kids profile's allowed apps in the Google TV settings, if it's appropriate for them.

Google TV devices set up in "apps only" or basic mode may also limit what you can install. If you can't find Downloader or the Apps tab, check that the device is set up with a Google account in full Google TV mode.

Tips for typing the Downloader code

• Use the number row on the on-screen keyboard; you don't need to type "http" or "www".
• Check the address box before selecting Go. A double press on the remote can enter a digit twice.
• Use your phone's keyboard through the Google TV remote app if the on-screen keyboard is slow.

Troubleshooting

"Unknown sources" isn't in Settings

Developer mode isn't on yet. Repeat Step 1, making sure you select Android TV OS build seven times.

Downloader says the app can't be installed

• Check that Downloader is allowed under Unknown sources (Step 3).
• Free up storage and try again.
• If you previously installed the app from another source, uninstall that copy first.

The installer screen never appears

Downloader probably doesn't have permission to access files or install apps. Open Downloader and allow file access when asked, then check Step 3.

The app opens but channels don't load

Check your subscription status and login details in My Account, and try a different channel. Our troubleshooting article Is Apollo TV down? walks through how to find the cause.

Buffering in the evening

That's usually Wi-Fi or connection congestion. Move the device closer to the router, switch to 5 GHz, or use a wired connection.

Example: setting up a Chromecast with Google TV

Here's how a typical setup goes on a Chromecast with Google TV:

• Developer mode is switched on under Settings > System > About in under a minute.
• Downloader installs from the Apps tab.
• Unknown sources is enabled for Downloader under Settings > Apps > Security & Restrictions.
• The code is typed in Downloader, and the Apollo TV app installs.
• The installer is deleted right away, because the device's storage is limited.
• The login details are copied from My Account and typed using the Google TV phone app's keyboard.

The whole process takes about ten minutes, most of it the download itself.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install Apollo TV on a Chromecast with Google TV?

Yes. It runs Android TV OS, so you install the Apollo TV app with Downloader after turning on developer mode and allowing Downloader under Unknown sources.

Is Google TV the same as Android TV?

Google TV is an interface built on top of Android TV OS. For installing the Apollo TV app, they work the same way; only the menu locations differ slightly.

Why can't I install apps on my Google TV?

Developer mode and the Unknown sources permission for Downloader are probably off. Turn on developer mode under Settings > System > About, then allow Downloader under Settings > Apps > Security & Restrictions.

Does Apollo TV work on smart TVs with Google TV built in?

TVs with Google TV built in run the same system, so the same steps apply. Menus can vary slightly by manufacturer; contact support if anything doesn't match.

How do I update Apollo TV on Google TV?

Open the app and accept the update when it's offered. If an update fails, reinstall the latest version with Downloader and the official code.

Do I need a VPN on Google TV?

No. Our article on whether you need a VPN for Apollo TV explains why, and what our terms say about VPNs.

Conclusion

Setting up Apollo Group TV on Google TV takes about ten minutes: turn on developer mode, install Downloader from Google Play, allow it under Unknown sources, enter the official code, then sign in with the details from My Account. Keep an eye on storage, especially on the Chromecast with Google TV, and use a steady connection for live TV.

For other devices, see all our setup guides. Questions? The Help Center is the place to start.