Table of Contents
Google Photos is a widely used photo storage application by both Android and iOS users. Though Google Photos is the native application of Google, it hasn’t introduced a standalone app for Android TV. But, you can still access them in alternative ways on your Smart TV like casting the photos, sideloading the APK file, and accessing through the browser. Google Photos is free to use, which lets you save photos and videos up to 15 GB of storage space. When you reach the storage limit, you must purchase a premium membership plan to get additional storage for your Google Photos account.
Google Photos was initially launched in May 2015. Since its release, it has been facing tough competition from popular cloud storage like iCloud, Dropbox, and Amazon Drive. However, it has become one of the most loved cloud storage for storing photos with simplicity and features.
How to Sideload Google Photos APK on Android TV
Google Photos is yet to be available for Android TV. To use Google Photos, you need to sideload it using the Downloader app.
1. Install the Downloader app on your Android TV from the Play Store.
2. Click the Settings icon on your Android TV.
3. From the options, go to Device Preferences.
4. Click Security & Restrictions → Unknown Sources → Turn on the Downloader toggle.
5. Now, open the Downloader app on Android TV from the home screen.
6. Tap Allow to accept the storage permissions.
7. Choose Home from the left pane, and enter the download link of Google Photos APK in the URL field.
8. Click Go to download the Google Photos APK on your Android TV.
9. Once the file is downloaded, open it and click Install.
10. Then, click Open to launch the app, sign in and view the photos.
How to View Google Photos on Android TV Using Browser
If you have a web browser on Android TV, you can access Google Photos in it. However, make sure that you have the latest version of Chrome or Firefox web browser on your TV.
1. Launch a browser on your Android TV.
2. Using the browser, visit the Google Photos website (https://photos.google.com/).
3. Sign in to your account with the proper credentials.
4. Now, you can access all your photos and albums on your Android TV.
How to Cast Google Photos to Android TV
Google Photos doesn’t have an app for your Android TV. The only way by which you can get Google Photos on your TV is by casting its Android/iOS mobile app.
From Android and iPhone
1. Ensure that your Android/iPhone is on the same WiFi network as your Android TV.
2. On your Android/iPhone, open the Google Photos app and sign in to your Google account.
3. Open any video or photo on the album that you wish to cast.
4. Further, tap the Cast icon on the top of your screen.
5. Choose your Android TV from the list of your new devices.
6. Within a few minutes, the app will be cast on your TV.
7. Now, you can access all your Google Photos and videos on your TV.
From PC
1. Connect your PC and Android TV to the same WiFi connection.
2. Open the Chrome web browser on your PC and visit the Google Photos website.
3. View the photo or play the video that you like to watch on your TV after signing in.
4. Select the three-dotted customize icon on the browser.
5. From the drop-down menu, click the Cast icon and find your Android TV from the list.
6. It will start streaming the Google Photos tab on your TV.
How to Use Google Photos as Screensaver on Android TV
1. Connect your Android TV and Android Smartphone to the same WiFi network.
2. Launch the Google Home app on your smartphone. If you haven’t installed the app, get it from the Play Store.
3. Select your Android TV on the home screen.
4. Select Settings and then choose the Ambient Mode option.
5. It will display three different options.
- Google Photos
- Art gallery
- Experimental
6. Select Google Photos and choose the image you want to set as a screensaver.
Google Photos – Plans & Pricing
Generally, Google Photos is part of your Google Account, where you can save your pictures and videos for free for up to 15 GB. To increase your storage, you need to unlock the premium plans.
| PLANS | MONTHLY PRICING | YEARLY PRICING |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $1.99 | $19.99 |
| Standard | $2.99 | $29.99 |
| Premium | $9.99 | $99.99 |
How to Fix Google Photos Not Working on Android TV
There are various reasons behind Google Photos not working on Android TV. We suggest you follow the troubleshooting methods below to fix the issue on your Smart TV.
1. Uninstall and reinstall the Google Photos APK if it doesn’t work.
2. Check whether the devices are connected to the same WiFi network when you can’t be able to cast the screen.
3. Restart the Google Photos app on your smartphone if it delays casting the photos.
4. Reboot your Android TV if the APK installed gets frozen frequently.
5. If you can’t be able to cast the screen, try updating your Android TV.
Supported Android TVs
- Sony Smart TV
- TCL Smart TV
- OnePlus Smart TV
- Sharp Smart TV
- Vu Smart TV
- Philips Smart TV
- Xiaomi Mi Smart TV
- Hisense Smart TV
Supported Android TV Boxes
- Nvidia Shield TV
- NVIDIA
- Mi Box and Mi Box S
- Mecool Android TV Box
- MXQ Pro 4K
- Mi Box 4K
Other Supported Devices
- Android devices (version 4.4 and above)
- iOS devices
- Web browsers
- Amazon Kindle
- Google TV
Frequently Asked Questions
The Google Photos app is not available on Android TV’s Play Store. So, you need to use the casting feature on the Android/iOS app to access Google Photos.
Yes. Make use of the casting feature on Google Photos to access it on your Smart TV easily.
Google Photos syncs photos and videos whenever you open and use the application. To sync photos or videos, you must be connected to the internet.
