Nvidia Shield TV is one of the most innovative products to come out of the Tech giant NVIDIA's workshop.
With a powerful chipset and a lot of memory power, it can stream up to 4K 30FPS without breaking a sweat.
For these reasons and many others, I have been a Shield TV user for the past couple of years. Whether streaming the latest shows or playing my favorite music, Shield TV has never let me down.
Being an Android operating device, the Shield TV seamlessly integrates the wireless remote functionality of the app for much of its controls, if not all.
But a few days back, when I tried, as usual, to connect the app to my Shield TV, it wasn't showing up on the app. I tried, again and again, closing and opening the app a few times, but still no Shield TV.
I went through a lot of forums and articles to solve this issue and after some thorough research, I was able to find the solution.
A quick reset solved my problem and I'm able to use it now.
If the Shield TV Android Remote app is not working, check for network issues and update both Shield TV and the app. Reboot your Shield TV to resolve any temporal issues with the device. As a last resort, uninstall the app and reinstall it after resetting the Shield TV.
Here are some useful tips and troubleshooting steps you can try to solve this issue:
Check WiFi Connectivity
For the Shield Tv remote app to work with your Shield Tv, both devices must be connected to the same network.
Failing to satisfy this rudimentary requirement will render the connection void.
To check for connection or change the network, follow these steps:
1. On the Home screen, click and open Settings.
2. Select Network & Internet.
3. Change the WiFi network from the Available Networks section.
Now connect your Mobile device to the same network as the Shield TV.
Try Selecting the 5 GHz Band
When selecting the network, it is recommended to select a 5 GHz network.
This is because the standard 2.4 GHz band is susceptible to usage limit and if the number of users connected exceeds the limit, it may result in higher latency.
Higher latency can lead to reduced speeds and more loading time.
The 5 GHz band network has a higher bandwidth allowing a higher number of users without compromising the speed.
Manually Adding a Network
If for some odd reason you cannot see your network on the list of devices, you can manually add the network by using the Add New Network option from the Network setting menu.
Just enter the SSID of your network (which can be found on the back of your router) and follow the onscreen prompts to establish the connection.
Switching Off VPN
If you're using a VPN to access a network, you better turn OFF the service and then try using the app.
This is because VPNs can cause the network to slow down because it acts as a mask over the default network. This can result in higher latency and lower speed.
If you are using a VPN on your Shield TV, turn it off by opening it from the Apps tab.
To know more about internet issues on Shield TV, check out this article on Internet issues on Shield TV.
Updating the Device
Using your Shield TV on an older update can cause a number of bugs and errors to store up on your device.
This is because even if you run your device on a stable old version, the newer apps on the Play Store may not be optimized to operate on an older version.
This in turn can compromise your connectivity and cause problems similar to the one at hand.
To check for updates on your Shield TV, follow these steps:
1. On the settings menu, click and open Device Preferences.
2. Under devices, select About.
3. From here you can check your current version.
4. Click on System Upgrade to update your device manually.
The same can be said about your mobile device. Make sure both your devices are updated to the most current version for optimal performance.
Restart your Shield TV
Unlike any other methods mentioned in this article, this might be the easiest and most effective tip I can offer.
Proven effective time and time again, a quick restart of your devices can get rid of any temporal errors and other amassed bugs.
In the case of your Shield TV, go to Settings> Restart to initiate a system reboot.
Alternatively, unplug the Shield and plug it back in after a couple of minutes.
Similarly, unplug your Router/Modem and plug it back in after a few minutes.
Perform a restart on your mobile device by pressing and holding the power button until the power options appear on-screen. Select Restart to quickly restart your device.
This step is also effective if your Shield TV turns ON abruptly. More about this on Nvidia Shield TV turning ON by itself.
Clearing the Cache of the App
Clearing your app's cache can in some cases prove effective in eliminating your connectivity problems.
If you have been using the remote app for a long time, you may have stored up quite some amount of cache which may make your app glitch.
To clear the cache on your mobile device, follow these steps.
1. Open Settings and go to the App menu.
2. Tap and Open the Android TV remote app.
3. Select the Clear Data option to clear your saved cache.
4. After a quick restart, open the app and check for connectivity.
If the problem still persists, check the next tip.
Uninstall and Reinstall the App
Now let's do the obvious step before resetting the devices.
Unlike clearing the cache, uninstalling and reinstalling the app can confirm whether the problem is with the app or not.
To uninstall the Remote app, press and hold the remote icon on your mobile device and click on Uninstall once the menu appears.
Alternatively, you can also uninstall the app by going on to Settings> Apps> Android Remote App> Uninstall.
To reinstall the app, go to the Play Store and search for the app. Once you find it, click on the App tile and then Install once the app page opens.
Log back into the app and try to connect to the Shield TV.
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Resetting the Device
Some devices may never be the same after a hiccup or a problem like the one we have at hand.
If the problem still remains, even after all the above-mentioned troubleshooting measures, you may be forced to factory reset your device.
A quick reminder before resetting your Shield TV is to try and pair your android TV remote app through another smartphone/device and see if that works.
If this doesn't work, you can confirm that the problem is with the Shield TV.
The thing is, if you reset your device, all your preferences and installed apps will get deleted and you will have to re-download them.
That said, here's how you can reset your device:
1. From the Home screen, go to Settings.
2. Next, select Device Preferences and then click on Storage and Reset.
3. Click on Factory reset.
4. Click again on Factory reset.
5. Select Erase everything to finalize your procedure.
Wait for the process to be completed. You will have to follow the initial steps for setting up your Roku.
Try to pair your App with the Shield TV. Hopefully, you will be able to do so.
Alternative Fix
While I was searching for all the possible fixes for this problem, I came across a rather unorthodox fix that seems to help some users get rid of the problem.
The fix basically helped those who were unable to get the pin for the pairing purpose for some odd reason.
The remedy was to download a different generic Remote app and pair it up with the Shield TV.
Once you have done so, try to pair the Shield TV with the Android TV remote app while the generic app is running.
Some users have reported concurring with the result and this might help you if you couldn't get the pairing code on your TV.
Final Thoughts
The ease of changing the volume or the channels on your Shield TV with your smartphone and not always relying on the frequently wayward remote has made streaming much more accessible.
But with abrupt errors and problems like the one discussed here, perfection in execution is not always the case.
If none of the tips mentioned has been helpful to you, sadly there is no other way but to contact customer service.
Please let me know of new tips other than the ones mentioned here.
If you want to know some cool tricks that you can do on the Shield TV, check out my article on Cool things to do on the Shield TV.
Frequently Asked Questions.
What apps are on NVIDIA Shield TV?
The Shield TV comes preloaded with Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Plex, Google Play Movies, Google Play Music, and the NVIDIA Games app. Since it is running on Android OS, you can download the numerous apps available in the play store.
Can you watch live TV on NVIDIA Shield TV?
Yes, you can watch live TV on your Shield TV. With apps like YouTube TV and Plex, you can watch your daily dose of news or a live basketball game without your traditional cable or dish services.
How much storage can you add to NVIDIA Shield?
The Shield TV comes with 8 GB of storage space which can be expanded using a micro SD card. The Pro variant comes with 16 GB of space. NVIDIA hasn't mentioned a limit on the size you can add.
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