Control an Android TV with the virtual remote
Use the Remote panel in the operator console for arrow keys, OK, Back, Home and volume buttons on Android TV and other Android devices.
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Android TVs are designed to be used with a remote, not a mouse. That's why the operator console shows a virtual remote in the toolbar when you connect to an Android device. The remote works the same way in the web console and in the Windows and macOS operator apps.
Opening the remote
- Connect to the Android device with the Remote Control connection type.
- In the session toolbar, where the Actions menu normally is, you now see the Remote button. In Android sessions the Actions menu (Ctrl+Alt+Del, restart, session switching, privacy screen) is hidden, because these actions aren't supported on Android.
- Click Remote; the panel opens.
The panel stays open until you close it, so you can click the buttons one after another to move around the device. To close it, click Remote again.
Remote buttons
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Up / Down / Left / Right | Moves the on-screen focus to the item in that direction |
| OK | Selects the focused item (like the OK key on a remote) |
| Back | Goes back to the previous screen |
| Home | Goes to the Android home screen |
| Volume down / Volume up | Changes the device's media volume |
| Mute | Mutes or unmutes the sound |
When the volume changes, Android's own volume bar appears on the TV screen.
What the remote needs to work
- Remote control permission: The arrow keys, OK, Back and Home work while the Polpo Desk remote control accessibility service is turned on on the device. If it's off, a notice appears in the chat window; ask the user to turn the permission on. For the steps, see Android TV and phone client.
- The volume buttons work even without the accessibility permission; a Remote Control session is enough.
- Connection type: In a View Only session the remote buttons are dimmed and can't be used. Reconnect with the Remote Control type to use the remote.
Using the keyboard and mouse
In addition to the remote, your computer's keyboard and mouse also work on the Android device:
| You | On the Android device |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Move the focus |
| Enter or Space | Select the focused item (types a space in a text field) |
| Esc | Back |
| Backspace | Deletes the last character in a text field, otherwise Back |
| Home or the Windows key | Home screen |
| Page Up / Page Down | Scroll the list |
| Tab | Moves to the next item |
| Menu key | Recent apps |
| Volume keys on the keyboard | Volume |
| Mouse click | Taps that point on the screen |
| Long click | Long press |
| Click and drag | Swipe gesture |
| Mouse wheel | Scrolls the page up or down |
| Right-click | Back |
While a text field is selected, the text you type goes straight into that field.
If the remote doesn't respond properly
- The focus doesn't move at all: Check that the accessibility service is on. The device screen should say Remote control is on.
- An arrow key scrolls the list instead of moving the focus: If there's no selectable item in that direction, Polpo Desk scrolls the list to reveal new items. Press it once more.
- Tapping doesn't work in some apps: Apps designed for TV work with focus rather than touch. Use the arrow keys and OK instead of the mouse.
- The picture is frozen or black: See Black screen.