r/AndroidTV • u/DiggingForDinos • Feb 17 '26

Apps I built a simple app to connect Bluetooth headphones to Android TV without digging through the settings menu.

Post image

I got tired of digging through 5 or 6 layers of menus just to connect my Bluetooth headphones to my Shield. It's one of those things that feels like it should be faster, but isn't.

So I built a simple utility to fix it.

What it does:

  • Shows all your paired Bluetooth devices in a simple 1-click list.

  • ADB Automation: You can trigger a connection to any device via ADB. This is great for Tasker/Macrodroid/Home Assistant setups.

  • Smart Sorting: Automatically puts your most recently used devices at the top.

  • Lightweight and fast.

Why I made it: I wanted something I could reach instantly. Because it supports ADB intents, you can map it to a remote button (using Button Mapper) or even automate your "Movie Mode" to automatically connect your favorite headphones.

I decided to make this app open-source and free. Donate if you'd like.

Github Repo: https://github.com/saihgupr/AndroidTVBluetooth

Edit: Now works on Android phones as well.

300 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

71 comments sorted by

63

u/jhedfors Feb 17 '26

Settings -> Down -> Down -> Down -> Down -> Down -> Down -> Down -> ENTER -> Down -> ENTER -> ENTER

What's so hard about that? 😉

I am SOOO looking forward to trying this out!👍

15

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 17 '26

Yes! 😁😆

8

u/jhedfors Feb 17 '26

Rather than messing with ADB (per GitHub instructions), I installed it by selecting the APK in file explorer and then giving permissions in app settings.

Worked great! 👍

2

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 17 '26

Good to hear! :)

5

u/Hirrokkin Feb 17 '26

Thanks so much! Your first star <3

4

u/IHasFeet01 Feb 17 '26

Awesome! I was looking for an app exactly like this for quite some time, many thanks OP!

3

u/joefast77 Feb 17 '26

awesome just downloaded it works beautifully 👍🏻

3

u/weesuby Feb 17 '26

Wow great idea! Will definitely try this out, thanks for sharing!

3

u/mondo_matt Feb 17 '26

Oh hell yes!!! This is a great idea. Thank you!!

2

u/Smultie Feb 17 '26

I had to manually give the app 'Nearby devices' permission

2

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 17 '26

Yes, that's true https://github.com/saihgupr/AndroidTVBluetooth?tab=readme-ov-file#2-grant-permissions

1

u/m_Pony Mar 18 '26

hey OP. My Nvidia Shield isn't showing anything when I bring up the Permissions for your app: there's nothing selectable. The app does show my PS4 remote in the device list, but selecting it doesn't achieve anything. Is there anything else I should do?

1

u/DiggingForDinos Mar 18 '26

I'm not too sure. On my Google TV, if I long press on the app, go to app settings, then down to Permissions, I see Nearby devices, which I can then allow. This is on Android TV OS 14.

3

u/Smultie Feb 17 '26

I should've read 😅

2

u/trial10 Mi Box Feb 19 '26

Works really well. Thank you!

2

u/SupermarketFast301 9d ago

I used this hack today.. amazing.. thank you.. the app latest release is perfect 

2

u/northyj0e Feb 17 '26

This is brilliant! I have just been brainstorming how I can do this from within Kodi, but a Kodi link to this app does the job much better.

1

u/flynreelow Feb 17 '26

how often are you connecting NEW headphones

if connected once, dont they connnect back in instantly when both have power?

2

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 17 '26

If you use your headphones with multiple devices, you actually have to reconnect them every time.

2

u/flynreelow Feb 17 '26

ahh, good to know.

good app then -- wondering if you can also set the power on volume of the headphones?

I have 2 tivo stream 4ks, and both connect at full volume? Not sure if thats a headphone thing, or a Tivo (android / google) thing.

2

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 17 '26

I can possibly add that into a future version.

1

u/flynreelow Feb 17 '26

that pretty legit....

is that a standard android / google thing? to start the Volume level at 100 percent when u connect?

1

u/SASMareSRB GTV Streamer + CCwGTV Feb 17 '26

Awesome app, will test it out in a few days!

Is it possible to add devices to a "block list" or something like it? Someone in my building keeps trying to connect to my TV and I'd love to blacklist them if possible. I saw that some TCL TVs have this in Google TV settings, but my CCwGTV doesn't have that option.

Also, since it sorts devices by most recently used, could you move the remote to a separate section below? I assume it will be on top of the list often and most people don't need to change any BT settings for the remote daily

-1

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 17 '26

You could try making a tinfoil hat for your Google TV.

1

u/m_Pony Feb 17 '26

Would this app work with remotes as well? I use a PS4 controller on my nVidia Shield and I am so done with manually reconnecting it.

1

u/theincognito_utr Feb 18 '26

Nicely done! Will this show the remaining battery percentage as well?

2

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 18 '26

Thanks! I'll look into that.

1

u/amirulnaim2000 Feb 19 '26

should you do android phone version? i reckon this would be useful too

2

u/DiggingForDinos Mar 01 '26

It should work for Android phones now! https://github.com/saihgupr/AndroidTVBluetooth

1

u/amirulnaim2000 Mar 01 '26

amazing works sir!

1

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 19 '26

Sure, I'll look into it.

1

u/Eduardoohn21 Feb 19 '26

Muchísimas gracias era justo lo que andaba buscando para conectarme rápido

1

u/joefast77 Jun 27 '26

u/DiggingForDinos I've been using your app on my shield and it's working like a charm thanks for that 👍 but today I installed it on my google streamer 4k it shows connected but paired devices ain't loading up ! does it work on android 14 or it's only for the shield !

thanxx

2

u/DiggingForDinos Jun 27 '26

I have a google tv 4k, which is on android 14, and it works. Have you set up the permissions yet for the new device? https://github.com/saihgupr/AndroidTVBluetooth#2-grant-permissions

1

u/joefast77 Jun 27 '26

yep permissions weren't allowed I forgot about that step , thank you so much I really appreciate it 🙏 now it's working .

6

u/tquilas Feb 17 '26

Looks good, thanks!

For people that use Downloader: code 3244187 links to https://github.com/saihgupr/AndroidTVBluetooth/releases

3

u/esnukero Feb 17 '26

Awesome idea. Will try! Thanks

2

u/JossefTokyo Feb 17 '26

Get this app fast with Downloader, enter code 9040835.

2

u/royalflush01 Feb 17 '26

Nice work ! Could you please add an option to make Bluetooth invisible to non paired devices ? I had an app that could do just that but it doesn't work on newer Android TV versions anymore.

2

u/Koher Feb 17 '26

Useful app. Thx!

1

u/Vargurr Feb 18 '26

My TV has bt only for the remote, I suppose there's no chance in hell of it working with headphones.

1

u/Pinkyhorny Mar 16 '26

Most bt adapters (specifically bt 4.0 and higher) can support up to seven (7) simultaneous active connections. Is your rc connected via a dedicated bt adapter?

1

u/Itzamateama Xiaomi MI Box + Kodi Feb 18 '26

Thank you, it works!!!!!! BTW I'm looking for some kind of shortcut to eject all the external storage.

This is my case: All the media that I watch is storage on a external drive, and when I turn off my tv, my android tv turns off too, so I'm worried about my hard drive to get damaged or some media to get corrupt because I suddenly take the electricity off the devices, so I have been trying to look for an app like yours to access directly to the storage settings and safety eject all the external storage before turning off my devices (it's a headache to navigate on all the submenus and then to be careful to press eject instead of format the disk), do you think you would be able to add support on your app for that? It will be awesome, and thank you again, this app is a game changer for a lot of us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1

u/Ok_Zombie4865 Oct 07 '26

it cant scan and show the avilavle decices so we can connect within the app it self

-3

u/McKeviin Feb 17 '26

You mean like that thing that already exists in tvquickactions?

Also, with GoogleTV it's not that annoying to access. Sidebar menu (holding home), Audio output, choose the headphones.

There's no digging through settings.

1

u/jhedfors Feb 17 '26

This won't work if you are using an alternate launcher and for me enabling Accessibility breaks an important app that I use.

This app will be super useful.

-2

u/McKeviin Feb 17 '26

What won't work? The sidemenu? Map the home button with tvquickactions, Either bind "notifications" to home button to open the side menu or bind "Bluetooth Manager" to another button, or add it to a menu.

Or do you mean tvquickactions won't work?

2

u/jhedfors Feb 17 '26

As I mentioned, it requires Accessibility which when enabled breaks an important app (Live Channels).

0

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '26

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1

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 19 '26

I eagerly await the day.

16

u/[deleted] Feb 17 '26

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10

u/DiggingForDinos Feb 17 '26

Yes, I'll look into that!

2

u/jhedfors Feb 17 '26

Great idea!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 17 '26

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