How To Remap Your New NVIDIA SHIELD TV Remote's Netflix-Branded Button
Those who have been patiently awaiting for NVIDIA to refresh its SHIELD TV streaming lineup were rewarded this week with two new models, the 2019 SHIELD TV and SHIELD TV Pro. Both come with a revamped remote control that is one of the highlights of these newly updated models, though if you are not a Netflix user, the rather large Netflix button that sits at the bottom is a wasted feature. Or is it?
Actually, you can do something about it. No, we're not talking about ripping the button out of the remote (please don't attempt that). Instead, you can remap the Netflix button to perform a function that is more useful to your operation of the SHIELD TV.
This is not something NVIDIA includes in its software. In order to remap the Netflix button, you will want to download an app called Button Mapper developed by flar2. It is a free download from the Play Store.
"Button Mapper can remap most physical or capacitive keys and buttons, such as volume buttons, the Bixby button on Samsung Galaxy devices, and the capacitive home, back and recent apps keys found on devices by Samsung, ASUS, HTC, OnePlus, Xiaomi and others. Button Mapper can also remap buttons on many gamepads and other peripheral devices," the app's description reads.
Using Button Mapper To Remap The Netflix Button On Your SHIELD TV Remote
Fortunately, it also works with the SHIELD TV remote. Here are the steps to follow...
- Download Button Mapper from the Play Store to your SHIELD TV
- When asked, allow it to be enabled as an Accessibility Service
- Navigate to the Add Buttons page
- Select Add Button and press the Netflix button on your SHIELD TV remote
- Assign whatever new function you wish to the Netflix button
That's all there is to it. Using this method, you can have the Netflix button open up Hulu instead, or take screen shots, or just about anything else. You will see a list of available options on the last step above. In order to remap to Hulu, however, scroll up and for more options.
"Can confirm it works! Its a little confusing launching the app the first time because it just mentions Accessibility [Service] but doesn't actually tell you to go enable it in the settings under Accessibility [Service] to progress. I can see how that can be a little confusing for most people when they click OK and the menu on the right pops up and cancel does nothing," killer2239 noted on Reddit.
Your mileage may vary, depending on your TV and what action you're trying to perform. For example, Cody Toombs at Android Police says when he tested this with his 2015 Sony Bravia TV, the remapped button still opened up the Netflix app, but also the newly configured action. It's a bit annoying, though not a show stopper, if the remapped action pushes Netflix to the background.
