Overview About Nvidia Shield TV Tips and Tricks
The Nvidia Shield TV for some time has been the best Android TV box on the market. It has also been the best Android TV box for gaming. Although playing games on the Fire TV, Chromecast, or Roku is fun, those devices are rigorously for casual video gamers. The Nvidia Shield TV provides a real gaming experience on a streaming device. It has a niche, and it is a very tight one. No other Android streaming device comes close.
Do you want the best Nvidia Shield TV tips and tricks? The latest Nvidia Shield TV comes with tons of upgrades, such as Nvidia’s Tegra X1+ chip, Dolby Vision, a fully redesigned remote, and AI-powered upscaling. Also, the Android TV box comes with the latest software features or hardware upgrades. Below are all the Nvidia Shield TV tips and tricks.
Tips and Tricks
Rearrange The Shield’s Home Screen
You don’t have to accept the default look of Nvidia Shield TV’s home screen. Ensure your favorite content and applications are center & front, and you can spend more time streaming or playing. For instance, choose an app from the main list, then head to the Move & Remove options.
It would be helpful to long-press the select button. On the primary app list row (located at the top), for example, it allows you to move the app shortcut’s position or conceal it completely from this row. You can also scroll all the way to the home screen’s bottom and choose Customize channels to select which applications you see.
Take screenshots of games & more
If you want to snap something on your Nvidia Shield TV screen, you can do this by long-pressing the home button. However, you must enable this overlay – on the main Settings screen, choose Device Preferences > System, and enable the Nvidia Share option.
Switch between apps
If you’re serious about streaming your favorite content then you might frequently want to switch between various streaming apps. The Nvidia Shield TV provides a quick way to do this, even though it is not instantly obvious. Double tapping on the home button will bring up a quick switch screen displaying recently launched apps.
Test out AI upscaling
By default, the latest Nvidia Shield TV variants do an amazing job of scaling up lower video resolution sources. However, the Nvidia Shield TV models also offer an AI-enhanced upscaling option that tries to intelligently insert data into frames and make them larger. This way, a lot of videos can be improved, and Nvidia Shield TV users can do a side-by-side comparison on their devices.
From the device Settings screen, select AI upscaling > AI-Enhanced. The enhancement has three levels to choose from High, Medium, & Low. Also, ensure to turn on the Enable demo mode toggle switch to start with, allowing you to press the remote’s Menu button to see a side-by-side view.
Tweak the internal performance & external brightness
If the front of the Nvidia Shield TV’s green LED swish is too bright, you can easily dim it. Launch Settings and select Device Preferences > System > LED brightness, you can then choose from High, Medium, Low, or Off. Nonetheless, if the box has an unnaturally bright glow, you can fix it.
Adjust the Processor mode setting on the System menu in Device Preferences to either Optimized or Max performance. You may turn this down if you wish to save on the energy your Android TV box is using up. The Nvidia Shield TV only really needs the high-performance mode if you are running games on it.
Sideload Android apps
All apps for the Nvidia Shield TV are not available on the Google Play Store, because not all apps have been optimized for Android TV. To obtain other apps on board the Nvidia Shield TV device, you can sideload them. Tons of apps can be helpful with this, but one of the best apps is the Freemium File Commander (a powerful file manager that lets you handle any file on your Android device).
You can use Google Drive through File Commander to move Android Application Package or APK files over to the Nvidia Shield TV box. You can get the APK file for any app from a reliable, recognized source, such as APKMirror. The first time you try to open an APK file in Freemium File Commander, you’ll be prompted by the Android TV to confirm that it is authorized to install unknown apps.
Navigate the Sideloaded apps
If you install an app by sideloading that was not intentionally created for Android TV, you would face issues. For instance, the Nvidia Shield TV remote is not recognized by the applications and thus you can’t use the apps. Enter Mouse Toggle – it lets you easily navigate the sideloaded applications with just the remote.
Allow GameStream
The Nvidia Shield TV is an amazing gaming device. Not only can it connect to the GeForce Now cloud gaming service, but the device can also stream games from a compatible Windows computer/PC on the local network utilizing the GameStream feature. Launch the Nvidia Games app on the Shield, and GameStream PCs will be on the Settings row.
However, you need to do some preparation work on the Windows PC, assuming it matches up to the standards for compatibility – GTX & RTX GPUs are going to function. You must install the latest GeForce drivers, and the GeForce Experience utility working. In the settings of that utility, ensure you enable the GameStream on the Shield page.
Copy data or information from the computer/PC to the Nvidia Shield through a USB
Head to the System settings, Storage & restart – you’ll see that there’s an option that lets you activate the access to the Nvidia Shield TV’s storage via a USB A to USB A cable. Even though the cable may not be popular, you can easily purchase it from Amazon.
When you link the Nvidia Shield TV to the PC it will seem like an external disk, thus you can copy all the files you want. Copying large files could be faster if you do it over the local network.
AirScreen App
AirScreen is an awesome app to send content (photos, music, videos, etc.) from any device to the Nvidia Shield TV, any other set-top box, or Android TV. The AirScreen app not only provides the option to receive content via Chromecast support but also via the Miracast as well as AirPlay standards.
The AirScreen app is free but provides ads. If you wish to remove advertisements and in the process get extra additional functions as well as adjustments, then you’ll have to shell out. Even though it is worth seeing later how the app works, particularly if it’s to transmit content from iOS-powered devices.
Browse the Web
Nvidia Shield TV allows you to sideload the Puffin TV browser that is created specifically for Android TV and also it provides a remote-friendly user interface. If you’re serious, you can install other internet browsers on Android TV, such as Google Chrome, and then utilize it with the Mouse Toggle app or link a Keyboard or Bluetooth Mouse.
Find the Shield remote
If you’ve purchased one of the newest Nvidia Shield TV models or the Nvidia Shield TV Pro, you can enable its audible beep to find the remote if you’ve lost it. It is much easier to find the remote of the cylindrical Nvidia Shield TV, just press the dedicated remote finder button on the HDMI port to get the device’s remote to beep.
On the Nvidia Shield TV Pro, you must launch Settings and select Remotes & Accessories > Nvidia SHIELD accessories > Nvidia SHIELD remote 1 > Find this remote. Obviously, as you’ve lost the Nvidia Shield TV remote, you will need to get to its menu by plugging in a mouse or by utilizing the Android TV Remote Control app to control the Android TV-based digital media player.
Knowing Your SHIELD Controller Features
Your Nvidia SHIELD Controller is packed with tons of great features that you might not know about. Below are the best features that you must know.
- The Nvidia Shield controller also functions with the SHIELD Tablet.
- It has a 3.5 mm Headphone jack that has stereo and audio/Headphones support
- It controller has more than 60 hours of game-play
- A micro SD port & USB charger
Using Bluetooth Controller
Just like you can link a Keyboard & Bluetooth Mouse to the Nvidia Shield TV to browse the web, the digital media player also allows you to connect a Bluetooth Gaming controller to play games. The Nvidia Shield TV supports PS4, Xbox, as well as third-party Bluetooth controllers. The Xbox functions flawlessly, the PlayStation 4 controller contains key mapping issues and the accuracy of third-party controllers differs from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Should you purchase the NVIDIA SHIELD TV?
When it comes to the buying decision of whether or not to purchase an NVIDIA SHIELD TV, there are several factors to consider and it’s highly based on the person’s preference.
You should purchase the NVIDIA SHIELD if:
- You’re an avid Movie and TV Show streamer and require a high-powered processor.
- You are an enthusiast of the Android TV Operating System and you utilize a Virtual Private Network or VPN while you stream online.
- You favor quality & power over price
- You’re a video game enthusiast
- You adore Google products
ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi. Currently, your IP 216.73.216.97 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider. Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN: A VPN works be replacing your ISP-assigned IP address and creating an encrypted tunnel. We recommend the no log service offered by IPVanish. It works well on a Firestick and offers the fastest possible speeds.
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Install Surfshark on Firestick
Alternatives
- Roku
- Google Chromecast
- Apple TV
- Raspberry Pi
- Nexus Player
- Amazon Firestick
FAQs
Can I use a free VPN with my Nvidia Shield?
- There are tons of free VPN services on the internet, but those are not recommended.
What Apps Are Available On Shield Tv?
- It comes preloaded with YouTube, Netflix, Plex, Prime Video, Google Play Music, Google Play Movies, NVIDIA Games, and more.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Awesome 4K upscaling
- Amazing fast performance
- Great Android TV experience
- Handy new features
Cons
- Not very novice-friendly
- Does not do HDR (high-dynamic-range) for YouTube
Why You Should Always Use A VPN
Using Virtual Private Network can be very handy on an Nvidia Shield TV. Thanks to VPNs you can access platforms or services that are unavailable in your country or bypass the meaningless restrictions that several platforms sometimes impose. When you use Nvidia Shield TV, an encrypted Virtual Private Network service provider is highly recommended to hide your online activities, identity, and location. Many Nvidia Shield TV users prefer Surfshark VPN service for privacy, price, and speed.
For Nvidia Shield TV, there are a number of options, but if it’s to use streaming services that are unavailable in your country, the perfect option is the Surfshark VPN service. There are more Virtual Private Network services available out there, but seeing the results it’s better to put up for it.
Providing the fastest server speeds and amazing live chat support, Surfshark VPN is also an easy-to-use VPN app. Nonetheless, make sure to enable the VPN service when you are streaming on the internet.
Surfshark Features:
- Unblocks Netflix, Disney+, and more
- Great customer service
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No connection records
- Great download speed
- Robust encryption
- Compatible with Linux, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and other routers
Note: For more information about SurfShark, please read our SURFSHARK REVIEW.
How to Install Surfshark VPN on Firestick
If your Firestick still has the older interface, read this article to learn how to update it: Update Firestick Interface.
You can download Surfshark directly from the Amazon App store. It will be easy for you to find Surfshark with your Firestick’s Find feature. Refer to our screenshots below.
1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.
2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.
3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.
4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.
5. Press the Download (You own it) button.
6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.
7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.
8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.
9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.
10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.
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Conclusion
A lot of people can’t think of a better Android TV box than the Nvidia Shield TV. The wide range of content availability, integration, and features easily make the Shield one of the best streaming boxes. The gaming element of the Nvidia Shield TV figures prominently and is a chunk of the reason the device is priced the way it is. While some users don’t have to commit to utilizing any of that, it is a good benefit to have.
For gamers, the Nvidia Shield TV can’t compete with the likes of the Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or PS4 but is still compelling. Along with the right connections, you can play games well and the improved Shield controller provides a better gaming experience.
However, the tips and tricks above are very helpful if you want to make the most out of the Nvidia Shield TV. Please feel free to comment down below for any questions and suggestions. You can also contact us on any of our other social media platforms.
Note: ReviewVPN.com does not own or operate any app nor does it endorse any. The main purpose of this article is strictly for educational purposes only.













































































































