How To Update the Apps on a JVC Smart TV

Long gone are the days when the only thing you could do on your TV was to watch what the cable company and broadcasters wanted you to. Today, your TV can serve almost any purpose, same as your smartphone or tablet. But this is only true if the manufacturer equips your device with all the necessary tools for this or you buy a separate device to use with it.

JVC’s solutions, for example, can’t really compare to those of some of the market leaders like Samsung or Sony. When it comes to the ‘smart’ aspect of things, there’s a ton of confusion about how everything works. More specifically, there are no clear guidelines on how to manage apps on your JVC smart TV.

In this article, you’ll see what all the fuss is about and what you can do about it.

Determine if Your JVC TV Has Android or Not

Not all JVC smart TVs ship with Android OS. Instead, they feature specific versions of the most popular apps like YouTube and Netflix. Now, this is where it gets pretty chaotic. Many users have complained about the apps not working and there being no options to update. Even TVs that do support Android might have Google Play Services issues that can prevent you from updating apps.

In this case, a firmware update would be able to resolve the issue and fix the services that aren’t working. But the problem is that users who’ve contacted JVC asking about updates got the answer that there won’t be any in the future. For this reason, it’s not possible to update the apps, as JVC doesn’t release separate app updates either.

So how do you get the most out of your smart TV despite these limitations? Let’s take a look at some options at your disposal for the various JVC TVs.

Updating Apps on the JVC Roku TV

If you own a JVC Roku TV, here’s a quick guide to updating the apps on it.

1. Go the Home screen and select Streaming Channels.
2. Now, go to the app you want to update.
3. Then, go to Check for updates.

Updating Apps on the JVC Android TV

Provided that your JVC smart TV support Android without issues, updating apps is a breeze. The process is largely the same as that of updating Android phone apps. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Make sure that your TV has a stable internet connection and select Apps from the Home page.
2. Open the Google Play Store from the menu.
3. Now, select My Apps and click on Updates.
4. Then, select Update all.

Updating Apps Individually on the JVC Android TV

Provided that your JVC smart TV support Android without issues, updating apps is a breeze. The process is largely the same as that of updating Android phone apps. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Make sure that your TV has a stable internet connection.
2. Open the Google Play Store from the menu.
3. Search for the app that you want to update and click on it.
4. Select Update next to the Open.
   
   

Another thing that you can do is download the .apk file of the app that you want to update and install it manually. This is a great option for when Google Play malfunctions. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Find the .apk file of the app you want to update and make sure it’s the latest available version.
2. Transfer the file to a USB flash drive and plug it into your TV.
3. On your TV, go to Source > USB and install the newest version of the app.

You should see the updated version in your App List menu.

Updating Apps on Non-Android JVC TVs

Unless JVC doesn’t release a firmware or software update, you’re pretty much stuck with what you have. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get access to the apps you need.

You can get an Android TV box that can provide you with all the functions that Android-based smart TVs have. In this case, the app update process will be the same as the one outlined in the previous section. Another option is to go with a casting device, we have helpful tutorials on the Google Chromecast, Roku TV, or Amazon FireStick TV. It lets you project the screen of cast-enabled devices onto your TV, allowing you to use your phone or tablet apps on a big screen.

Avoid Outdated Apps

As you can see, JVC doesn’t handle app updates that well. If you have an Android-enabled TV, you’re in luck, as you should have no issues with updating your apps. But if not, you might have to go with an Android box or casting devices to make sure you can use the last available versions.

While these solutions don’t sound very convenient, they’re the only way around JVC’s limitation. The good news is that they’re quite affordable, so you should get your money’s worth in most cases.

What are your experiences with JVC’s TV interface and apps? Share them with us in the comments below.