Sony's guide to unexpected symptoms on a Google TV says that if the app does not operate correctly, a downloaded app may be affecting the TV. Restart the TV by holding Power on the supplied remote. Update the software, since Sony recommends connecting the BRAVIA to the internet with Automatic Software Update on. To see whether a downloaded app is the cause, start the TV in Safe Mode, which disables downloaded apps, and check whether the symptoms occur: if they do not, a downloaded app is affecting the TV. Then, from Google Play Store, update the app to the latest version, and follow the Clear data procedure: open Settings, choose Apps, See all apps and the problem app, then Clear data and OK.
If that fails, uninstall and reinstall the app.
The checks in more detail
Sony's FAQ has specific articles: YouTube, Netflix or other streaming app does not work, YouTube app does not launch, freezes or shows an error message, how to get Disney+ and how to install applications on Google TV. Check the network with the network diagnosis, since apps fail on a poor connection, and check the date and time are automatic. Check the app's own account: sign out and in. If the app is not available for your model, the Google Play Store or the app provider lists supported devices.
Clear cache for the Google Play Store and Google Play services if downloads fail. Factory reset as a last resort. Note the exact error code an app shows, since services publish what each code means, and a code often names the network, account or device faster than trial and error. If an app works on your phone but not the TV, the service may not support your TV's year.
Differential
Likely causes of “Sony BRAVIA TV line apps will not open, update or install”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A downloaded app fault
What separates it The problems continue until you use Safe Mode because a downloaded app has a fault
How to confirm Update the app, clear its data or uninstall it, and then try again
- 2
Outdated software
What separates it Apps crash because the TV software is out of date
How to confirm Update the TV software, and then try the app again
- 3
A poor connection
What separates it Apps do not load because the connection is poor
How to confirm Run the network diagnosis, and fix any fault that it reports
- 4
A wrong date and time
What separates it Apps refuse to load because the date and time on the TV are wrong
How to confirm Set the date and time to automatic, so that the apps can load
- 5
An unsupported app
What separates it The app cannot be installed because it is not supported on this TV
How to confirm Check the app's list of supported devices, to see whether your TV is on it
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The app that fails and the error that it shows
- Whether Safe Mode changes the behavior of the app
- The software version that the TV runs
- The result of the network diagnosis
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedRestart the TV
ReversibleRestart the TV by holding the Power button, and choosing Restart from the menu, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Update the software
ReversibleUpdate the software on the TV, and turn Automatic Software Update on for the future.
Try Safe Mode
ReversibleTry Safe Mode, to see whether a downloaded app is the cause of the problem.
Update the app
ReversibleUpdate the app in the Google Play Store, so that it works with the current software.
Clear data
ReversibleClear the data of the app, which you can do in Settings under Apps, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Uninstall and reinstall
ReversibleUninstall and reinstall the app if needed, and sign in again afterwards, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Run the network diagnosis
ReversibleRun the network diagnosis, and then retest the app that was failing, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Google TV
- Google TV models use the Google Play Store for apps.
- Older models
- Older Android TV models lose support for new apps first.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models A80L, A90J, A95L, BRAVIA 2 II LED TV, BRAVIA 5 Mini LED TV, BRAVIA 7 Mini LED TV, BRAVIA 8 II QD-OLED TV, BRAVIA 9 Mini LED TV, X85K, X900H, X90L, X95L.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If apps still fail after Clear data and a reinstall, contact Sony
- !If only one app fails, contact the provider of that app
- !If Safe Mode still shows the fault, it is not an app
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Restart, reset settings, update, Safe Mode and Clear data.
Index of Google TV help articles.
Google TV help topics.
Screen mirroring and Wi-Fi Direct fixes.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why do apps fail on my BRAVIA?+
A downloaded app, old software or the network.
How do I clear an app's data?+
Settings, Apps, the app, Clear data.
Does Sony have a YouTube article?+
Yes, Sony has an article about YouTube problems, on its support site.
How do I install apps?+
You install apps through the Google Play Store, which is on the TV's home screen.