Credit: Jack Mitchell/MakeUseOf

While modern smart TVs are far more advanced than their recent ancestors, when used right out of the box, we are only tapping the surface of their potential. Most require add-ons or accessories to perform at their best, such as digital streaming devices or soundbar/subwoofer setups. However, even within the TV itself, you can install a handful of free apps to unlock features that turn it into a truly “smart” device.

After installing these five apps, my TV stopped feeling like a generic appliance and started behaving like a flexible, customized entertainment center. Finally, my TV is worthy of all the wall space it occupies, with improved functionality and access to all of the content I want to watch, not just whatever’s available on my streaming platforms.

Button Mapper

Customize your remote to match your viewing habits

Modern TV remotes seem to fall into two extremes: either overcomplicated command decks or featureless monoliths. Button Mapper is an app that turns your handset into a custom unit that works the way you want it to, by repurposing unused buttons and assigning multiple commands to others to maximize the remote’s potential.

For example, you can double-tap a volume key to launch an app, long-press Home to toggle a system function, or redirect those random branded buttons to something that you actually use. Simply choose a button, assign it an action, and enjoy more efficient browsing and selecting. With this upgrade, the remote becomes tailored to your habits, and the whole TV experience feels more personal.

Button Mapper

OS Android

Price model Free

Turn your TV into a universal media-playing powerhouse

Most of us are familiar with VLC Media Player as the ubiquitous open-source desktop media player with its orange traffic cone logo. It excels as a super-reliable solution, with some handy tricks up its sleeve, that supports every imaginable file type. However, its utility isn’t confined to computers; it is a useful app to have on mobile devices and, especially, smart TVs.

I use VLC when I want to play home recordings, niche documentaries, or an old file I ripped from a forgotten DVD ages ago. Its interface isn’t flashy, but that’s part of its charm; it simply shows up and plays whatever I ask without asking questions or showing error messages. If you also have a mixed bag of media dating back decades, this free app turns your TV into a more comprehensive media player that’s more than just a streaming console.

Price model Free, open-source

OS Android, iOS

AnExplorer File Manager

Navigate the files on your TV with clarity and control

No smart TV I’ve ever owned has offered a satisfying built-in way to browse files, and trying to navigate folders with a remote usually feels like performing keyhole surgery. My search for something better eventually brought me to AnExplorer, a lightweight, thoughtfully designed file manager that keeps local storage, USB drives, cloud folders, and network locations neatly organized and easy to access.

I use AnExplorer to move files around, preview media, and navigate my TV’s directory listings just enough to feel in control without venturing into destructive territory. Its clean, single-pane layout keeps things simple, and the straightforward navigation makes it easy to jump between folders or copy what I need without getting lost. When using it, my TV feels more like an interactive workstation than an entertainment console.

AnExplorer

OS Android

Price model Free

Send Files to TV (SFTTV)

Move media to your TV effortlessly and wirelessly

Managing files is one thing, but getting them onto your TV in the first place can be a hassle—or at least it used to be before I started using the free Send Files to TV app. Whenever I need to get a file onto the TV, whether it’s a new wallpaper, a video clip, or a subtitle file, but I don’t want to hunt for a USB stick or connect to a cloud service, Send Files to TV acts as a valuable conduit between devices.

I simply open the app on my phone, pick a file, select my TV, and the transfer zips into my directory through the ether. It requires no cables, no accounts, and no subscription. Send Files to TV is especially handy for the small stuff like patches for apps, media I want to watch immediately, and photos I want to showcase. Once you use it, going back to physical drives feels like a step backwards.

Send Files to TV

OS Android

Price model Free

Kodi

Transform your media into a beautiful, organized library

Kodi is often mistaken for a pure streaming app, but it has many strings to its bow. I use it primarily to play local and personal media, turning my TV into a curated library that showcases all my movies, TV shows, and music in a well-organized, aesthetically pleasing interface. As soon as I drop my own videos, music, and photos into Kodi, they reappear with metadata, artwork, and tidy categories. Instead of combing through folders, I’m presented with an orderly gallery customized with my “skins” and add-ons of choice.

Kodi also gives me the freedom to rearrange things with collections, playlists, themed groupings, all displayed in a way that makes sense to me. If, like me, you could use more organization in your media library, Kodi offers an elegant solution that transforms chaos into something inviting, compelling you to revisit old media and build your collection.

Kodi

OS Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS/iPadOS, tvOS, Android TV, Raspberry Pi, ...

Developer XBMC Foundation

Pricing model Free, open-source

Initial release June 29, 2004

Open up a whole world of possibilities within your smart TV

After installing these five apps, I’m no longer at the mercy of streaming services or the limitations set by manufacturers. My TV feels fluid, customized, and more like an extension of my media library, with improved utility and accessibility.

None of these apps demands my attention. They simply sit quietly in the background, making my interactions smoother and more efficient. If you also feel like your TV has been coasting along on its preset features, these free tools nudge it into life. Suddenly, it’ll appear to be working alongside you, not just obeying your commands from across the room.