Turn any computer into an Android TV Box—without having to install anything!

Imagine turning any computer—whether it's your old laptop or desktop—into a fully functional Android TV box, without having to touch the internal hard drive. No installation required. No complicated settings. Just plug in a USB drive, turn on the device, and off you go—you're in the world of Android TV.

Does that sound too good to be true?

A TV Operating System... in Your Pocket

The magic begins with a USB stick. Everything—your apps, settings, Google account, even game saves—lives on this portable drive. Pop it into any computer, and it boots straight into Android TV. Want to go back to Windows? Just reboot without the USB. It’s that seamless.

Whether you're on the road, visiting friends, or just hopping between devices at home, you’ve got your own personal TV box in your pocket.

Getting started is very easy.

To run this, you will need:

Download the latest version of Android TV (use the December 18, 2024 release).

Use Rufus, the USB firmware installer, and prepare the USB drive (select the GPT partition, click "Start," and then confirm the instructions).

But here's the most important part: You can customize your storage space. Don't settle for the default 2GB or 4GB. Simply extract the file you want to the USB root folder, delete the smaller files, and you're good to go.

Boot and Go

To launch Android TV, just reboot your PC and enter the BIOS (usually by pressing F2, F12, or Delete). From the boot menu, select your USB stick. After a few lines of startup code, you’re greeted by the familiar Android TV setup screen.

Pick your language, connect to Wi-Fi, name your device, and you’re in.

It works. It really does.

YouTube streams 4K video smoothly.

Prime Video runs smoothly.

Games like Buggy work great with a USB gamepad.

Yes, you can use a keyboard, remote, or controller to navigate.

You can install anything from the Play Store, and everything will be saved to the USB. Turn off the device, then connect it to another computer, and you'll pick up where you left off.

Not everything is perfect. 

Netflix is ​​currently unavailable on the Play Store, and on one of its tablets, Wi-Fi didn't work immediately, but a cheap USB Wi-Fi adapter solved the problem.

Storage space is also important. One game, Asphalt 8, couldn't run due to limited storage space. So, if you plan to download apps or games, opt for 64GB of storage from the start.

Closing Thoughts: Why is this awesome?

This project is not only practical, but also fun. Whether you're a tech geek, a media addict, or just want a portable entertainment device, Android TV on a USB stick offers great versatility. Best of all? You won't download anything to the internal drive. Everything is secure, independent, and reversible.

conclusion

So, ready to turn your computer into a smart TV—no strings (or installs) attached?

Let me know if you want a download guide, a visual walkthrough, or a version of this tailored for a blog or website!