Google TV Streamer gets 2026 update adding Thread 1.4

Google has begun rolling out a significant software update for its Google TV Streamer, marking the device's first major system update of 2026. The update, which started reaching devices this week, introduces support for the Thread 1.4 networking standard and delivers a critical security patch.

The 219MB update, identified as build UTTK.260317.003, upgrades the device's security patch level from August 2025 to April 2026, addressing vulnerabilities identified over the past eight months. The most notable functional addition is full compatibility with Thread 1.4, a low-energy wireless protocol designed for smart home devices like sensors, locks, and thermostats. This update fulfills the hardware's original promise to act as a central hub for connected homes.

A key user-facing change is a new "Share Thread network credentials" option within the device's settings menu. This feature generates a secure QR code on the television screen, which can be scanned by companion apps for other smart home devices to quickly and securely join the existing Thread network managed by the Streamer. The process includes a security verification step, requiring users to confirm their identity via a PIN...