Questions hosts ask.
Short answers. The long ones live in the README on GitHub.
Before you start
Is it free?
Yes. Guest TV is free and open source under the MIT licence. The Ask box runs on your own Claude plan through Claude Code, and it never bills an API key. If it saves you a few "what's the Wi-Fi?" messages, you can shout Josh a coffee.
Do I need a computer?
Yes, one at your place that stays on and never sleeps: a Mac, a Linux box or a Raspberry Pi, on the same Wi-Fi as the TV. It draws the welcome screen, runs the Guest remote and the helper, and opens Guest TV on TVs that are not Google TV or Android TV.
Will it work on my TV?
Google TV and Android TV get everything. Samsung and LG get the welcome screen and the phone remote, as an app the computer opens each time the TV comes on. Fire TV, Roku, Hisense VIDAA, Philips, Panasonic and Apple TV each have a path, several of them Beta, and VIZIO gets the phone remote only. On every TV that is not Google TV or Android TV, the TV's own Home button still opens its own home, and the Guest remote's Home key brings Guest TV back. Check your TV for yours.
Does it need Airbnb?
No. Pick "a guest room" and it shows a welcome, the Wi-Fi, their room and the weather, with no check in, check out or house rules. The stay layout reads its dates from your Airbnb listing's calendar link.
How long does setup take?
The quick way on a Google TV, Android TV or Fire TV is about ten minutes: one command on the computer, then the Guest TV app with the Downloader code 1061533.
Your guests
Do guests need to install an app?
No. They scan a code on the TV and the Guest remote opens in their phone's browser. It only works on your Wi-Fi.
Can a guest talk the helper into something?
They can try, which is why you pick the level. At Locked (the default) the AI has no tools: it picks from a short menu and code checks every pick. Never, at any level: shell commands, your files, your computer or other devices on your Wi-Fi. Guest TV ships with a test of 73 asks, and every one must pass.
Will guests end up in my Netflix profile?
Not once you add a Guest profile in each app. On a Google TV or Android TV, when they open Netflix, Stan, Prime Video or Disney+, the TV picks the Guest profile. You sign in and add a profile called Guest once, in each app.
What happens when guests leave?
The remote link stops at check out, and the TV goes to the between guests screen: your place and its welcome, with no names, dates or codes.
Can they book dinner?
Every level gives a Book a table button that opens the restaurant's own booking page. At the Open level the helper can fill in the booking for them after they check the details and tap Book it. It never pays, types a card number, makes an account or signs in.
Your details
How does it know the guest's name?
From Airbnb's "Reservation confirmed" emails. Forward or save each one into a folder, or let it read your mailbox read only with an app password. A cancel email takes them off again, and a name you type in the host panel always wins.
Where are my Wi-Fi password and door codes kept?
In one private file on your computer, never in git. The door code only shows on the TV during a stay. There is no Guest TV server or account.
Can I use my own photos?
Yes: the main photo, one beside the house guide and one for "Around here". A wide photo looks best.
Afterwards
How do I remove it?
Put the TV's old home back, remove the app, stop Guest TV on the computer. Every step is on Remove it.
Who made it?
Josh Seage, who also made couch-tv, the TV home screen Guest TV grew out of. The Guest TV app has its own name on the TV, so it can sit beside couch-tv's.
Something didn't work on my TV
Please open an issue on GitHub saying which TV and what happened. Reports from real TVs are how the Beta paths get better.