CheckMag | Everything wrong with the Nvidia Shield remote can be fixed with this free, 3D printable case
The Nvidia Shield (Available on Amazon) is fast approaching 6 years old and while in 2025 it may not be the best Android TV, it's still a decent (if overpriced) option, and there are likely still many in service thanks to fairly regular updates.
However, even when it was new, long before the battery door gave out due to drops from the sofa and abuse by children, the Shield remote had some annoying quirks. Pressing buttons on the remote without picking it up is nigh on impossible thanks to the triangular design that means it never lays flat, and the super sized Netflix button is infuriatingly easy to press when picking up the remote, resulting in a swift exit from your program of choice into a streaming platform that you may not even subscribe to.
Of course, that button can be re-mapped to something more useful, but this trend of including dedicated streaming buttons is the hardware equivalent of software bloat that can't ever be removed.
Thankfully, for the Shield remote, Karl Toastbrot over on Printables has a solution.
The Shield TV remote case can be downloaded and printed for free and requires no glue or modification to use. The remote fits snugly inside the case, with cutouts for the main buttons and the microphone, and a notched retainer clip keeps everything in place.
The print can be downloaded in 2 versions, one which leaves all the buttons exposed and another which covers up the Netflix button. Given that some Shield owners have taken to supergluing the button to disable it, this simple, but far superior alternative doesn't require making irreversible changes.
The case retains the familiar triangular shape of the original Shield remote, but the back corner has been flattened off, allowing the remote to not only sit on a table without leaning to one side but also facilitate button presses without picking it up. One of the best things about the Shield remote is the IR blaster that allows you to control additional audio gear such as a receiver from the same remote, functionality that remains intact with the use of the case.
The extra heft means the remote should be capable of sustaining further abuse from children or cats, is far less likely to disappear down the side of the sofa, and if you print it with glow in the dark filament, should be easier to locate.
While the Shield remote serves its basic function, the case is far nicer than retaining the battery door with gaffer tape, and the small quality of life fixes are a testament to the ingenuity and design skills of the 3D printing community.
Source(s)
