Never underestimate the power of resetting your LG TV. Doing so may sound elementary, but it’s a quick fix to scores of TV issues, as a simple restart can address software bugs in a jiffy.
LG TVs can be reset in various ways using the remote control, such as a quick reset, restart, or factory reset. You can perform a power cycle or use alternative peripherals if you don’t have a working remote.
Don’t let the details worry you, though. In this post, we’ll show you all the steps to reset your LG TV with or without a remote within the hour, so we highly recommend you read thoroughly to the end.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Duration | 54 minutes and 25 seconds |
| Number of Ways | 8 |
| Things You Need | LG TVLG TV magic remote control A PC/Smartphone USB Stick A working internet connection |
How to Reset LG TV Using its Remote Control
In the sections below, we’ll be taking up in detail all of these various types of resetting for your LG TV. Each method has distinct advantages, so you should be able to make the most of each to fit your needs.
Before anything else, please make sure your remote control is working. Check if its batteries aren’t running low on juice before proceeding.
1. Perform a quick reset on your LG TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Duration | 30 seconds |
This method is the quickest and easiest way to reset LG TVs, which involves shutting it down and unplugging it from the power source to turn it off completely. Afterward, you must plug it back into the power source to reboot the LG TV.
Please note that it’s essential to check if the LG TV is properly plugged into the power source to prevent any power supply issues that might prevent it from rebooting. Switch to a different power source if you’re experiencing issues.
Follow these steps to perform a quick reset on your LG TV.
Step 1. Click the power button on the LG magic remote control to power off your TV. |
Step 2. Disconnect the power cable of your LG TV from the wall/power outlet. |
| Step 3: Wait for 10 seconds and plug the power cable of the LG TV back into the wall/power outlet.  |
| Step 4: Click the power button on the LG magic remote control to power your TV. Wait for the LG TV to complete its reboot process.  |
Indeed, there’s merit in observing the time element. In this regard, following them is a must to obtain the best results.
2. Install a software update on your LG TV and restart it.
Another way to reset an LG TV is to conduct a software update, which will upgrade the webOS version of the TV and improve its compatibility with the latest apps and features. After the installation, restart the device to apply the update.
Once the restart is initiated, your LG TV will reboot with the new software version and better performance, which make this a good reset option.
Resetting the TV this way not only patches up issues but also provides you with quality-of-life changes and upgrades.
Installing the software update can be achieved in two different ways. You can either download and install it with your LG TV connected to a Wi-Fi network or plug in a USB stick that contains the manual software update file.
Method 1. Restart your LG TV after updating it directly over the internet:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 12 |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
Step 1: Click the gear button on the LG magic remote control to display theoptions panel.  |
Step 2: Scroll down/click All Settings/Advanced Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click About This TV. |
Step 5: Scroll down/click CHECK FOR UPDATES. |
Step 6: Click YES to continue with the download. |
Step 7: Wait while the update process on your LG TV is in progress. |
Step 8: Wait for a prompt to appear telling you to restart your LG TV. |
| Step 9: Click the power button on the LG magic remote control to power off your TV. |
| Step 10. Disconnect the power cable of your LG TV from the wall/power outlet. |
| Step 11: Wait for 10 seconds and plug the power cable of the LG TV back into the wall/power outlet. |
| Step 12: Click the power button on the LG magic remote control to power your TV. Wait for the LG TV to complete its reboot process and apply the update. |
That should be a breeze. However, sometimes you won’t have access to the internet so the next method is spot on.
Method 2. Restart your LG TV after updating it using the USB stick method:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 14 |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
| Step 1: Click the gear button on the LG magic remote control to display the options panel. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click All Settings/Advanced Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Network and write down the listed LG TV model. |
| Step 4: Return to the settings menu. Scroll down/click General.  |
Step 5: Scroll down/click About This TV and write down the listed software version. |
| Step 6: Move to a PC and open an internet browser. Go to the official web page of your LG TV vendor.  |
Step 7: Use the search bar to look for your LG TV model. |
Step 8: Download the available software update for your LG TV. |
Step 9: Extract the downloaded update into a USB stick that’s plugged into your PC. |
Step 10: Select the folder you extracted and rename it as LG_DTV. |
| Step 11: Click the power button on the LG magic remote control to turn the TV on. Take the USB stick and plug it into the LG TV.  |
| Step 12: Wait for your LG TV to scan the USB stick for any available software update. Click YES to proceed and install the update.  |
Step 13: Click CHECK NOW to view the progress of the update process. |
| Step 14: Click YES to confirm the restart prompt. Wait for your LG TV to reboot and apply the newly installed update.  |
3. Run a factory reset on your LG TV using its remote control.
Finally, you can factory reset LG TVs to reset them to their original and initial state after they were sent out after they were manufactured and assembled. This is the reason this method is called a factory reset.
WARNING:
Make sure you have a copy of your saved files and preferences on your LG TV before doing a factory reset. This way, you don’t lose them to the factory reset.
This type should be a last resort when troubleshooting an LG TV as it wipes all of its stored data such as your account information, apps, and settings. But, it’s an effective way to eliminate viruses and corrupt files plaguing your LG TV.
Follow these steps to run a factory reset on your LG TV using remote:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 7 |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
Step 1: Press the gear button on the LG remote control to open the optionspanel. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click Advanced Settings/All Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Reset to Initial Settings. |
Step 5: Click OK to factory reset your LG TV to its default settings. |
| Step 6: Enter the password on your LG TV if asked. Note: The default password on LG TVs is either 0000 or 1234. |
| Step 7: Wait for the LG TV to complete its reboot process. |
How to Reset an LG TV Without its Remote Control
Even with a broken or lost LG magic remote control, you’ll still be able to reset your TV in various ways using its physical buttons. You can also operate your LG TV using alternative remote control options such as the ThinQ app or a USB keyboard.
Follow the steps below to reset your LG TV without a remote control.
1. Conduct a power cycle to reset your LG TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Duration | 1 minute and 5 seconds |
Another quick way to reset an LG TV is to conduct a power cycle, which only requires you to unplug the TV and press its power button. The purpose of this action is to discharge any residual energy to help fix minor issues after the unit reboots.
Power cycling is a go-to troubleshooting trick when users are experiencing misbehaving apps, slow startup, and power-up issues on their LG TV. You can use this method to perform a quick reset on your LG TV without a remote.
Follow these steps to conduct a power cycle and reset your LG TV:
| Step 1: Disconnect the power cable of your LG TV from the wall/power outlet. |
Step 2: Press/hold the physical power button on your LG TV for 30 seconds. Note: The power button can be found on the underside, side, or at the back depending on the LG TV model. |
| Step 3: Release the physical power button on your LG TV. |
| Step 4: Wait for 30 seconds and plug the power cable of the LG TV back into the wall/power outlet. |
2. Connect a keyboard and mouse to operate your LG TV.
A keyboard and mouse can be used as an alternative option to operate your LG TV if its remote control is lost or broken. The keyboard will work on its own but using a mouse will help make things easier as it can be used to control the TV’s cursor.
 |
You can connect a keyboard and mouse to your LG TV using either a wired or wireless connection. Both the wired and wireless connections will use the USB ports on your LG TV.
Take note that a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard also come with a wireless USB connector. Using these peripherals on your LG TV is simple as you only need to plug them in and they should automatically work.
If your LG TV only has one USB port, you’ll need to use a multi-USB port hub for both the keyboard and mouse to share the same port.
Once connected, you should be able to perform the previously discussed reset options that you can do with an LG magic remote control.
3. Use the ThinQ app as an alternative remote control.
LG has a companion application for their appliances called ThinQ. It’s nothing short of magical.
This app allows users to use swipe, button, and voice commands to control and operate a wide range of LG products. We’re talking about LG TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioning units, etc.
If you’ve lost or broken your LG TV’s remote control, you can instead use the ThinQ app to operate the TV. After installing and setting up the ThinQ app, perform the reset options that use a remote control as covered earlier in this guide.
Please note that your LG TV and the smartphone where the ThinQ app is installed must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This will allow both devices to detect each other and initiate the setup.
Follow the steps below to download and install the ThinQ app on your phone:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 17 |
| Duration | 11 minutes |
| Step 1: Open the Apple App Store/Google Play Store app on your iPhone/Android phone.  |
Step 2: Select/click the search bar to initiate a search. |
Step 3: Type/search for the app. |
Step 4: Click the Install button beside the ThinQ app to download/install it. |
Step 5: Click the Open button beside the ThinQ app to launch it. |
Step 6: Select/click Sign in with LG to enter using your LG account. Note: If you don’t have an LG account, they allow you to create one for free by following the instructions on the screen. You can also use an alternative sign-in method using Google or Facebook account. |
Step 7: Fill out your account credentials and click Sign in to enter using your account. |
Step 8: Select/click Add a Device. |
Step 9: Click Select Device and continue with Next. |
Step 10: Select/click TV from the list the app gives you. |
Step 11: Select/click your LG TV from the list of available devices. |
Step 12: Type the pin code you can see on your LG TV display screen and hit Next. |
Step 13: Select/click Skip to decline the linking process. |
Step 14: Click Move to Home to go to the app’s home screen. |
| Step 15: Select/click the TV tile on the app’s home screen to access the remote control buttons.  |
| Step 16: Use these buttons on the app to operate your LG TV. |
| Step 17: Perform any reset on your LG TV that requires a remote control using the ThinQ app. |
How to Reset Your LG TV Without a Password
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 17 |
| Duration | 11 minutes |
Sometimes, an LG TV might for a password before green-lighting a factory reset. This can be problematic in situations where you’ve forgotten what the password of the LG TV was.
Luckily, there’s a way to reset the password in case you’ve forgotten it. This way, you can restore it to the default password and be able to use proceed with the factory reset process on your LG TV.
Be warned that the process is a bit long. But it should be all worth it.
Follow these steps to reset the password on your LG TV and factory reset it:
| Step 1: Press the gear button on the LG remote control to open the options panel.  |
Step 2: Scroll down/click All Settings/Advanced Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click System. |
Step 5: Scroll down/click Safety. |
| Step 6: Use the channel buttons to perform a button combination that will ask you for a master password.  Note: The button combination is channel up, channel up, channel down, and channel up. Make sure to press these buttons in quick succession. |
Step 7: Type the master password which is 0313. |
Step 8: Select/click the safety switch to toggle it off. |
Step 9: Enter the default password to continue. Note: The default password on LG TVs is either 0000 or 1234. |
Step 10. Select/click the safety switch to toggle it on. |
| Step 11: Enter the default password to continue. Note: The default password on LG TVs is either 0000 or 1234. |
Step 12: Scroll down/click Reset Password. |
| Step 13: Enter the default password to continue. Note: The default password on LG TVs is either 0000 or 1234. |
Step 14: Set up a new password and click OK. |
| Step 15: Return to the system settings and scroll down/click Reset to Initial Settings.  |
Step 16: Select/click OK to continue. |
| Step 17: Enter your LG TV password if asked. |
How to Hard Reset Your LG TV
| Difficulty | Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Duration | 30 seconds |
A hard reset is a quick method that allows you to forcefully restart your LG TV using a button combination on your magic remote control. This action will shut down your LG TV and let it reboot, which should refresh its system memory.
In case of a lost or broken magic remote control, you can unplug the LG TV from its power source while it’s turned on. After unplugging it for one minute, plugging it back in should achieve the same results.
Follow these steps to hard reset your LG TV using the button combination:
Step 1: Press/hold the volume down button on your LG magic remote control. |
Step 2: Press/hold the power button on your LG magic remote control. |
| Step 3: Release both buttons when LG’s logo appears on the display screen. |
When Should I Reset My LG TV
Depending on the issues your LG TV is experiencing, you can perform a different type of reset to troubleshoot your TV. For minor issues, we recommend only performing a quick reset, restart, and power cycle.
When these simple reset options are unable to resolve the issues on your LG TV, that’s the only time when you should consider performing a factory reset. Factory resetting wipes the data on your TV, so only use it as a last resort.
What’s the Difference Between a Restart and a Factory Reset
The main difference between the restart process and the factory reset process is that the former only reboots your LG TV to refresh its memory to improve its performance. The latter will wipe the TV’s data back to the factory defaults.
When you restart your LG TV, it will keep your data untouched, and you can keep using your installed apps and settings preferences. After a factory reset, your LG TV will be like a brand-new device that you’ll need to set up and reconfigure.
FAQs about Resetting LG TVs
LG TVs have reset buttons—kind of. There’s no specific button that corresponds to a reset command, but you can hold the power button on the remote control or the TV itself to perform a quick reset.
In a sense, you could say that the power button is also the reset button on LG TVs.
Press the back buttons to navigate the settings menu on your LG TV and perform a factory reset. You can also just click and hold the power button on the back of your LG TV to perform a quick reset.
Unplug the LG TV from the wall/power outlet and plug it back in. This is the quickest and most straightforward way to forcefully restart your LG TV if you don’t have a working remote control.
The LG TV refreshes itself whenever it undergoes a reboot. This is because whenever your TV shuts down, all the apps and programs it’s running also shut down, and the data loaded into its memory is also removed.
Once your LG TV reboots, those apps and programs must be reopened for them to perform their tasks and activities again. Simply put, rebooting allows your LG TV to stop all of its functions to rest and perform them again in a refreshed state.
