Mastering Your LG Smart TV: Tips and Tricks for New Users
Welcome new LG Smart TV owners! You've just purchased an innovative smart TV that offers a world of entertainment and features right at your fingertips. But with great power comes great responsibility - it may seem daunting at first to learn how to properly set up and use your new LG TV. Don't worry! This guide will walk you through the key tips and tricks you need to get the most out of your LG Smart TV. You'll soon be navigating the intuitive WebOS platform, streaming your favorite shows, and controlling your TV with just your voice. The future of TV is here. Let's explore together how to master your new LG Smart TV!
Set Up Wi-Fi and LG Accounts
Connecting your new LG Smart TV to your home Wi-Fi network and setting up an LG account allows you to access all of the great smart features. Here are some tips for getting set up:
Connect to Wi-Fi - When you first turn on your TV, it will guide you through connecting to your Wi-Fi network. Make sure you have the name of your wireless network (SSID) and password handy to connect.
Create an LG Account - You'll want to create a free LG account, which allows you to access LG Content Store, save settings, track TV usage, and more. You can create an account directly on your TV or at lg.com.
Link Streaming Services - With an LG account, you can link services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more. This allows you to access all your streaming apps and sign in easily. Go to the Settings menu and select "Link Device" to get started.
Enable Mobile App - Don't forget to download the LG ThinQ app on your smartphone. This allows you to use your phone as a remote and even mirror content from your phone to the TV screen.
For those considering other smart TV options, the SHARP 32EE6K is a notable choice. This 32-inch HD Ready Smart LED TV offers excellent picture quality and a user-friendly interface. With built-in Wi-Fi and access to popular streaming services, it provides a comprehensive smart TV experience. Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller spaces, such as bedrooms or kitchens, without compromising on functionality. The SHARP 32EE6K also includes multiple HDMI and USB ports, allowing you to connect various devices easily.
Explore WebOS
WebOS is LG's intuitive smart TV operating system. It provides access to various apps, settings, and features right on your TV's home screen. The interface is designed to be simple to navigate with the Magic Remote.
The home screen shows your favorite apps, inputs, and recommendations. Press the home button on your remote to return here from any app or menu. The Launcher bar at the bottom provides quick access to the most commonly used apps.
Some of the key apps that come pre-installed include:
LG Content Store - Browse and purchase movies, TV shows, and more.
Gallery - View photos and videos from your connected devices.
Web Browser - Access websites directly on your TV.
LG Channels - Free live TV with news, sports, movies and more.
Games - Play casual games using the remote.
Settings - Configure all system, connection, and account settings.
Search - Find content across services by title, actor, or keyword.
The app icons can be rearranged and removed from the home screen to customize it to your preferences. Additional apps can also be downloaded from the LG Content Store.
The intuitive WebOS interface makes it easy to access all your entertainment options, settings, and smart features on an LG TV. The home screen can be personalized so your favorite content is always just a click away.
Customize Home Screen
One of the best features of LG's webOS platform is the ability to customize your home screen. This allows you to tailor your smart TV experience to your preferences. Here are some tips for customizing your home screen:
Add/Remove Apps
Press and hold the OK button on your Magic Remote while hovering over an app icon. This will bring up a pop-up menu where you can select "Add to Home" or "Remove from Home." You can also press the home button to bring up the app launcher bar and add or remove apps from there. Adding your favorite streaming or catch-up apps to the home screen makes them quicker to access.
Change Wallpaper
You can change the default background wallpaper to give your home screen a more personalized look. Press and hold on any empty space on the home screen, then select "Home Settings." From here choose "Wallpaper" to browse LG's included wallpaper options or select "My Photos" to use one of your own images as the background.
Edit Theme
The Theme setting under Home Settings also lets you change the look of your home screen. LG includes several preset themes to choose from that change the icons, fonts, and colors used on the home screen. You can match it to your wallpaper or just pick a look you like. The themes make it easy to refresh the visual style of your smart TV.
Customizing the home screen to suit your preferences goes a long way towards making webOS your own. Don't be afraid to experiment with different wallpapers, themes, and app layouts until you find a home screen that really fits your style.
Use Magic Remote
The Magic Remote that comes with LG Smart TVs has some unique features to help you control and navigate your TV.
Pointer
The remote acts as a pointer, similar to using a computer mouse. You can move the on-screen cursor by moving the remote. Point and click on menu items and apps to select them. Move the pointer to the edges of the screen to scroll.
Motion Control
With motion control, you can move your arm and hand holding the remote to move the on-screen cursor. This allows you to control the cursor from anywhere without having to point the remote directly at the TV.
Some quick gestures: - Move remote left/right to switch between apps and inputs - Swiping up/down changes channels - Shaking the remote left/right adjusts volume
Shortcuts
The Magic Remote has buttons for quick access to common functions:
- Home button - Return to the home screen
- Back button - Go back to the previous screen
- Voice button - Use voice commands
- Number buttons - Direct channel entry
- Play/pause, volume, channel up/down - Media control
The pointer, motion control, and shortcuts help you easily navigate the Smart TV interface. Take some time to get familiar with the remote's functions.
Connect Other Devices
Connecting your LG Smart TV to other devices like speakers, game consoles, and mobile devices expands what you can do. Take advantage of the latest webOS features by pairing your devices.
Pair Bluetooth Accessories
You can connect Bluetooth speakers, headphones, keyboards, and other accessories wirelessly to your LG TV. Go to Settings > Connection > Bluetooth and select Search to scan for nearby Bluetooth devices. Choose the device you want to pair from the list and follow the on-screen instructions.
Connect HDMI Devices
For the best audiovisual experience, use an HDMI cable to connect devices like Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and cable/satellite boxes. This allows transfer of uncompressed digital video and audio signals. Plug the HDMI cable into the port on the back of your TV and the other end into the HDMI out port on your device.
Screen Mirroring
Screen mirroring wirelessly connects your LG TV with your smartphone or tablet. You can view your mobile content on the big screen. Go to Settings > Connection > Screen Share and turn on Screen Share. On your mobile device, access the screen sharing function, choose your LG TV and follow prompts to connect. Enjoy viewing photos, videos, browsing and more in sync on your TV.
While the LG TV offers a robust setup for device connections, if you're considering additional smart TV options, the Toshiba UF3D is also worth exploring. This 43-inch Smart Fire TV leverages the Fire TV operating system to provide a seamless user interface and access to a vast array of streaming services and apps. The Toshiba UF3D supports 4K ultra HD resolution which ensures breathtaking clarity and detailed visuals, enhancing your viewing experience. Additionally, it includes voice control with Alexa built-in, making it easier to control your TV and connected devices, browse content, and manage playback with voice commands. The integrated HDMI ports facilitate easy connection with a range of devices for the best possible audiovisual integration. It's an excellent choice for tech-savvy users looking for a feature-rich smart TV experience.
Browse LG Content Store
The LG Content Store allows you to find and download apps, games, and videos to your LG Smart TV. Here are some tips for getting the most out of the Content Store:
The Content Store can be accessed from the home screen by selecting the "LG Content Store" app. This will open up the store interface.
Browse through different categories like "New Arrivals," "Games," "Entertainment," and more to discover content.
Use the search function to find specific apps. Just speak into your Magic Remote or type in the name of the app you want.
Read reviews and ratings of apps before downloading. This will help you determine if it's worthwhile or not.
Downloaded apps and games will appear on your home screen. Just select the icon to open the app.
If you want to delete an app, press and hold the select button on the app icon. An "X" will appear to delete.
For video content, you can buy or rent movies and TV shows. Purchased videos will appear in your "Purchased Videos" library.
Take advantage of LG TV deals and bundles in the Content Store for discounts.
The LG Content Store makes it simple to get the apps, games, and videos you want on your LG Smart TV. Browsing through the selection and reading reviews will help you find the best content.
Control with Voice
One of the handiest features of LG Smart TVs is the ability to control your TV with just your voice. This allows you to change settings, launch apps, search for content, and more completely hands-free. Here's how to set up and use voice commands on your LG TV:
Set Up Voice Control
To enable voice control, go to Settings > All Settings > General > AI Service > Voice Recognition and turn it on.
You'll be prompted to agree to LG's terms of service. Accept to proceed.
Next, you'll need to link your LG account. If you don't already have one, you can create one right from your TV.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the voice recognition setup. Your TV will register your voice.
For best results, set up voice recognition in a quiet environment and speak normally and clearly.
Use Voice Commands
To activate voice control, press and hold the mic button on your remote and speak your command.
Try saying basic commands like "volume up", "switch to HDMI 1", or "launch Netflix."
You can also search for movies, TV shows, cast information, and more by voice. Just say "search for..." followed by your query.
Voice control works with LG's built-in assistant to look up weather, news, sports scores, and other information.
If the TV doesn't understand your command, try rephrasing or speaking more clearly. You may need to adjust the sensitivity in the settings.
Over time, the TV will learn your voice and become better at recognizing commands. Practice often for best results.
With voice control enabled, you can easily operate your LG Smart TV hands-free. It's great for times when you don't want to hunt for the remote or navigate menus manually. Just speak naturally and let your TV respond to your commands.
Adjust Settings
One of the great things about LG Smart TVs is how customizable they are. There are many settings you can adjust to get the optimal viewing and listening experience. Here are some of the key settings to check:
Picture
Under Picture Settings, you can tweak options for picture mode, aspect ratio, contrast, brightness, sharpness, color, and more. Try different picture modes like Vivid, Standard, or Cinema to see which you prefer. Adjust contrast and backlighting to get blacks looking dark without losing detail. Sharpness controls edge definition—avoid making it too high. For color, you can calibrate color temperature and enhance hues under Expert Controls.
Sound
For audio, check Sound Mode first. AI Sound adjusts sound based on content type. Or pick a mode like Standard or Cinema. Under Sound Out, choose Internal TV Speaker or External Speaker (HDMI ARC) depending on your setup. Adjust volume modes like Auto Volume to maintain consistent loudness across programs. Turn on Sound Optimizer to level audio quality across frequencies.
Power
Under General, Power Saving helps reduce energy use by adjusting screen brightness and turning off after inactivity. Timers allow you to set On/Off times for the TV.
Accessibility
Accessibility settings like Audio Description, Closed Captioning, and High Contrast allow users with disabilities to better enjoy the TV experience. Enable options like text size adjustment and voice guidance for navigation.
Troubleshooting
If you run into issues with your LG Smart TV, here are some common problems and solutions to try:
TV won't turn on - Check that the power cord is securely plugged into the outlet and the TV. - Try pressing the power button on the TV and holding it down for 10-15 seconds to reset it. - Make sure the remote has working batteries.
No sound - Check the volume settings and make sure mute is not enabled. - Try different source inputs like HDMI or TV tuner. - Check audio connections from devices or speakers. - Access audio settings and change sound mode or enable TV speakers.
No picture - Check if any cables connected to the TV are loose or disconnected. - Try a different HDMI port on the TV. - Reset connected devices or change input source. - Access picture settings and adjust brightness, contrast, etc.
Remote not working - Check that batteries are installed correctly and replace if needed. - Make sure there's no obstruction between remote and TV. - Try re-pairing or resetting the remote.
Problems connecting to Wi-Fi - Double check password and make sure it's correct. - Try moving router closer to TV or removing obstructions. - Forget the network on TV and search for networks again. - Restart the router if issue persists.
Apps not working - Check for any updates available for the app or TV software. - Force close the problematic app and restart it. - Log out and back into your LG accounts. - As a last resort, factory reset the TV.