Resetting my LG TV is like magic.
One moment I’m tearing my hair out…
Trying to figure out what’s wrong.
Then, after a quick reset…
Voila!
It’s working perfectly again.
And what’s even greater?
There are actually multiple ways to do it.
With or without a remote.
Continue reading to find out:
- The difference between a soft reset and a hard reset.
- 7 easy ways to reset your LG TV in a matter of seconds.
- Workarounds to be able to reset YOUR LG tv without a remote.
- And a lot more…
How to reset LG TV? 7 ways
Before we dive into the several ways to reset an LG TV…
Let’s discuss first the 2 kinds of resetting:
- Soft reset.
- Hard reset.
Now, you can easily do both with your LG TV.
But what exactly do they mean?
How do they differ?
And when’s the appropriate time to do each?
I’ll be answering all of those and more. Just to clear up any confusion, once and for all.
Soft Reset
A soft reset is essentially just a simple restart of your TV.
You power it off. And then, after a few seconds, you power it back on.
Some call it rebooting. While others refer to it as power cycling.
But they all mean the same thing.
And performing a soft reset isn’t limited to TVs. You can do it with most, if not all, devices.
With this kind of reset, you won’t have to worry about changes on your TV.
It won’t affect your installed apps and personal settings.
And it’s typically one of the first troubleshooting steps for LG TVs.
So when’s the best time to do it?
Immediately after encountering issues with your TV.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a WiFi issue or a sound problem.
A soft reset can instantly fix many of your LG TV’s glitches.
Hard reset
A hard reset means restoring a device’s default settings.
Another term for it is factory default reset. Or simply, factory reset.
Unlike a soft reset, a hard reset’s usually a last-resort troubleshooting option.
This is because the effects are more drastic.
When you do it on your LG TV, the following will happen:
- Downloaded apps will be deleted.
- You’ll be logged out of your LG account.
- Your customized settings will be removed.
And that’s why I usually recommend doing this last in my troubleshooting guides.
As a matter of fact, the only good time to do a hard reset…
Is when you’ve exhausted all other possible options to fix an issue.
Alright. Now that I’ve cleared up the difference between the 2…
Let’s proceed with the various ways to do them.
#1: By unplugging
The fastest way to do a soft reset on your LG TV is by unplugging it from the power source.
You don’t even need to press anything on your remote.
This is how to do a soft reset by unplugging:
Step #1: Unplug your LG TV from the outlet.
Step #2: Wait for around 30 seconds. You may even extend it to a minute or 2.
Step #3: Plug the TV back into the power outlet.
It should turn back on immediately.
A soft reset via unplugging only ends software and hardware processes. But all your LG TV files are safe.
And mind you, it won’t likely fix the more serious issues. Such as hardware defects.
But for temporary malfunctions?
This is the quickest and easiest solution.
#2: Modified soft reset
A modified soft reset is actually similar to the previous method.
The only difference?
You’ll also have to press the TV’s power button for a few seconds.
This is how to do a modified soft reset:
- Unplug your LG TV from the power source.
- Press the TV’s power button for about 30 seconds.
- Wait for about half a minute.
- Reconnect the TV from its power source.
“What exactly is the point of pressing the power button after unplugging?”
Well, sometimes, merely unplugging doesn’t completely drain the TV’s charge.
By also pressing the power button right after unplugging…
You allow the TV to release any residual electricity in its hardware.
In other words, this guarantees that your LG TV really has a fresh and total restart.
So when’s the appropriate time to do this?
If your LG TV’s still malfunctioning after doing a regular soft reset.
#3: Via the User Agreement page
Now depending on your home setup, it may be difficult to do a soft reset by unplugging.
And the truth is, LG TVs don’t have a way to restart via the menu.
But fret not. Because there’s actually a simple workaround.
And that’s via the User Agreement page.
“What’s that?”
It’s essentially your LG TV’s terms and conditions.
You know, that thing that everyone says they read. But actually don’t.
And no, you don’t have to read it either to do a soft reset.
Although, if you have plenty of time, you may also do it.
Anyway, the User Agreement is checked by default.
But by unchecking it, your LG TV should automatically restart.
These are the steps to restart by unchecking the User Agreement:
- Press your remote’s Home button.
- Click the gear icon to go to Settings.
- Scroll down and select General.
- Navigate to About This TV and click it.
- Look for User Agreements and select it.
- Uncheck Privacy Policy.
Your LG TV will then automatically reboot.
After restarting, just open any app.
You’ll see a pop-up message asking whether you agree to the Privacy Policy. Click Yes.
#4: Through the Settings menu
The first 3 methods were all about soft resetting.
Now I’ll be walking you through the process of doing a hard reset. Also known as a factory reset.
I’ve already warned you at the beginning about the consequences of doing this.
So always proceed with caution before performing this kind of reset.
Here’s how you can reset through the Settings menu:
- Go to the webOS main page by clicking Home on your remote.
- Select Settings.
- Select General.
- Navigate to Reset to Initial Settings and click it.
- Press OK to continue with the process.
- Type in your PIN code. If you have none, type in 0000.
The hard reset process should then begin. Expect your LG TV to turn on and off multiple times.
As for the duration, it’ll depend on how many files and apps you have.
#5: If you forgot your PIN code
So I just mentioned that you’d need to enter your password for the reset.
But here’s another thing you should know.
Typing in 0000 will only work if you’ve never set a PIN code before.
But what if you did set one. Only to forget it.
Will you still be able to do a hard reset?
Of course, you can. As they say, when there’s a will, there’s a way.
And there’s actually a secret way to reset your LG TV’s PIN code.
But you know what?
I’d be more than happy to reveal it.
How to reset your LG TV’s PIN code
Step #1: Press your remote’s Home button.
Step #2: Click the Settings icon.
Step #3: Select Safety. Ensure that it’s on. Otherwise, click the button below it to toggle it on.
Step #4: Highlight Reset PIN Code. In some webOS versions, you’ll see it as Reset Password.
Step #5: Press the Channel Up button twice on your remote. Followed by the Channel Down button once. And the Channel Up button one more time.
Step #6: Enter the Master PIN Code. It’s either 0313 or 0325.
Step #7: You’ll see another pop-up box. This time it’ll ask you for a PIN code. Enter 0000.
Step #8: You may now go ahead and set a new password or PIN code.
How to reset your LG TV with your new PIN code
- Go back to the main Settings menu and select General.
- Select Reset to Initial Settings and confirm by clicking Yes.
- Type in your new PIN code to start the factory reset.
Now I know the secret way to reset your PIN code or password can be tricky.
That’s why I’m also sharing this video guide for additional reference:
#6: Using the TV buttons
Now, what if your LG TV remote isn’t working?
Or that you or someone else misplaced it?
Well, you still have a couple of other options to reset your TV.
And the first one is through the TV’s built-in buttons.
All LG TVs have joysticks that’ll help you navigate the webOS menu.
You’ll just have to find them. The locations will vary depending on your TV model.
On some, the buttons are at the back of the TV.
While on others, you may find them at the bottom of the TV. Right under the LG TV logo.
Have you found the buttons already?
If so, then you should now be able to reset.
Just use the joysticks to navigate through the webOS.
And follow the same process for resetting by going to Settings. Then General. Followed by Reset to Initial Settings.
#7: With the LG ThinQ app
Another way to reset your TV without a physical remote is by using the LG ThinQ app.
You can find it on Google Play Store. As well as the App Store.
Just download and install it on your smartphone.
Done installing the app?
You’re now ready to pair it with your LG TV. Just ensure that your smartphone and TV are on the same WiFi network. Otherwise, the app won’t work properly.
Here are the steps to pair the ThinQ app with your LG TV:
Step #1: Open the LG ThinQ app on your smartphone.
Step #2: Sign in with your LG account. The same one that you use with your TV.
Step #3: Select Add Product.
Step #4: Find your TV from the list and select it. A 4-digit code should appear on your TV screen.
Step #5: Copy the code on your smartphone and click OK.
Step #6: Go back to the ThinQ app’s home screen. And select your TV.
You should now be able to control your TV with your phone.
Resetting from here should be easy. The steps are the same as the previous methods.
Settings > General > Reset to Initial Settings.
Bonus: How to reset an LG TV app
Sometimes, it’s actually not necessary to reset your entire LG TV.
Especially if you’re simply dealing with an app that isn’t working.
So you should just reset the glitching app instead.
Now there’s actually no direct way to do it on LG TV.
But there’s a workaround. And it involves 2 things:
- Deleting the app.
- Reinstalling the app.
Each process should only take a few seconds.
How to delete an app on LG TV
- Press your remote’s Home button.
- Select Edit Mode. It’s the one with the pencil icon.
- Highlight the app that you want to delete.
- Press the X button above the app.
- Click Yes to confirm.
After deleting an app, it’s best to perform a soft reset first. You may refer to Methods 1 to 3 on various ways to do it.
Once you’re done with the soft reset, you may then reinstall the app.
How to reinstall an app
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Select LG Content Store.
- Type in the app’s name in the search box.
- On the app’s main page, click the Install button.