As far as LG TV remotes go…
The term “universal” could mean a lot of things.
To paint you a clearer picture, you’ll have to…
Read on to find out:
- If LG TV remotes are universal (and what are their limitations).
- Whether you can use an LG TV remote to control other devices.
- How to command your LG TV universally without a remote control.
- And many more…
Are LG TV remotes universal?
Not all LG TV remotes are universal. The standard LG TV remote only works with compatible devices. That aside, the Magic LG TV remote has universal features. With it, you can control several devices like your soundbar and home theater system. Finally, you may also use it to control other LG TVs.
Can you use a new LG remote with an old TV?
As long as you’re using an LG magic remote, it should work even with an older TV.
That said, you might be wondering…
Which remotes don’t work on older TVs?
Take LG’s standard remote.
Standard LG TV remotes typically work with certain TV models only.
For instance.
It may only work with TV models that were manufactured from 2017 up to 2019.
On the other hand, LG’s Magic TV remote works differently.
Put simply, it’s designed to work with all LG TV models.
Finally, if you recently bought the LG Magic remote with NFC, it’s a different story.
Specifically, the remote’s only compatible with 2021 LG TVs.
Some of these include the following:
- UP75.
- UP80.
- QNED 90 and 99 series.
- OLED G1, C1, and A1 series.
- Nano series 75, 80, 85, 90, and 99.
Not sure which LG TV model you have?
Here’s how to check it:
- Tap the gear icon or “Settings” button on your LG remote.
- Scroll down and select “General.”
- Hit the right directional button on your remote to access the General menu.
- Keep scrolling down and click on “About This TV.”
- You’ll find all the information about your LG TV here including its model number.
Can an LG remote control other devices?
Using your LG Magic remote, you can control several devices such as:
- PC.
- Phone.
- Sound Bar.
- Set-top box.
- Home Theater.
- Gaming console.
- Blu-ray/DVD player.
- External storage (Hard drive or USB).
However, an LG standard remote cannot control other devices.
Instead, you can only use it for TV functions like changing the channels or volume.
Before using your LG Magic remote, you need to register it first.
Not to worry, though.
It’s an easy process that takes less than a minute to do:
- Hold the Home and Back buttons on your LG remote for 5 seconds.
- You’ll see a red light blinking 3x on your remote.
- Your LG TV screen should say it was successfully registered.
From here, you can easily use your LG magic remote without issues.
But wait – because there’s more.
What happens if you want to connect your LG Magic remote to several devices?
Is it even possible?
And how does it work?
The answer to all your questions is yes, it’s possible.
However, you’ll have to manually set up the connection for this to work.
How to use your LG magic remote and control other devices
Step 1: Tap your LG Magic remote’s home button.
Step 2: Click on “Device Connector.”
On your LG TV screen, pressing the home button should bring up the App launcher.
Put simply, it’s a menu of all your installed applications on your LG TV.
From here, you’ll have to scroll right until you hit an icon that shows 2 plugs.
If you hover over it, you’ll see a message on your TV screen, saying: “Device Connector.”
Step 3: Choose the device you want to connect.
As mentioned earlier, you can control several devices using your LG magic remote.
This can be your home theater system, Sound Bar, set-top box, and so on.
Step 4: Select the TV port your device’s connected to.
Your LG TV should come with several ports.
Some of which include the following:
- AV.
- HDMI 1.
- Component.
- HDMI 2 (ARC).
Step 5: Choose the manufacturer of your device that’s connected to your LG TV.
You’ll find a ton of manufacturer brands to choose from, like:
- JVC.
- GPX.
- Coby.
- Bose.
- POLK.
- Philips.
- Klipsch.
- Pioneer.
- Emerson.
- Magnavox.
- Panasonic.
- Harman Kardon.
- Boston Acoustics.
Step 6: Complete the setup process by doing a device test.
From here, simply follow the on-screen instructions.
This is to confirm if the LG Magic remote works with your device.
After the setup’s complete, you can add another device by following the same process.
If not, feel free to check out this video on how to set up devices with your LG magic remote:
“Help! My LG Magic remote didn’t connect to the device.”
Don’t panic.
This could’ve been a temporary glitch or a minor issue.
The good news is, you can easily solve these problems.
First up…
#1: Check your LG remote’s batteries
If your batteries are defective, this could cause a remote pairing interruption.
And as a result, your LG magic remote can’t connect to your device.
Fortunately, all you need to do is replace the batteries.
Buying new Duracell, Energizer, or Rayovac batteries should do the trick.
Rather than grab spare batteries lying around at home, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Why?
Because if those batteries are old, they may cause a battery leak.
In effect, you’ll end up with the same issue.
#2: Make sure you aren’t 10 meters away from your LG TV
This doesn’t just apply to standard remotes.
Every LG magic remote will only work if it’s within 10 meters of your TV.
That said, if you can minimize the distance and keep it at 5 meters, even better.
At the same time, check for any objects that might be blocking your TV’s signal.
If there’s a pile of books in front of your TV’s sensor, it prevents a stable connection.
That being said, don’t leave any Bluetooth devices beside your TV either.
Think speakers or even WiFi routers.
These devices can cause interference with your TV’s signal.
You might also like: 7 Ways To Fix LG Remote Not Working
#3: Deregister and register your LG magic remote
Still won’t connect, huh?
Well, in that case, I have 1 fix that works like a charm.
And all it takes is just 1 minute of your time.
Here’s what you have to do:
- Hold the Back and Home buttons on your LG remote for 5 seconds.
- This should deregister the device.
- Wait for a few seconds.
- Hold the Home and back buttons on your remote again for another 5 seconds.
- This should re-register the remote with your LG TV.
Now, should your LG remote refuse to connect, there’s 1 more thing you can try:
Buy a replacement LG Magic remote.
Can you use an LG TV without the remote control?
Worst-case scenario, you lose your remote.
So, you’re probably left with the thought…
Is it possible to connect to your LG TV without a remote?
Very much so.
All you need is the LG ThinQ app, which is available on the Google Play and Apps Store.
In fact, you can even use the application to download apps on your LG TV.
Once you’ve installed the app on your phone, here are your next steps:
Note: Make sure your LG TV’s WiFi isn’t turned off.
- Launch the LG ThinQ app.
- On your phone’s screen, tap the “+” icon.
- Choose “TV.”
- The app will perform a scan.
- Tap on your LG TV.
- You’ll be asked to input a PIN code
Note: The code should appear on your TV screen.
- Enter the PIN on your phone.
- Tap on “Agree.”
- From here, you can control your LG TV using the app on your phone.
Alternatively, you can also use a Fire Stick remote to control your LG TV.
How so?
Since the Amazon Fire Stick comes with its own remote, you can use it for your LG TV too.
That said, you have to plug your Fire Stick into your TV’s port first.
From there, everything’s smooth sailing.
You can use your Fire Stick remote as you normally would.
That aside, using LG’s remote control app is a better option.
Mainly because it’s directly paired with your LG TV.
Not to mention, there’s hardly any chance for pairing issues to happen.