LG TVs and Appliances: A Plain-English Guide
Last verified: August 2026
A new LG TV, fridge, or washer can feel like a foreign language the first time you pick up the remote. Here is the handful of settings that trip everyone up, in plain English.
About LG TVs and appliances
LG TVs run a menu system called webOS, and the 2026 sets run webOS 26. The Magic Remote works two ways most people never learn: point it at the screen like a mouse and a cursor follows your hand, spin the center wheel to scroll, or hold the microphone button and just say 'Open Netflix' or 'Turn up the volume.' Setup is a wizard where you pick your language and Wi-Fi, and you can skip the LG account for plain TV watching. Every device plugs into a numbered HDMI port, and switching inputs is the number-one thing folks call me about — a blank screen is almost always the wrong input or a loose cable, not a broken TV.
Out of the box the picture is set too bright and too smooth, and that 'soap opera effect' comes from a setting called TruMotion, which I turn off — or I just switch the picture to Filmmaker Mode, which turns off the smoothing and fake sharpening all at once. A soundbar plugs into the HDMI port marked ARC or eARC so you can finally hear the dialogue. And here is something LG leaves out of the setup wizard: by default the TV tracks what you watch through a feature called Live Plus (also called ACR) and sells it to advertisers, so I turn that off on every set I touch.
LG's smart fridges, washers, dryers, and ranges connect to the free LG ThinQ app, but you never have to — they wash, dry, and cool perfectly without Wi-Fi. The features actually worth having are a buzz on your phone when the laundry is done and a reminder when the water filter is due. Most LG appliances only join a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, not the faster 5 GHz one, which is the usual reason pairing fails. And whatever else you do, clean the dryer lint screen every single load — a clogged vent is a genuine fire risk.
When to skip the DIY and just call: TV setup and switching inputs · Adding a soundbar · Connecting an appliance to Wi-Fi
Common Questions
1 How do I switch to my cable box or DVD player?
- Press the Input or Source button, or say 'Change input' with the voice button.
- Click the HDMI tile your device is plugged into — HDMI 1, HDMI 2, and so on.
- Open Edit to rename it something plain like Cable Box or DVD.
- If the screen is black, make sure the device is powered on and the HDMI cable is pushed in firmly at both ends.
2 How do I stop movies looking like a soap opera?
- Press Settings, then All Settings (the three-dot icon).
- Go to Picture, then Advanced Settings, then Clarity.
- Find TruMotion and set it to Off.
- Even easier: switch the picture mode to Filmmaker Mode to turn off smoothing and fake sharpening at once.
3 How do I connect an LG appliance to the ThinQ app?
- Install the LG ThinQ app and sign in with your LG account.
- Tap the plus sign to add a device and pick your appliance type.
- On the appliance, press and hold the Wi-Fi or Remote Start button for about three seconds to enter pairing mode.
- Follow the app as it hands your Wi-Fi details to the appliance.
- If pairing keeps failing, make sure you are on a 2.4 GHz network, not the 5 GHz one.
4 How do I stop the TV tracking me and avoid LG scams?
- Go to Settings, All Settings, General, System, Additional Settings.
- Find Live Plus and switch it OFF.
- Back in General, open Advertisements and turn on Limit Ad Tracking.
- Only use the LG support number from LG.com — never one at the top of a web search.
- Never give a password or card number to a caller claiming to be LG; hang up and call me if a message feels urgent.
Want a Real Person?
Sometimes the fix takes five minutes — and sometimes you'd rather just have someone come fix it. Either way, I'm a call away. Flat $99 first visit, 30-day follow-up included. No surprises.
This guide is yours, free.
No sign-up, no email, no catch — it's free the way it looks free. Print it, save it, or share it with family. And if you'd rather hand the job off, Bill's two choices are right above: a $99 flat in-home visit or $49 remote help, often same day.