LG is consistently one of the top TV makers in the world. They are known for their TVs’ great picture quality, user-friendly webOS, and wide viewing angles.
In my parents’ house, we’ve been using LG TVs for a long time. They’ve been really reliable. Our LG TVs never gave us any problems until at least their 6th or 7th year with us.
And even when they encountered issues, it was mostly minor – usually something that could be fixed at home. During those situations, I learned a lot of common LG TV issues and the steps to take to fix the problem quickly.
One of the best things I learned is the magic of an LG TV reset.
I describe it as “magic” because it can resolve most common problems like an LG TV not connecting to Wi-Fi, some basic functions not working, or sound issues.
If your LG TV is currently experiencing these issues, there is no need to panic.
In this article, I’ll teach you magic – I’ll explain the two types of resets used in fixing LG TV issues and the different ways to do them.
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What are the two types of reset used in fixing LG TV issues?
The two types of reset used in fixing LG TV issues are the soft reset and the hard reset.
The soft reset is also often called a “power cycle” or “cold boot,” while the hard reset is popularly known as a “factory reset.”
Although they are technically both “resets,” they do different things on an LG TV.
What’s the difference between a soft reset and a hard reset?
| Type of reset | Alternative name | What does it do? | Will downloaded apps and personal data get deleted? |
| Soft reset | Power cycle or cold boot | Drains residual electrical charge and resets the TV’s main board | No |
| Hard reset | Factory reset | Returns the TV back to its factory default settings | Yes |
A soft reset (power cycle) drains residual electrical charge and resets an LG TV’s main board.
It’s usually done to fix glitches caused by a build-up of residual electrical charge and bugs in an LG TV system.
Residual electrical charge and bugs accumulate because your LG TV doesn’t really shut down when it’s powered off. It stays in standby mode to make it easier for you to turn it back on.
On the other hand, a hard reset (factory reset) returns an LG TV to its default settings as if it’s right out of the box.
It’s usually a last resort when fixing issues with an LG TV because it removes all the changes in the settings and deletes downloaded apps and personal information.
After a hard reset, you need to set up your LG TV again.
How do you soft reset an LG TV?
To perform a soft reset on your LG TV, unplug it from the power outlet for a minute.
While you’re waiting, press and hold your TV’s power button for 30 seconds. After a minute, plug your LG TV back in and turn it on.
A soft reset or a power cycle is usually used to fix common issues like an LG TV not turning on or not connecting to Wi-Fi.
How do you hard reset an LG TV?
To perform a hard reset on your LG TV, press the Smart button on your LG TV remote. Click the Gear icon on the top right of your screen.
Go to General, then Reset to Initial Settings. Your LG TV will automatically restart. After the restart, set up your LG TV again.
But if your remote is missing or broken, don’t fret. There are several other methods to factory reset your LG TV.
How can I hard reset my LG TV without a remote?
1. Use the joystick button on your LG TV
If you can’t hard reset your LG TV because your remote is missing or broken, your best alternative is to look for the joystick button on your LG TV.
Often, it’s located at the left or right back side of your TV.
(Note: If you can’t find the joystick button, check your LG TV model’s user manual. It should have a diagram in its first few pages indicating the location of the joystick button.)
Once you find your LG TV’s joystick button, use it to navigate to Settings (Gear icon) > General > Reset to Initial Settings.
2. Use the LG ThinQ app
Another alternative is to use your smartphone as your LG TV’s remote by installing the LG ThinQ app.
When you have connected your TV to the LG ThinQ app, you can use your smartphone to perform a hard reset on your LG TV.
ThinQ is LG’s central app that allows you to control and manage LG smart appliances, including LG smart TVs.
You can download the LG ThinQ App on the App Store or Google Play.
Before opening the installed app, make sure your smartphone and LG TV are connected to the same wireless network.
Once confirmed, open the LG ThinQ app. Then follow these steps:
- Tap Add a device, then Select Device, then TV.
- From the list, select your LG TV (a code will appear on your LG TV screen).
- Enter that code on the LG ThinQ app and tap OK.
Select your LG TV from the ThinQ app Home screen to control it.
On the remote interface, tap the gear icon, then navigate to General > Reset to Initial Settings to hard reset your LG TV.
3. Use a universal remote
If you have an unused universal remote in your home, you may also use it to perform a hard reset on your LG TV.
But before you can do so, you’ll need to program and pair your universal remote to your LG TV by entering the appropriate codes.
Here’s a table of the possible universal remote codes for any LG TV:
| # of Digits | Codes |
| 3-digit | 420, 505, 506,512, 520, 553,615, 627, 653,678, 766, 773 |
| 4-digit | 2065, 4086, 1663, 1305,1859, 1637, 0644, 0606,1840, 1423, 0178, 0037,1842, 0714, 0556, 0108,0715, 1681, 0109, 0698, 0361 |
| 5-digit | 10442, 10856, 11423, 12358,13397, 13979, 12864, 12612,12867, 10017, 11265, 10178,11178, 11530, 11637, 11934,12424, 12834 |
If your universal remote is from a specific brand, check the codes in this table instead:
| Universal Remote Brand | Code |
| RCA | 1002, 1004, 1005, 1014,1025, 1078, 1081, 1095,1096, 1097, 1098, 1099,1100, 1101, 1111, 1128,1130, 1132, 1134, 1144,1149, 1171, 1205 |
| One For All | 0030, 0056, 0178 |
| GE | 0004, 0050, 0009, 0005,0227, 0338, 0012, 0057,0080, 0156 |
| DirecTV | 11423, 10178, 11178 |
Once programmed, access your LG TV’s settings using the universal remote, then go to General > Reset to Initial Settings.
When should I use a hard reset on my LG TV?
1. When you bought a used LG TV
If you recently bought a used LG TV, the first thing you should do is perform a hard reset.
You want to return the LG TV to its original settings because the previous owner may have failed to do so.
If a factory reset wasn’t performed before you bought the LG TV, the previous owner’s settings, downloaded apps, and personal data are still in its system.
2. When you’re selling your LG TV
Now, if you’re the one planning to sell your LG TV, make sure to do a hard reset first. You wouldn’t want the new owner to access the personal data you have on your LG TV. This will also ensure that minor glitches or bugs are removed before you sell the TV.
3. When your LG TV is encountering issues
A hard reset will come in handy as a last resort if your LG TV is encountering issues. For instance, your LG TV keeps restarting, or it’s disconnecting from the wireless network.
You wouldn’t want to perform a hard reset as your first option, as it can be frustrating to set up your LG TV every time it encounters an issue.
But if all the fixes you tried have failed, the hard reset could be your best option.
What do I do if I can’t perform a hard reset on my LG TV?
Contact LG support
If, for some reason, you can’t perform a hard reset on your LG TV, you should contact LG support directly.
In the US, you can reach them by calling 850-999-4934 or 800-243-0000, Monday–Sunday, 8 AM–9 PM (EST).
You can also chat with them on their website or message them on Twitter or Facebook.
Summing up
There are two types of reset you can do to your LG TV: a soft reset and a hard reset.
The soft reset, also called a power cycle, drains residual charge and resets your LG TV’s main board. On the other hand, the hard reset or factory reset returns your LG TV to its original settings.
To perform a soft reset on your LG TV, unplug it from the power outlet for 60 seconds, press and hold its power button for 30 seconds, then plug it back in after 60 seconds.
To perform a hard reset on your LG TV, navigate to its General settings util you reach the Reset to Initial Settings option. Your LG TV should automatically restart.
If your LG TV remote is missing, you can still perform a hard reset on your LG TV using the joystick button on the TV, the LG ThinQ app, or a universal remote.
Contact LG support directly if you can’t do a hard reset on your TV.
FAQs
Does my LG TV have a reset button? ›
Yes, LG TV comes with a built-in reset button for resetting TV video and audio. You can use this button to soft reset the LG TV. However, newer TVs may not have the reset button. You can use the power button to soft reset the TV instead.
Where is the LG reset button? ›To perform a factory reset: These instructions apply to Android 11 and higher. Open the Settings app and go to System > Advanced > Reset Options. Press Erase all data and follow any further instructions to restore your phone to factory settings.
How do I master reset my TV? ›- Turn on the TV.
- Press the HELP button on the remote control.
- In How to use your TV, select Manual (Help Guide) or Help Guide.
- Select Settings.
- Select Configuring the TV.
- Select Watching TV or TV.
- Select Settings.
- The next steps will depend on your TV menu options: Select Device Preferences — Reset. (Android 9)
Turn the phone off. Press and hold the following keys at the same time: Volume Down Key + Power/Lock Key on the back of the phone. Release the Power/Lock Key only when the LG logo is displayed, then immediately press and hold the Power/Lock Key again. Release all keys when the Factory hard reset screen is displayed.
What do I press to factory reset? ›Press and hold the power and volume down buttons until a load screen appears. Use the volume buttons to go down the list and select “Recovery mode.” Press the power button. After the phone restarts, use the volume buttons again to select “Wipe data/factory reset.”
What is a factory reset on a TV? ›Performing a factory reset will delete all of the TV's data and settings (such as Wi-Fi and wired network setting information, Google account and other login information, Google Play and other installed apps). Press the HOME button, then select [Settings] — [Device Preferences] — [Reset] — [Factory data reset].
What is your reset button? ›A button or switch on many computers that allows you to reset the computer. When you press the reset button, the computer will enter its start-up procedure as if you had turned the power off and then on again.