“Okay, I give up.
You win, Roku.
Roku channels, here I come!
Wait – how does that work again?”
Oh, right.
See – here’s the thing. Smart TVs aren’t smart enough.
So, you need to plug a device into your TV so it recognizes Roku.
That simple, huh? So…
Keep reading to find out:
- Which LG Smart TVs have Roku built-in.
- 2 simple ways to get Roku on your LG Smart TV.
- What you can do if Roku doesn’t work on your LG TV.
- And many more…
How do I get Roku on my LG Smart TV?
You need a Roku streaming device to get Roku on your LG Smart TV. Then, plug your device into the HDMI port at the back of your LG TV. Make sure both your TV and streaming device are connected to the same WiFi network. Lastly, follow the on-screen instructions to set up Roku on your TV.
2 ways to get Roku on your LG Smart TV
#1: Connect your Roku Streaming Stick to your LG Smart TV
What you’ll need:
- USB cable.
- Power adapter.
- Roku TV remote.
- Either the Roku Streaming Stick+ or Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
Before you start figuring out where to get a Roku TV remote or USB cable, don’t worry.
All of these parts are included when you buy a Roku Streaming Stick.
Now for the exciting part:
Setting up Roku on your LG Smart TV.
Grab your streaming device and follow these steps:
Step 1: Plug your Roku Streaming Stick into the HDMI port of your LG TV.
Your HDMI port is at the back of your LG TV.
Step 2: Plug the USB cable into your Roku Streaming Stick.
Step 3: Plug the power adapter into your wall outlet or power source.
Step 4: Install batteries in your Roku TV remote.
Step 5: Turn on your TV and select the HDMI input you connected your Roku device to.
Your LG Smart TV might have 2 to 3 HDMI ports.
If you plugged your Roku device into HDMI port 1, then the correct source to choose should be HDMI 1 on your TV.
To access your LG TV’s input, you should see it on the upper right part of your TV screen. It’s beside your settings or the “gear” icon.
Step 6: Pair your Roku TV remote with your LG Smart TV.
Roku should pair your remote with your TV automatically. You should see “Roku Enhanced Remote pairing…” on your TV screen.
Step 7: Choose your preferred language setting.
Step 8: Your Roku device will perform a wireless scan to connect to your WiFi network.
Step 9: Input your WiFi password and Roku will update the software after.
Don’t worry if your TV resets during this process. This means Roku is updating to the latest software and requires a reboot for the changes to take effect.
Step 10: Choose your display type.
Step 11: Follow on-screen instructions to finish setting up your device.
In case Roku doesn’t detect your TV, Roku will ask you to manually type your TV brand.
After inputting your TV brand everything should be fine.
Step 12: Activate your Roku account by entering your email address.
Note: If you don’t have a Roku account, you need to set up and register a Roku account first.
Step 13: Click on the activation link that Roku sent to your email address.
Step 14: Add channels to your Roku home screen.
Step 15: Roku will update your home screen with the channels you selected.
After Roku updates your home screen, you’re all set to start using Roku on your LG TV.
Not so hard, was it? Just in case, here’s a video tutorial on how to set up your Roku device:
#2: Use the Roku Ultra streaming device with your LG Smart TV
What you’ll need:
- Power cord.
- HDMI cable.
- Roku TV remote.
- Roku Ultra streaming device.
Adding Roku to your LG Smart TV also works with the Roku Ultra streaming device.
But how is it different from the Roku Streaming Stick? For paying an extra $50, you get:
- Stronger WiFi range.
- 4K streaming capabilities.
- Compatibility with Apple Airplay.
- Faster interface for loading apps and channels.
- Dolby Vision for a better cinematic audio experience.
Worth it? 4K is enough to convince me.
Now, let’s get your device set up, shall we?
The steps to follow are similar to setting up a Roku Streaming Stick.
Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Plug the power cord into your Roku Ultra’s power cord outlet.
All Roku Ultra devices come with a power cord, HDMI cable, Roku remote, and 2 AA batteries.
Step 2: Plug the HDMI cable into your Roku Ultra’s HDMI port.
Step 3: Plug the other side of your HDMI cable into your LG Smart TV’s HDMI port.
Your HDMI port is located at the back of your LG Smart TV.
Step 4: Plug the power adapter into your wall outlet or power source.
Important: Make sure to remove the plastic film covering the sensor of your Roku Ultra device.
Step 5: Turn on your TV and choose the correct input source.
If you plug your HDMI cable into HDMI port 2 in your TV, choose HDMI 2 as the input source.
To access your LG TV’s input, it’s located on the upper right part of your TV screen. It’s beside your settings “gear” icon.
You might also want to check out: 3 Ways To Connect Roku To TV Without HDMI
Step 6: Insert the batteries into your Roku TV remote.
Step 7: Your Roku Ultra will automatically pair with your remote. You should see a green flashing light after inserting the batteries.
Step 8: Select your preferred language.
Step 9: Set up your WiFi connection. You can choose between Wired or Wireless.
If you want to set up a Wired connection, you need an ethernet cable for this to work.
Step 10: Set up your WiFi connection and input your WiFi password.
Step 11: If there’s a software update available, press “OK” to confirm the update installation.
Step 12: You should see “Auto-detect display type” on your screen. Press “OK” on your remote.
Step 13: Roku will ask if you’re okay with the display type or want to change it.
Step 14: Roku will detect your TV info.
If Roku doesn’t detect your TV info, simply input your TV brand. From here, everything should work out fine.
Step 15: Activate your Roku account by entering your email address.
Note: If you don’t have a Roku account, you need to set up and register a Roku account first.
Step 16: Click on the activation link that Roku sent to your email address.
Step 17: Add channels to your Roku home screen.
Step 18: Roku will update your home screen with the channels you selected.
Now, what happens if Roku doesn’t work or detect your LG TV at all?
Don’t give up just yet. That’s what the next section is for.
People also ask:
Why won’t my Roku work on my LG TV?
Your Roku won’t work on your LG TV for one of the following reasons :
- Your HDMI cable is faulty.
- There was a WiFi interruption in your area.
- Your LG Smart TV needs a software update.
If your Roku Ultra’s HDMI cable is faulty, you can easily replace it with a new cable.
As for your LG TV’s software update, here’s what you can do:
Step 1: Press the Home button on your LG TV remote.
Step 2: Go to Settings.
Step 3: Click on Support.
Step 4: Click “Software Update.”
Step 5: Press “Update”.
Now, what about WiFi interruption? There are a few ways you can fix it:
Fix #1: Move your router closer to your TV. This prevents interference from radio waves, Bluetooth devices, etc.
Fix #2: Restart your WiFi router. Then, unplug it. Wait for at least 10 seconds then plug your router back in.
Fix #3: Use an ethernet cable for a stronger WiFi connection. (Only works with Roku Ultra).
Fix #4: Disconnect any other device that’s not using the WiFi. Why do this?
If you have 6 or 7 devices connected to your router including your TV, your WiFi becomes congested.
When your WiFi is congested, the WiFi connection slows down. Other times, it disconnects.
By disconnecting one or two devices, you free up space for your WiFi network. In effect, your TV can connect without interruptions.
Further reading: Does Roku Work On Any TV? 5 Surprising Answers
Do LG TVs have Roku built-in?
Currently, there are no LG TVs with Roku built-in.
For Roku to be built-in the TV, the label should say Roku TV.
For example, you know that the TV brand TCL has Roku built-in because of the label:
“TCL 50-inch Class 4-Series 4K UHD Smart Roku LED TV”
Roku has several TV brand partners, but LG isn’t one of them. These are all the current TV brands with Roku built-in:
- RCA.
- JVC.
- Onn.
- TCL.
- Sanyo.
- Philips.
- Hitachi.
- Hisense.
- InFocus.
- Element.
- Magnavox.
- Westinghouse.