De-stressing after a long day is among the best pleasures in life.
And this may come in the form of watching shows or playing games on your TV.
But what if you can’t change the input on your LG TV?
That’s a bummer, for sure.
However, don’t fret. I’m going to save your rest day with this article.
Keep reading to discover:
- 3 simple ways to change your LG TV input without a remote.
- 5 rapid solutions for your LG remote that won’t change inputs.
- How to use your smartphone to change LG TV input in 3 fast steps.
- And so much more…
How to change input on LG TV without remote – 3 ways
#1: Use a smartphone
So, you’re trying to change the input on your LG TV.
The problem? Your remote just won’t work properly.
Well, there’s an easy solution to your problem:
Use your smartphone as a remote.
For this to work, you’ll need the LG ThinQ app. Don’t worry; this is available on both Android and iOS.
Now, this app allows you to control the following LG smart appliances from your phone:
- Vacuums.
- Refrigerators.
- Air conditioners.
- Washing machines.
- Convection gas range.
Sounds useful, doesn’t it?
Now, to get this app working for your LG TV, all you must do is:
Step 1: Get the LG ThinQ app
- Install the LG ThinQ app on your smartphone.
- Launch the app.
- Create an LG account.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions to finalize the setup stage.
Step 2: Connect the app to your LG TV
- Ensure that your phone and LG TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Select Add A Device on your ThinQ app.
- Press Scan Nearby.
- Choose your LG TV once it’s on the list of available devices.
- Enter the digits that’ll appear on your TV screen to the app.
Step 3: Change inputs
- Return to the homepage of your ThinQ app.
- Pick the tile that corresponds to your LG TV.
- Tap the Input (power cord on the upper left) icon.
- Switch to your chosen source.
If you need more help connecting your LG TV to the ThinQ app…
You can always watch this video for further instructions:
#2: Use a mouse
What if, for some reason, you’re just not a fan of using your smartphone as a remote?
Well, you’re in luck, especially if you have a spare mouse in your house.
You can use any mouse (or keyboard, for that matter) to control your LG TV.
How?
Simply insert your peripheral into the USB port at the back or side of your device.
Once you turn your TV on, you should receive a popup notification saying that you connected a mouse.
Now, to switch LG TV input using a mouse, here’s what you have to do:
- Wiggle your mouse until a cursor appears on your screen.
- Move your cursor to the bottom of your screen to bring up the menu.
- Click the Input icon.
- Switch to your chosen source.
And you’re done.
#3: Use your voice
Lastly, you can also use your voice to switch inputs on your LG TV.
The catch?
You must have the “Hands-Free Voice Control” option enabled on your LG. For future reference, you can turn this on using these steps:
- Press the Home button on your LG remote.
- Head to Settings.
- Go to General.
- Select AI Service.
- Choose Voice Recognition Help & Settings.
- Toggle on Hands-Free Voice Control.
If you already have this enabled, you can trigger this option by saying these two magic words:
“Hi, LG.”
After your TV lights up, you can now ask it to switch inputs.
Why can’t I change the input on my LG TV?
You can’t change the input on your LG TV because of a bad connection between your TV and the remote. I recommend 5 different solutions for this issue:
#1: Power cycle your LG TV
Sometimes, a simple restart is all the solution you’ll ever need for your television issues.
But don’t just press the Power button on your device twice.
Instead, you’ll have to power cycle your TV. You can do this using these directions:
- Turn your TV off.
- Unplug it from the socket.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in.
- Power your TV on.
Now, you might be wondering:
“How is this different from a normal restart?”
And the answer lies in those 30 seconds. It’s enough time to remove all excess charges on your TV.
Thus, fully restarting it and not just putting your TV on Sleep Mode.
#2: Clean your remote
Another possible reason you can’t change your LG TV input is simply a dirty remote.
After all, dust and dirt could be pushing other buttons on your remote.
Fortunately, it’s not that hard to clean your remote. You just need these instructions:
- Remove the rubber or plastic buttons.
- Put a drop of pure alcohol inside the hole where the buttons were.
- Use a cotton swab to remove all gunk inside.
- Let it dry.
- Repeat these steps until you’re satisfied with how clean it is.
You should also consider when you last changed your batteries. A typical remote uses AA batteries, which only last about 240 minutes.
A low battery can result in random IR signals from the remote.
So, try changing your batteries to ensure this isn’t the problem.
#3: Re-register your remote
You can also try re-registering your remote. This can ensure that the connection between your TV and its remote is rock solid.
This is especially helpful when your remote control loses its pairing. You can usually tell this if your TV’s Standby Lights won’t flash when you’re pressing the remote.
Now, to re-register your LG TV remote, all you need to do is:
- De-register your remote by holding the Home and Back buttons until your TV’s LED lights up.
- Next, press the Down button on your directional pad. Otherwise, use the Scroll Wheel.
- Don’t let go until the LED lights up again.
#4: Use other remotes
Got a spare remote in your house? Try using it on your LG TV.
If it worked, congratulations.
But, if it didn’t, this is because you’ll need to enable SimpLink on your LG. This feature is LG’s HDMI-CEC, an option that allows you to use one remote for every device on your TV.
You can easily enable SimpLink with these 5 easy steps:
- Tap the Home button on your LG TV remote. (You can also use ThinQ for this.)
- Head to the Settings page.
- Go to General.
- Toggle on SimpLink.
- Toggle on Auto Power Sync.
You may also be interested in: Is LG TV Remote Universal?
#5: Update your LG TV
The last possible reason for your input problem is outdated firmware.
Thankfully, it’s not only easy to update your LG TV…
You even have 2 choices on how you can do it. Let me tell you how to do both of them:
With a remote
- Tap the Home button on your LG TV remote.
- Head to the Settings page.
- Go to All Settings.
- Under Support, press Software Update.
- Choose Check for Updates.
- If there’s one available, select Download and Install.
Without a remote
- Get a flash drive with at least 2 Gb of free storage.
- Download the latest firmware on the LG website from their Software & Drivers page.
- Copy and extract the downloaded file into your flash drive.
- Create a folder on the root storage of your flash drive named “LG_DTV.”
- Put the extracted file into that folder.
- Insert the flash drive into your TV.
- Once a prompt on your screen saying “USB UPDATE READY” appears, tap Install.
- After the installation, power cycle your TV.
How to change input on LG TV manually
You can change the input on your TV manually using the physical buttons on the TV itself. These buttons are usually found at the bottom or side of your LG.
Once you locate them, simply press the Input button. And then use your:
- Power button as the Enter button.
- Volume Up and Down buttons as arrow keys.
Navigate through your Input menu using these buttons and select your chosen source.