(9 Methods) How To Reset LG TV [Updated 2023]

I’ve done a lot of embarrassing things in the past.

To the point where it’d be nice if I could just…

Forget.

Sometimes, your TV feels the same as I do.

The only difference is:

You can make your LG TV forget through a reset.

And how exactly?

Keep reading to discover:

9 effortless ways to reset your LG TV.
How to reset your LG TV using a smartphone.
LG’s secret menu and how to access its factory reset settings.
And so much more…

How to reset LG TV? 9 methods

#1: Power cycle

Let’s start with the simplest solution:

To turn your TV off and then on.

Now, you might ask:

“Will a restart really reset my LG TV?”

Yes…kind of.

You see, this process is called a power cycle or a soft reset.

This type of reset won’t fully reset your TV’s data…

But it’ll get rid of software glitches and stuck processes that are slowing your TV down. Or worse, not letting it turn on.

To do this, you just have to:

Turn your TV off.
Unplug it from the socket.
Wait 30 seconds.
Plug it back in.
Turn your TV back on.

#2: Through the Settings menu

Now, let’s move on from the soft reset…

And talk about how to hard reset your LG TV.

You can do this with a factory reset.

And there’s a strong chance that you’ve heard of a factory reset before.

After all, it’s an option for any gadget or any brand.

If you haven’t heard of it…

Basically, a factory reset returns your TV to the state it once was before you bought it.

How?

By deleting its data, such as:

App cache.
Installed apps.
Network settings.
Account information.

Why do you need to get rid of these?

Well, sometimes, data can get corrupted.

And, when it does, it can cause glitches and errors on your TV. Like:

Discoloration.
Network issues.
Screen flickering.
Apps, such as Netflix or Disney Plus, aren’t loading.

Are you experiencing any of those?

If so, don’t worry. I got you.

All you need to do to perform a factory reset is:

Press the Smart button on your LG remote.
Head to the Settings menu.
Go to General.
Tap Reset to Initial Settings.
Enter your passcode.

And you’re good to go.

After that, your TV will direct you to the setup page, where you’ll have to:

Select your country and language of preference.
Choose Wired or Wireless connection.
Press Home.
Enter your local area code.
Wait for the channel tuning to finish.

Done. Your TV is now good as new.

#3: Forgot your password

Next, here’s something for you to consider:

What if you set a passcode for your TV…

But you forgot it?

How are you going to reset your LG TV then?

Simple, you’ll have to reset your password first. How?

Using the master PIN code.

What’s that, you ask?

Think of it as a “break in case of emergency” glass.

LG anticipated that some users would, eventually, forget their passwords.

So, what they did was they created a master key for every TV.

That way, they can ensure that nobody will be locked out of their system.

Isn’t that great?

Now, to reset your password, you should:

Press the Settings button on your remote.
Head to All Settings.
Go to Safety.
Enable Safety.
Highlight, but not press, TV Program Locks.
Press these buttons in this exact order: Channel Up, Channel Up, Channel Down, Channel Up.
Enter the master PIN code, which is 0313.
Now, select Reset PIN Code.
Enter your new code.

It’s that easy…

Or is it? If you’re having trouble following these steps, that’s okay.

You can watch this video instead:

#4: Using the service menu

Do you want to hear a secret?

There’s a secret menu on your LG TV.

Yep. It’s true.

For what purpose?

The service menu allows technicians to access hidden settings on your TV so they can repair it.

Now, why is it hidden?

One reason is there are a couple of settings that, once changed, could cause glitches on your TV.

The other, well, the average user simply can’t understand most of it.

On the other hand, technicians—who’ve had training—know what precisely these settings do.

If you’re worried that you wouldn’t know what these settings mean…

It’s okay. You shouldn’t have to.

After all, you don’t need to learn everything there…

Except 1. And that’s how to factory reset your TV using the service menu.

How exactly?

Simply follow these steps.

How to go to the service menu

The first time I got into my LG’s service menu, my first thought was…

It was like entering cheat codes in a video game.

Why?

Because you need to press seemingly random buttons to enter it.

What’s the reason for this?

Like I said earlier, LG doesn’t really want the average user to enter it by accident.

That’s why it’s difficult to access the service menu in the first place…

But not for you. Because I’ll tell you how:

Tap the Input button on your remote.
Press the following buttons in this exact order: 3, 1, 9, and 5.
Next, hold the Menu button until a prompt for a passcode appears.
Enter the secret passcode.

“Wait, what secret passcode?”

Without knowing your model, I don’t know exactly what the code for your TV is.

So just try all of them until one works:

0000.
0413.
3195.
7777.
8741.
8743.
8878.

You should now be inside the service menu.

Can’t access the service menu

“Peter, I did everything you told me to, but I still can’t access the service menu.”

I feared this might happen.

Don’t fret. This isn’t your fault, and you did everything right.

It’s just that some LG TV models require a little bit of money to access the menu.

For what, exactly?

Some TVs need a service remote.

Relax. It’s not that hard to find online…

It just costs a little extra.

But it’s worth it if you really want to maximize the use of your LG.

How to reset your LG TV using the service menu

Once you’re inside the service menu, the question becomes…

How can you factory reset your TV?

Simple, you just:

Select Public Display Settings.
Press Factory Reset.
Tap OK to confirm.

#5: Delete Cache

Why do you need to reset your TV?

Because you’re experiencing some kind of error, right?

Otherwise, you wouldn’t need to delete all of your data.

Now, what if you’re only experiencing the error on 1 of your many apps?

Here’s a tidbit:

You don’t need to reset your entire LG TV for that.

All the reset you’ll need is for that 1 specific app.

How can you do that?

By deleting its cache.

That way, you’re only losing data for that app and not anywhere else.

Sounds nice, right?

To do that, simply follow these 5 quick steps:

Press the Settings button on your remote.
Head to System.
Select Application Manager.
Highlight and tap the app that has an error.
Clear Cache and Clear Data.

#6: Install a firmware

Let’s say you have an LG TV that won’t turn on, but the standby light is flashing red.

What does that mean?

The red standby light means there’s still power coming to your TV…

However, a bug or glitch is preventing your screen from opening.

How can you factory reset your TV in this case?

Simple. You just have to update its firmware.

The firmware is like your TV’s operating system.

All of the functionalities of your TV’s hardware come from the firmware itself.

Now, for those who’ve updated their firmware before, you might wonder:

“A firmware update doesn’t erase my data, does it?”

Correct.

However, if you update your TV when it doesn’t turn on, you won’t recover the data lost from the bug.

And those missing data can sometimes trigger a reset.

The next question is:

How can you factory reset a TV that won’t open?

Easy. Use a flash drive.

How?

Download and copy the update

Note: Use a formatted flash drive with at least 2 Gb of free storage.

Go to LG’s download center using a PC.
Enter the model of your TV in the search bar.
Download the latest firmware.
Extract your downloaded file into the flash drive.

Finalize the update

Close your LG TV.
Insert the USB containing the firmware files.
Tap Install to confirm.

You may also be interested in: LG TV Keeps Turning Off: 9 Ways To Fix It

#7: With a smartphone

I’m absent-minded.

It’s something that my mother always likes to point out.

I tend to forget things. A lot.

That’s why it’s no surprise that I’ve lost my remote far too many times to count.

But I don’t really think about that anymore.

Do you know why?

Because I have my smartphone with me.

What does that have to do with a TV, you ask?

Smartphones have become far too advanced that they actually can function as a remote now.

There are several ways to do it too.

But there’s a way I recommend most…

And that’s to download the LG ThinQ app and use its remote function. The way to do that is:

Download the LG ThinQ app (Available on iOS and Android).
Register an account.
Press Add A Device.
Tap Select A Device.
Ensure that your TV and phone are connected to the same network.
Click Scan Nearby.
Select your TV and press Register Now to confirm.
Now, go to your Home screen and tap your TV.

There you go. You should be able to use your phone as a remote now and access your Settings menu to reset your TV.

#8: Use a universal remote

Do you have a spare remote lying around your house?

If so, you can also use that remote if you lost the original one from LG.

Here’s the thing:

There’s a chance that you can’t use the spare remote initially.

Why’s that?

2 reasons:

IR interference.
HDMI-CEC is turned off.

And chill. I’ll tell you how to resolve both issues.

IR interference

This one’s simple:

What if the reason you can’t use your spare remote is…

Because something is blocking it?

Let me explain.

Remotes use infrared (IR) to communicate with your device.

Usually, infrared does well in terms of reaching your TV.

But some things are known to contradict IR signals. These are:

Sunlight.
Other IR devices.
Fluorescent lights.

If there are any of these around your TV, remove what you can to boost your signal.

HDMI-CEC

The spare remote that you own, is it from a different device?

Like from a different TV brand or a streaming device’s remote?

If so, you need to turn on HDMI-CEC first.

What’s that?

HDMI-CEC allows your device to use a single remote for all of its needs.

When that’s turned off, your LG will automatically block the IR signal coming to your TV.

So, what do you need to do?

That’s right. Turn it on. And this is how:

Note: SIMPLINK is LG’s name for its CEC function.

Press the Home button on your remote.
Head to General.
Tap SIMPLINK.
Enable Simplink.
Also, turn on Auto Power Sync.

#9: Contact LG support

What if nothing’s working?

Should you just…give up?

Yes. But only stop trying to reset the TV by yourself.

Instead, call LG for further assistance.