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Set up LG ThinQ as a TV remote

LG ThinQ is LG’s own app for registering and controlling webOS TVs. Setup is a PIN pairing, but the useful things to know are what ThinQ does that a generic remote doesn’t, and which TV settings it depends on. The features you see differ by webOS version, so check each control on your own set.

By TV Remotely · Updated · Sources and testing policy

Register the TV

  1. Turn the TV on, connect it to the same home network as the phone, install LG ThinQ and sign in.

    The Add Device flow can see the TV.

    If the TV is missing, check for a guest network or AP isolation first; see the Ethernet guide for the 10-second IP check.

  2. In ThinQ choose Add Device (the + button), pick TV, then select your TV.

    The TV shows a PIN or approval prompt.

    If several TVs appear, identify yours by name or room before accepting.

  3. Enter the on-screen PIN, then open the TV’s card in the app.

    The remote screen with directional pad, volume and channel appears.

    If registration fails, the PIN may have expired. Close the dialog on the TV and start again; don’t reuse an old PIN.

ThinQ vs. a generic remote app

  • ThinQ registers the TV to your LG account, so the TV can be controlled from home screen shortcuts and can appear in a household with your other LG appliances.
  • A third-party remote app talks to webOS directly on the local network. It usually needs the TV’s “LG Connect Apps” (or similarly named mobile-connection) setting to be on; look for it under Connection or Network settings.
  • Both go through the TV’s approval prompt, so a TV that already works with ThinQ can still require a separate PIN or Accept for another app.

Turning the TV on from the phone

LG documents “TV On With Mobile” on supported webOS versions; for webOS 6.0 the setting is in the external-device menu. The TV must be in standby with network access, so it won’t work on a TV that is unplugged or in a deep power-saving mode. Test it once with the TV off for an hour, because a quick test right after turning it off can pass and still fail later. The standby guide covers this in detail.

If the PIN never appears

  • Make sure the set appears as a TV, not another LG appliance, and that it is powered on and online.
  • Check whether the TV is already registered to another ThinQ account in the household.
  • Look at the TV screen for an approval dialog hidden behind another app or the screensaver.
  • Region: the LG account’s country should match the TV’s region; a mismatch can hide the device.

Related guidance

Sources for these instructions