Alexa voice commands make it easier than ever to control your LG TV, but since not all LG TVs support this wonderful feature, it’s hard to control the unit wirelessly.
However, with the LG ThinQ app and depending on the webOS version running on your LG TV, there are some ways you can get this done.
In today’s article, I’m going to teach you How to Connect your LG TV to Alexa so you can change the channel, increase or decrease the volume and even control apps on your LG TV.
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5 Steps to Connect your LG TV to Alexa
- Download the LG ThinQ App on your Smartphone
- Login to the LG ThinQ App and Search for New Devices
- Pair your TV with the LG ThinQ App
- Sign into the Alexa App and Add a New Device
- Connect using Alexa Skill for ThinQ
How to Connect your LG TV to Alexa
As of this month, you can not connect Amazon Alexa directly to your LG smart TV, but you can get your TV to respond to Alexa commands by using a couple of apps.
I’m going to take you through how to connect Alexa to your LG Smart TV in detail.
Check the Version of webOS on your LG Smart TV
Depending on the version of webOS your TV is running on, there are different ways you can connect your LG TV to Alexa.
In order to check what webOS version your LG TV is running on, follow these steps
- Settings > General > About This TV > TV Information
or
- Settings > All Settings > Support > TV Information
So before we get into the steps on how to connect your LG TV to Alexa, let me take you through the different webOS versions and how to initiate the connection.
- WebOS 4.0: Home screen > Set Up TV for Amazon Alexa app.
- WebOS 4.5: Settings > Connection > Link to Devices for Voice Control.
- WebOS 5.0: Home Dashboard > Settings > Link to Smart Speaker Launch the "Home Dashboard" from the Home screen and go to Settings > Link to Smart Speaker on your LG TV.
- WebOS 6.0: TVs Card > Select > Settings > Link LG ThinQ account
Step 1 -- Download the LG ThinQ App on your Smartphone
- Start by downloading the ThinQ app on your smartphone.
- Launch the LG ThinQ app on your smartphone and follow the instructions to create your account.
- Depending on your platform, you can either use your Google account or Apple ID to login.
Step 2 -- Login to the LG ThinQ App and Search for New Devices
- Once you’ve successfully logged into your account, tap on the “+” icon to start adding a new device.
- Now, you will be presented with three different connection options
- Scan QR code
- Search Nearby
- Select Manually
Tip: If your TV supports Scan QR code or Search Nearby then the rest of the connection process is relatively easy and the app will do all the work for you.
Follow the remaining steps if you’ve selected Select Manually
Step 3 -- Pair your TV with the LG ThinQ App
- Once you select Select Manually, tap on TV under the list of products mentioned on the page.
Turn on your LG TV and follow the remaining steps on your phone/tablet.
- The app will then try and locate your LG TV.
- Make sure that the smartphone and your TV are connected to the same network.
- Once the TV appears on the device, tap on the name.
- Your TV will now display an 8-digit code. Enter that code on the app to register the TV
- Go through the next page carefully as it will have the privacy policy and terms and conditions mentioned. Tap on Link.
- A welcome screen will appear on the app stating that the device has been successfully registered. Tap on Go to Home to proceed to the next section.
Step 4 -- Sign into the Alexa App and Add a New Device
- Start by downloading the Alexa app on your smartphone.
- Login to the app using your registered Amazon account.
- Tap on Devices located at the bottom of the app
- Proceed to Add a New Device by pressing the ‘+’ icon at the top right corner of the page
- Next, click on Add Device and then scroll down and tap on TV
- You will be presented with a list of different brands, select LG.
Step 5 -- Connect using Alexa Skill for ThinQ
- Once you’ve located your TV, tap on Next.
- You will now be taken to an LG ThinQ - Basic page.
- Tap on Enable to Use and then sign in using your registered LG account.
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions and then close the box to continue.
- Click on Discover Devices on the next screen and then Alexa will automatically search for devices that it can connect to.
- Once the app recognizes the TV, you will receive a banner stating “Your LG TV has been Connected via the ThinQ Skill”.
You can now use Alexa via the app to change the channel, increase or decrease the volume, change the output and even turn off the TV.
How to Connect your LG TV to Alexa : Troubleshooting Tips
Generally, the Alexa app and ThinQ app will locate your TV with no hassle.
However, there are some times when the connection will fail and you will not be able to voice control your LG TV using Alexa.
There’s no single fix for this, but i’ve tried the following and they improve the chances of both devices connecting.
- In order to successfully connect both devices, your TV and smartphone should be connected to the same network. The TV can be connected to the network wirelessly or with an Ethernet cable.
- During the initial process, make sure your TV is turned on. If the TV is off then your app will not be able to connect to the TV.
- Try not using different accounts on your TV and smartphone app. Ensure that both accounts are the same and especially if you’re currently using Alexa with other LG home appliances.
Why Can’t I Find the Alexa App on the LG Content Store?
If you’re unable to find the Alexa app on the LG Content Store then the reason could be that your LG TV does not support and is not compatible with Alexa voice commands.
The only way to work around this predicament is to exchange your TV for a new model that supports Alexa or one of the models listed above.
Which LG TVs Have Alexa Built-in?
If your TV was manufactured after 2019, it should have LG ThinQ and Alexa. The following models come with Alexa built-in.
- W8
- E8
- C8
- B8
- B8S
- SK95
- SK90
- SK80
- UK77
- UK65
- UK63
- UK62
- LK61
- LK54
What Can Alexa Do with LG TVs
With Alexa you can do so much more than just change the channel or switch off the TV. Here are some really cool things you can do with Alexa on a LG TV.
- Switch off the TV
- Change the Channel
- Increase or Decrease the Volume
- Mute the TV
- Launch Apps
- Change the Inputs
- Play/Pause/Rewind/Fast Forward/Stop/Resume video playback
- Connect your LG TV with other Smart Devices
How to Use Alexa with a LG TV?
Here are a few common ways you can use Alexa to control your LG TV.
- “Alexa,, open XYZ app” – (Alexa, open Prime Video)
- “Alexa, play XYZ show on XYZ app” – (Alexa, play Narcos on Netflix)
- “Alexa, search for XYZ” – (Alexa, search for Hugh Jackman)
- “Alexa, play the new XYZ album” – (Alexa, play the new BTS album)
- “Alexa, switch to XYZ input” – (Alexa, switch to Composite input)
- “Alexa, turn TV volume to X“ - (Alexa, turn TV volume to 10)
- “Alexa, pause TV” - (It can be used to play, pause, stop, resume rewind and fast forward)
- “Alexa, turn TV on/off - (You can switch on or switch off the TV with Alexa)
Note: If Alexa is connected to multiple devices, make sure that you specify the correct name of your TV to successfully control the device. Without mentioning the TV name, you will not be able to control your TV and Alexa will not recognize which device that command was meant for.
Takeaway
There you have it, 5 simple steps to get your Alexa connected with your LG Smart TV.
Alexa will be able to give you a hands free experience while watching movies or navigating your LG TV.
All you have to do is make sure that you have a stable Wi-Fi or network connection and the LG TV should be compatible with Alexa and support voice commands.
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