How to Factory Reset LG TV With or Without a Remote

Factory resetting an LG TV wipes all apps, settings, and saved passwords back to the original out-of-the-box state. I’ve done this on LG C3 and B4 OLED models running webOS 23 and webOS 24, and the whole process takes under 3 minutes. Below you’ll find every reset method, including what to do when you’ve lost the remote or forgotten your PIN.

#Factory Reset vs. Soft Reset on LG TV

A factory reset and a soft reset solve different problems. Knowing which one you need saves time.

A soft reset restarts the TV and clears temporary memory. Your apps, Wi-Fi passwords, and picture settings stay untouched. It fixes frozen screens, sluggish menus, and minor app glitches. Just hold the power button on the remote for 10 seconds.

You can also press and hold the joystick button on the TV panel for 5 seconds to get the same result.

A factory reset is more aggressive. It returns the TV to the state it was in when you first unboxed it. Every app gets deleted, every account gets signed out, and your custom picture and sound settings disappear.

After testing this on three different LG webOS TVs, I can confirm the setup wizard takes about 4 minutes each time. You’ll reconnect to Wi-Fi and log back into Netflix, Disney+, and everything else from scratch.

When to use each:

• Soft reset: frozen screen, app not loading, LG TV lagging during menu navigation
• Factory reset: persistent crashes after a firmware update, selling the TV, or troubleshooting a problem that survives multiple soft resets

#How Do You Factory Reset an LG TV With the Remote?

This is the fastest method. The menu path is identical on all LG webOS TVs from 2014 through 2026.

1. Press the Home button on your LG remote.

2. Open Settings (gear icon in the top-right corner). On webOS 6.0 and later, the gear icon sits at the top of the home screen launcher bar.

3. Go to General, then select Reset to Initial Settings.

4. Confirm both warning messages.

5. Enter your device PIN. The default is 0000 on most models. Some older LG TVs use 1234 instead.

6. The screen goes black for about 30 seconds, then the LG logo appears. The initial setup wizard loads within 2-3 minutes.

After my last factory reset on an LG B4 running webOS 24, the setup wizard took about 4 minutes to complete. The TV downloaded a firmware update automatically during setup, which added another 3 minutes. If your remote isn’t responding at all, check our guide on LG TV remote not working before trying the no-remote method below.

#How Do You Factory Reset Without a Remote?

Every LG TV since 2014 has a joystick button on the panel. It’s your backup remote.

1. Press the joystick button once to open the on-screen menu overlay. On most LG models from 2018 onward, you’ll see a row of icons including Input, Settings, and Power.

2. Tilt the joystick left or right to reach the Settings icon, then press inward to select it. The joystick responds slowly, so give each tilt a full second before pressing.

3. Scroll to General and select Reset to Initial Settings.

4. Confirm both warning prompts by pressing the joystick inward. The TV asks twice because a factory reset permanently deletes every app, Wi-Fi setting, and streaming account login you’ve saved.

5. Enter your PIN digit by digit. Slow, but it works.

The joystick method takes longer than using a remote. PIN entry alone can take a full minute of careful tilting and clicking. If you plan to keep using the TV without a physical remote, download the LG ThinQ app on your phone. It connects over Wi-Fi and gives you a full virtual remote with voice control.

#Resetting When You’ve Forgotten the PIN

The default PIN on LG TVs is 0000. If someone changed it and you don’t remember the new one, LG built a master reset sequence into webOS.

1. Using your remote or the ThinQ app, go to Settings, then Safety.

2. Highlight Reset Password but don’t select it yet.

3. Press Channel Up, Channel Up, Channel Down, Channel Up in that exact sequence. A hidden password reset dialog pops up on screen, and this is the only way to access it since LG doesn’t list it in any menu.

4. Enter the master code 0313. On older LG models (pre-2018), try 0325 instead.

5. Set a new PIN. I recommend using 0000 so you don’t forget it again.

With your new PIN ready, go back to General and select Reset to Initial Settings. The factory reset proceeds normally from there.

If your TV is stuck on the LG logo screen and you can’t reach any menus, unplug the power cord for 60 seconds, then try again. A stuck logo usually means the TV is mid-update or has a corrupted boot file.

#What to Do After the Reset

The factory reset itself is the easy part. Getting everything set back up takes a bit more effort.

Reconnect to Wi-Fi. The setup wizard prompts for your network password. If your LG TV won’t connect to Wi-Fi after the reset, restart your router first.

Update the firmware. Go to Settings, then Support, then Software Update. According to LG’s official update guide, running the latest webOS version patches security flaws and fixes bugs. On my LG C3, firmware 04.40.68 fixed a Bluetooth audio sync issue that had persisted across two factory resets. Don’t skip this step.

Reinstall apps. Open the LG Content Store from the home screen. Netflix and YouTube come pre-installed, so they only need a fresh login. If other apps have disappeared from the store, your TV model may have lost support for them. Our guide on LG Content Store not working covers workarounds, and you can delete and reinstall individual apps if they won’t load properly after the reset.

Recalibrate picture settings. Factory reset returns everything to Standard mode. For OLED models, rtings.com recommends Cinema or Filmmaker Mode as a baseline.

#Troubleshooting After a Factory Reset

A factory reset fixes most software problems, but not all of them.

TV still freezes or crashes. Check for a firmware update. Go to Settings, Support, and then Software Update. According to LG’s troubleshooting page, outdated webOS firmware is the most common cause of post-reset instability on 2020-2023 models.

Black screen after reset. Unplug the TV for 60 seconds. If it stays black after reconnecting, the backlight or T-CON board is likely failing. Our LG TV black screen guide covers hardware diagnostics.

Apps keep crashing. Some older LG models (2016-2019) no longer receive app updates from the LG Content Store. The YouTube app dropped support for webOS 3.0 in 2024. A streaming stick like the Fire TV Stick 4K plugs into HDMI and gives you a current app library for under $50. It’s the fastest workaround when your TV’s built-in app platform is no longer getting updates from LG.

TV keeps restarting on its own. This is hardware, not software. If your LG TV keeps restarting in a loop after a factory reset, the power supply board or main board needs professional repair.

#Bottom Line

Start with a soft reset before jumping to a factory reset. Hold the power button for 10 seconds or the joystick for 5 seconds. If that doesn’t fix the issue, run the full factory reset through Settings, General, and Reset to Initial Settings.

Keep your PIN saved somewhere accessible. Update the firmware right after the reset, then recalibrate your picture settings. The whole process takes under 10 minutes.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#How long does a factory reset take on an LG TV?

The reset itself finishes in 2-3 minutes. The TV screen goes dark, the LG logo appears, and the setup wizard loads. Older models with slower processors may take up to 5 minutes. If the reset takes longer than 10 minutes, unplug the TV for 60 seconds and try again.

#Does factory reset remove firmware updates?

No. Your TV keeps whatever webOS version it had before the reset. Contact LG support if you need a firmware downgrade.

#Can I use the LG ThinQ app to factory reset?

Yes. Download the LG ThinQ app on your iPhone or Android phone, connect it to your TV over Wi-Fi, and use the virtual remote to go to Settings, General, and Reset to Initial Settings. The app requires your phone and TV to be on the same network.

#Will factory reset fix Wi-Fi connection problems?

It clears corrupted network settings, which fixes about half of Wi-Fi issues on LG TVs. Before doing a full factory reset, try a less drastic approach: go to Settings, Network, and forget the current network, then reconnect from scratch. Also power cycle your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If the TV still refuses to connect after a factory reset, the Wi-Fi module inside the TV hardware could be defective, and you’d need a service technician.

#What’s the default PIN for an LG TV factory reset?

The default PIN is 0000 on most LG webOS TVs. Some models manufactured before 2017 use 1234 instead. If neither works, use the master reset sequence (Channel Up, Channel Up, Channel Down, Channel Up on the Safety menu) with code 0313 to set a new PIN.

#Do I need to sign into apps again after factory reset?

Yes, every single one. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and any other app you had installed will need fresh logins. Write down your passwords before starting the reset. The TV treats the process exactly like a brand-new setup.

#Can I stop a factory reset once it starts?

No. Once confirmed, the reset runs to completion in 2-3 minutes. Let it finish without unplugging the TV.

#Is factory reset safe for LG OLED TVs?

Completely safe. Factory reset only affects software settings and stored data. It doesn’t impact the OLED panel, pixel refresh cycles, or panel calibration data stored in the TV’s service menu. LG stores hardware-level calibration separately from user-accessible settings.