3 Ways to Change Input on an LG TV (with Troubleshooting)

Are you struggling to switch your LG TV to the PlayStation or streaming box?

Our guide delivers seamless solutions for changing inputs, from remote shortcuts to power button hacks, even when conventional methods are out of reach.

1. With a Remote

On webOS 6.0

Step 1: Hit the Home key on the remote. 

Step 2: Navigate to Recent Input, which may be the Input you want to display.

On Some Other webOS Versions

Step 1: Depending on your LG TV, press the Home or Menu button on your remote. 

Step 2: Head to Input. 

Step 3: Open All Input. 

Step 4: Highlight and select the input you want to display on your TV. 

On Some Remotes

Step 1: Press the remote’s Input button. 

Step 2: Choose the input you want to display. 

2. With Only the Power Button (Also for Hotel LG TVs)

Some hotels enable the Hotel Mode feature which locks some of an LG TV’s features, including its input source. This mode is essentially a hidden menu that, in addition to making certain functions useless, also locks your remote’s Settings button. This function is only available on select models fitted with older webOS versions. TVs with webOS 6.0 and later do not support this function.

While we advise against trying to disable this mode as the hotel may heavily fine you or take legal actions against you, there is a way to adjust the input without the remote’s Settings button. Since you are not technically disabling Hotel Mode Setup by adjusting the input this way, you should avoid getting caught or fined by the hotel staff.

Step 1: Ensure your TV is powered on before clicking the control panel’s Power button, commonly found right below the LG logo, one time. This will reveal the options menu. 

Step 2: Repeatedly press the Power button until the Input option is highlighted on-screen. 

Step 3: Press and hold the Power button to select the Input option. 

Step 4: Then, press your Power button again until the input you’d like to display is highlighted on-screen before long-pressing the Power button again to choose it. 

Watch the video below demonstrating how to change your LG TV’s input with & without a remote.

3. With the ThinQ App 

Link your TV to the ThinQ app and change the input remotely by following the instructions below. 

Step 1: Ensure your LG TV supports Bluetooth before enabling it on both your LG TV and mobile device. 

Step 2: Open your phone’s Google Play Store or App Store, search for the ThinQ app, and install it. 

Step 3: Open the ThinQ app to get started. 

Step 4: Head to Add a Device. 

Step 5: Go to Select Device, then select Next. 

Step 6: In the Appliances list, find and click on TV. 

Step 7: Find your LG TV from the list of available TVs in the app. 

Step 8: If you’ve selected your TV, there should be a list of numbers on its screen. Enter these numbers into your mobile device. 

Step 9: Select Skip to log into your account on your Amazon account later or choose Link/Log in to link your account now. 

Step 10: Click Move to Home (sometimes labeled Go to Home) to link your TV to the app. 

Step 11: Then, go to your TV within the app and tap the Input button, marked by a jack with part of a cable, to adjust the input. 

If you’re a visual learner, check out the video below to see how to pair the ThinQ app to your TV to control it remotely. 

Can an LG TV’s Input Be Blocked?

Yes, you can block inputs on an LG TV. 

As previously discussed, smart TVs in hotels often have Hotel Mode (which is a service/hidden menu), that restricts their settings and can also lock certain inputs. 

Please note that Hotel Mode is not available on webOS 6.0 or later, and can only be found on some LG TVs with older webOS versions. 

However, there is a way to lock/unlock inputs on a hotel smart TV by following the steps below. 

On Older webOS Versions:

Step 1: Press and hold the remote’s Menu or Settings button (depending on the TV model) until HDMI is displayed in the top-left corner of the screen or until your TV asks for a passcode. 

Step 2: Use your remote control’s numeric keys to type 1105 into your TV. If this password doesn’t work, try one of these PINs: 0000; 7777; 0413; 8741; 8743; 8878. Then click OK. 

Step 3: Once you’ve entered the correct PIN, the Hotel Mode menu should appear on-screen. Then, turn it On to enable/disable any of the restrictions. 

Step 4: Head to the AUX Source Setting and disable all of the inputs except for the one you’d like to lock and use. 

Watch the video below demonstrating how to access Hotel mode and disable inputs on an LG TV. 

Locking/Unlocking Inputs on webOS 6.0

Step 1: Click your remote’s Settings button. 

Step 2: Go to All Settings. 

Step 3: Head to General. 

Step 4: Navigate to System. 

Step 5: Go to Safety. 

Step 6: Click on the Input Locks option. 

Step 7: When prompted, enter the four-digit PIN you’ve set. If you haven’t set one, enter 0000. 

Step 8: Disable all of the listed inputs except for the one you wish to lock.

LG TV Keeps Changing Input by Itself

Here are a few of our tried and true solutions to try if your LG TV keeps automatically changing its input. 

1. Disable Auto Device Detection

Step 1: Hit the remote’s Settings button. 

Step 2: Navigate to Connections. 

Step 3: Go to Device Connection. 

Step 4: Toggle Auto Device Detection off. 

To learn how to turn off Auto Device Detection, watch the video below. 

2. Disable Off Quick Start+ 

On Older webOS Versions:

Step 1: Click the Settings button on your LG remote. 

Step 2: Go to All Settings. 

Step 3: Click on General. 

Step 4: Toggle Quick Start+ off. 

On webOS 6.0:

Step 1: Click the remote’s Settings button. 

Step 2: Open All Settings. 

Step 3: Click on General. 

Step 4: Go to Devices. 

Step 5: Select TV Management. 

Step 6: Toggle Quick Start+ off. 

3. Disable SimpLink (HDMI-CEC)

On Older webOS Versions: 

Step 1: Press the remote’s Settings button. 

Step 2: Launch All Settings. 

Step 3: Open General. 

Step 4: Click on SimpLink and toggle it off. 

On webOS 6.0:

Step 1: Press the Settings button on your remote. 

Step 2: Head to All Settings.

Step 3: Navigate to General. 

Step 4: Open Devices. 

Step 5: Click on HDMI Settings. 

Step 6: Toggle SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) off. 

4. Soft Reset & Power Cycle Your TV 

Step 1: Press the Power button on your TV’s control panel or remote to turn it off. 

Step 2: Unplug the TV from its power supply and wait a minute for its electricity to drain. 

Step 3: Plug it back into power and turn it on. 

Watch the video below to learn how to soft reset your LG TV.

5. Factory Reset Your TV 

Please note that this option will erase all of your TV’s information and installed apps. 

Step 1: Head to the Settings, followed by General. 

Depending on your TV model, you may need to select your remote’s Settings button, then go to All Settings, followed by System. 

Step 2: Click on Reset to Initial Settings. 

Step 3: Click OK. 

Watch the video below to learn how to factory reset your LG TV.

6. Remove Your Remote’s Batteries

Your remote may be malfunctioning, resulting in the input changing by itself. To test if your remote is the culprit, remove its batteries and observe if your TV continues to automatically adjust its input. 

If your remote does end up being responsible for this issue, consider replacing it or having it repaired. 

LG TV Won’t Change Input

If you can’t change your TV’s input, it may be in Hotel Mode or having its settings blocked through another hidden menu. We recommend heading to the Can an LG TV’s Input Be Blocked section for more information and instructions on how to bypass this blockage. 

Wrapping Things Up

There are several ways you can change an LG TV’s input, with the easiest way being clicking the remote’s input button and using the TV’s Power button. However, you can also change the input via the ThinQ app by linking it to your TV. 

An LG TV’s input can be blocked if the TV is in Hotel Mode, though you should still be able to adjust the input using the TV’s Power button or by accessing the service/hidden menu. Just remember to change the settings back to the way they were before you check out to avoid getting in any trouble. 

If your TV’s input is changing automatically, disable some of its settings before soft/factory resetting it and replacing its remote. 

What’s your experience changing an LG TV’s input? Did you know that hotels lock their TVs’ settings? 

Let us know in the comments below!

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