Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Control your LG TV with LG ThinQ
- 03Method 2: Use a universal IR app for older LG TVs
- 04Method 3: Control your LG TV with your voice
- 05Which LG TV remote app should you use?
- 06Frequently Asked Questions
- 07Is there a free LG TV remote app?
- 08Does the LG TV remote app work on iPhone?
- 09What happened to the LG TV Plus app?
- 10Can I use an LG TV remote app without Wi-Fi?
- 11Why won't LG ThinQ find my TV?
- 12How do I re-pair the LG Magic Remote?
- 13Related guides
The best LG TV remote app is LG ThinQ — LG's official free app for iPhone and Android. It controls any webOS LG TV over your home Wi-Fi. Install ThinQ, put your phone on the same network as the TV, add your TV, then enter the PIN it shows on screen. Older non-smart LG sets need an infrared app instead.
I set ThinQ up on our LG C2 OLED in the living room and an older UN7300 in the bedroom. The C2 paired in about a minute over Wi-Fi. The 2019 set was fussier — it showed up only after I updated the app and moved both devices onto the same Wi-Fi band. My uncle's 2013 LG never appeared at all; it predates webOS, so no phone app can reach it. Here's every route, free ones first.
The 30-second test
Check two things before you download anything. Does your LG TV connect to Wi-Fi, and does it run webOS? Press Home on the remote or the TV. If you see app tiles and a Settings > Network menu, it's a webOS smart TV and a phone app will control it.
To confirm the platform, open Settings > Support > About This TV. A pre-2014 LG runs the older NetCast system, not webOS, so ThinQ won't find it. Not sure which system your set runs? LG lists it by model on its support site.
- webOS LG TV on Wi-Fi (roughly 2016 or newer) — use LG ThinQ (Method 1).
- Older NetCast or non-smart LG — you need a phone with an infrared blaster (Method 2).
- Phone and TV on different networks — put both on the same Wi-Fi first, or nothing pairs.
More than one TV in the house? ThinQ handles the LG, but it only speaks to LG sets. If a Hisense or Roku TV shares your setup, HiRemote puts that one on your phone too — and its browser remote at hiremote.app/hisense-roku-tv-remote runs a Hisense Roku TV with nothing to install.
Method 1: Control your LG TV with LG ThinQ
ThinQ is LG's official app and the one I'd try first. It's free on both iPhone and Android, and it replaced the older LG TV Plus remote app. You'll need a free LG account to sign in.
- Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Install LG ThinQ from the App Store or Google Play, then open it and sign in.
- Tap the + (Add) button, then choose Add Device and pick TV.
- Let the app scan. When your TV appears, select it.
- Enter the PIN that pops up on the TV screen.
- Open your TV's tile, then tap the remote icon for the on-screen D-pad, keypad, and app shortcuts.
Grab it straight from the official LG ThinQ page. Honest catch: ThinQ only talks to the TV over Wi-Fi, so the remote greys out if the router drops or the TV sits on another network. Very old webOS sets (2016–2017) sometimes refuse ThinQ — if yours won't pair, try LG's legacy LG TV Plus app, or walk through why a remote app won't connect.
Method 2: Use a universal IR app for older LG TVs
Got a pre-webOS LG or a basic non-smart set? Then Wi-Fi apps can't see it, and you need infrared — the same signal the physical remote sends. This route depends on your phone having an IR blaster built in.
- Check for an IR blaster. Most iPhones and newer Galaxy phones skip it; many Xiaomi, Redmi, and some TCL phones have one.
- Install a universal remote app such as AnyMote, Mi Remote, or Peel.
- Open the app and choose LG as the TV brand.
- Point the top edge of your phone at the TV and test the power button.
- If nothing happens, try the next LG code set until one works.
Honest catch: no IR blaster means no IR app. iPhones have never shipped one, so on an iPhone you'd need a plug-in accessory like a SwitchBot Hub — for most people that's more hassle than a cheap replacement remote.
Prefer one app for every screen? No single free app runs every brand. But if your second TV is a Hisense, HiRemote covers all four systems Hisense ships — VIDAA, Roku, Google TV, and Fire TV — from one place. See how the phone-remote options stack up by brand.
Method 3: Control your LG TV with your voice
You can skip buttons and just talk. LG webOS TVs from 2019 on have Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built into the TV and Magic Remote. You can also link a Nest or Echo speaker for hands-free power and volume.
- Built-in: Press and hold the mic button on the Magic Remote, then say your command.
- Alexa: In the Alexa app, add the LG ThinQ skill, link your LG account, then say "Alexa, turn on the TV."
- Google Home: Link LG ThinQ under Works with Google, then use voice on any Nest speaker.
Honest catch: voice nails power and volume but fumbles typing and fast channel-hopping. I keep a phone remote open for anything fiddly.
Which LG TV remote app should you use?
| Method | Works on | Needs Wi-Fi? | Needs IR blaster? | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG ThinQ | webOS LG TVs, ~2016+ | Yes | No | Free | The official, full-featured route |
| Universal IR app | Any LG, incl. NetCast/non-smart | No | Yes | Free | Pre-webOS or non-smart sets |
| Voice (Google/Alexa) | LG webOS TVs, 2019+ | Yes | No | Free | Hands-free power and volume |
| New Magic Remote | All webOS LG TVs | No | N/A | Paid | People who dislike phone remotes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free LG TV remote app?
Yes. LG ThinQ, LG's official remote app, is free on the App Store and Google Play. It controls any webOS LG TV made from roughly 2016 onward over Wi-Fi, with a full D-pad, keypad, and app shortcuts. You only pay if you choose to buy a replacement Magic Remote instead. Some setups ask for a free LG account first.
Does the LG TV remote app work on iPhone?
Yes. LG ThinQ works on iPhone because it controls the TV over Wi-Fi, not infrared. What an iPhone can't do is act as an IR remote for an old, non-smart LG — there's no IR blaster inside. For those older sets, you'd need a plug-in IR accessory or a universal physical remote instead.
What happened to the LG TV Plus app?
LG folded its TV Plus remote features into the LG ThinQ app, now the official way to control a webOS TV from your phone. TV Plus still exists in some regions as a fallback for older 2016–2017 sets that ThinQ struggles to find. On a newer LG TV, install ThinQ first — it's the app LG actively updates.
Can I use an LG TV remote app without Wi-Fi?
Not with LG ThinQ — it needs your phone and TV on the same network. Without Wi-Fi, your only phone option is infrared, which needs a phone with an IR blaster and a universal remote app. Otherwise, use the Magic Remote or the joystick button tucked under the LG logo on the TV itself.
Why won't LG ThinQ find my TV?
Usually the phone and TV sit on different Wi-Fi networks — a split 2.4GHz and 5GHz band, or a guest network, counts as separate. Put both on the same one and retry. Then confirm Mobile TV On or network control is enabled in the TV's settings, and that it's a webOS model. A quick power-cycle of both devices clears most pairing glitches.
How do I re-pair the LG Magic Remote?
Point the Magic Remote at the TV and press the wheel (OK) button for about five seconds, until an on-screen message confirms it's registered. To unpair first, hold the Back and Home buttons together for five seconds. If the pointer still won't appear, replace the batteries — low power is the usual culprit.
