How to activate an app on an LG TV

Before you start

• The TV is connected to the internet by Wi-Fi or cable.
• You are signed in to an LG account on the TV. LG's help pages list an LG account sign-in as a requirement for installing apps, and you also need to accept the TV's user agreements. If you have not signed in, the TV prompts you when you try to install something.
• You have an account with the streaming service. It is separate from your LG account, and paid services are billed through their own account pages.
• A phone or computer to enter the activation code.

Step 1: find the app store and install the app

"Where is the app store on my LG TV?" is one of the most common LG questions. On current webOS versions it is simply called Apps; older models call it LG Content Store. There is no Google Play Store on LG webOS TVs, so Android phone apps cannot be installed on them.

1. Press Home on the LG remote.
2. Open Apps (or LG Content Store on older models) from the Home screen.
3. Select the search icon, usually in the top-right corner, and type the app name. With a Magic Remote you can point at the letters on screen, which is quicker than the arrow keys.
4. Open the app from the results and choose Install.
5. When it finishes, choose Launch, or find the app on the Home screen.

Step 2: sign in with the activation code

1. Open the app and choose Sign in. If you are offered a choice, select the option to sign in on the web, with a phone, or on another device.
2. Note the code and the web address on screen. Many apps also show a QR code.
3. On your phone or computer, go to that address or scan the QR code, and check that you are on the streaming service's own website.
4. Sign in to your streaming account, enter the code exactly as shown and confirm.
5. The LG TV refreshes by itself within a few seconds. You do not need to press anything on the TV.

Our step-by-step guide to entering an activation code explains what each screen means, and signing in on your TV with a QR code covers scanning from iPhone and Android.

LG account sign-in versus app sign-in

Searches such as "LG account sign in TV code" usually come from the TV's own account screen, not a streaming app. Your LG account signs the TV in to LG's services and the Apps store. You manage it on LG's website or in the TV's account settings. Depending on the webOS version, the TV may let you finish this sign-in on your phone instead of typing a password with the remote. Your streaming account is the one the activation code links, and that happens on the streaming service's own site. Keeping the two apart avoids most "wrong account" problems.

If an LG app will not install or sign in

• The app does not appear in Apps. LG notes that apps which are not supported on your TV do not show up in the store at all. Support depends on the model, the webOS version and your country. A plug-in streaming device is the usual workaround: see our Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and Google TV guides.
• Check the LG Services Country setting. LG's help pages point out that if the LG Services Country is set to "Other", app installs can fail. It sits in the TV's general or location settings; set it to the country you are actually in.
• Free up storage. If the TV is short of space, remove apps you no longer use. On newer models you can highlight an app on the Home screen and use the edit option to delete it.
• Check the network. Confirm the TV shows as connected in the network settings, and restart your router if other devices are also struggling.
• Restart the TV properly. Turning it off with the remote can leave it in standby. Unplug it from the wall for about a minute, then plug it back in.
• Update the TV software. Look for the software update option in the support or general section of Settings. App updates often require a current webOS version.
• The code is not accepted. Get a fresh code by backing out of the sign-in screen and opening it again, and check you are signed in to the right streaming account on your phone. Work through our activation code not working checklist for more fixes, or see where to find the activation code if none appears.

Codes you might confuse with app activation

LG-related searches also mention a "registration code" or "set up code". A DivX VOD registration code, for example, belongs to a separate video-on-demand feature on some older TVs and is not used to sign in to streaming apps. Remote pairing and setup screens can also show numbers. None of these replace the code an app shows on its own sign-in screen.

Activation is free

Installing apps from LG's store and linking them with a code does not cost an activation fee. Subscriptions, where a service has one, are paid inside your own account on that service's website. If a page that is not on lg.com or the streaming service's domain asks for payment, a phone call or remote access to "activate" your LG TV, close it. Our guide to activation code scams explains how these pages work.

Official LG help

• LG: steps to download, install and remove apps - LG's own help library article.
• LG US support - manuals, software updates and model-specific help.

Billing or account problems with a streaming service belong with that service's own help pages. For other brands, start from our smart TV activation overview.