lg sMART tv
 

I need help please. I have just purchased a new LG Smart TV. I have been using YouTubeTV as my main source for basic news. I know it and would like to keep it, but I cannot pin it to myj new TV. I have installed YouTubeTV through the app on the TV, but it will not just come up as my main program and I am getting frustrated. Would appreciate anyone being able to help me.

Back in the dark ages when I first got into streaming I used a ROKU Box and could access my other sites through that. This new TV does not recognise ROKU so do I have to install all my other programs on this new TV to be able to watch them.

I have not used an LG Smart TV so can't help with exactly what you asked.

However, have you considered buying an inexpensive Roku box and connecting it to one of the HDMI connectors on the television? We do exactly that (firestick rather than Roku) and very rarely use the "Smart" features of the TV. One of the nicest things about this... when we bought a new television we moved the firestick and were up and running in under five minutes.

I actually have a ROKU box connected to this TV, but was told I did not need it and that ROKU was being phased out. However, shortly after writing my help message on TOTV I came across someone who has managed to make YouTubeTV their main page by using the settings. A bit complicated, but I will try it and hope it works. I was talked into getting my old and trusty Samsung by my techi son and now I regret it ............. don't mess with success, guess I'll never learn.

Thank you for offering your help so quickly, really appreciate your kindness.

I have 4 smart TVs, but I don't use any of the smart TV functions. I have a ROKU stick plugged into every TV using an HDMI input on the TV. YouTubeTV is one of the apps preloaded onto the ROKU sticks. I don't know what you mean by having YouTubeTV as your main page, but it sounds like you want to use the smart functions on the TV. In my opinion, this is a mistake. Just use a ROKU stick. When you turn on the TV, switch the input to the HDMI input where the ROKU stick is connected. I do not think ROKU is being phased out.

This.

That you don't NEED Roku on the LG is true. But that doesn''t mean you can't use Roku instead of the native OS. If Roku is what you know, plug it into an HDMI input and be happy. Roku isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

If you have the LG magic remote you can go to the YouTube TV login screen and then hold down the #1 channel button until it memorizes the YouTube screen. When you turn on your TV you'll just hold the #1 button down until the login screen appears

I have an LG TV. Theres a setting to lock the list at the bottom or let it be variable.

I NEED to sign into YouTube, then access YouTube tv via the menu in YouTube. The functions when you open the menu to access Subscriptions, Home, etc…. It’s a pain, but it works. Just make sure you back out/exit YouTube tv before you turn off the tv. Sometimes when I power back on, the tv gets stuck on YouTube tv, and I’m not able to turn access YouTube. Software glitch I imagine.

With a Roku stick, you go directly to the app, "YouTubeTV", and sign in one time. After that, you never need to sign in again. If an app is out-of-date, you can delete the app, and re-install it to get the latest version.

I don't know if the same process works on the LG TV smart page. Can you delete the app and then re-install it?

I guess I’m not the only one finding LG TVs a pain to use. I use an Apple TV 4K for my apps. The problem I had was the Apple was causing my TV to turn off every 10 minutes. So I switched to a Fire Stick, which worked ok, but not as good as my Apple TV. A few months later, I needed to use my Apple TV and it worked fine. That was several months ago, and I still don’t know if the problem was my Apple software or LG operating system. Samsung TVs have always worked fine.

P.S. older devices do get phased out, and that includes Roku, Amazon, and Apple. Using the native TV apps is cheaper, but the operating systems are so clunky.

You can buy a Roku stick, Model 3820R2, for $50 from Best Buy or Amazon, and they often go on sale. I have found them to be much more user-friendly than any smart TV built-in app screen. Also, if you have several TVs, every TV will operate the same way.

I have been using all Apple TV devices for over a decade with no issues. Your Apple TV was not the issue, you have another problem.

Apple TV devices are much better than the Roku/firestick/chromecast devices. The downside is that they cost a little more, but since I also use them as hubs for my whole house automation, they can display my ring doorbell camera in the top right corner if somebody comes up to the door, and the Apple TVs run all the apps I need.

The tv salesman is wrong to say that you don’t need a roku because you might have an app that runs on Roku but won’t run on your tv.

Plug in your roku device, then make this hdmi port your default port so when you start your tv, it always starts your roku.

It's far better to run your apps from an Android TV box, Firestick, Roku, or Apple TV than the TV itself. The TV manufacturer is in the business of selling TV's, not apps. Apps on most TV's go through far less testing and optimization than the apps specifically designed for streaming devices.

If the TV is a Fire TV, Android TV, or Roku TV, then it will use the same well designed apps as the separate devices.

LG has it's own OS and makes it own apps. Typically, these apps provide basic functionality but run slower and may buffer more than well tested apps.

The other advantage to using a separate streaming box is that it is portable. If you get a new TV, just plug the box into an HDMI and use it - you don't have to set up apps and log them in again. Also, if you travel, take the box with you. Plug it into any TV and watch all of your favorite shows!

I purchased a Roku sound bar to enhance my tv's sound. It operates like a Roku stick and converted my tv to a Roku tv which has YouTube TV

I LOVE the LG Magic Remote. I bought an LG tv that came with it a decade ago and loved it. Since then I’ve bought a couple larger LGs that didn’t come with it but can handle it, and I bought one new on Amazon for about $35-$50, I think. It’s like using a mouse with a computer. So much faster than the usual remote. My latest LG is four years old, and YouTube is one of the Smart options. On the bar near the bottom that shows Netflix and Amazon Prime and more, just click on that right arrow a time or two and the YouTube icon shows up. It should certainly be there with a new tv.

I have 2 Samsung, 1 Vizio, and a Fire TV. All are smart TVs. I have used fire sticks, Apple TV devices, and Roku.devices and the software of the TVs themselves. There were different reasons I did not like the devices. Like having to use 2 remotes, not being able to move apps around, not being able to control a sound bar from the supplied device. I finally settled for the Roku stick for all the TVs. The remote was the big difference. One remote does all I need and now all my TVs have the same style remote. I set the apps on the screen the way I prefer, top row Youtube TV, Prime, Netflix, second row BritBox, Max, Hulu, and the rest fall in random order after that. On Youtube TV I have local networks at the top, followed by all the different news networks, Sports networks and other random channels. I deleted all the Spanish language channels and a few others. Visitors can easily figure out the operation. I try to update the software on a regular basis. Life is good.

I can help
 

I recently did exactly what you are trying to do but with a different app (Selkirk TV). When you are in YouTube, go to settings. There is an option to pin it to your dock below.

A bit off topic but using those sticks and apps always seemed to have too many limitations for me. For example, trying to do a search by choosing one letter at a time on a virtual keyboard.

I use a tiny PC and wireless keyboard/mouse hooked right up to one of my HDMI TV inputs. (on Amazon search small PC) This basically turns your TV into a large screen laptop where you can browse the web, check email, facebook etc and log in to any streaming site by using the mouse and keyboard instead of a tiny remote. No need to use any apps.

No need for a Roku. It's included with LG. See video:
does lg smart tv have roku - Google Search

So I do now have YouTubeTV on my LG through my ROKU box. My very smart D-in-Law found a lengthy article on line and we followed that. I thought it might be of interest to others who maybe having problems.

The default power-on screen is set to “Home”. If you’re willing to go straight to Roku, on your LG TV’s home screen, tap on the gear icon on the top left. Then, within the settings, there’s another gear icon. Choose that one too, and it’ll take you to another menu. After that, navigate to “General” > “System” > “Additional Settings” > “Power on Screen”. There you’ll see the default is home; choose “Recent Input”. That’s it![/B

The complete article is very long, but if you are interest it can be found here: LG TV With Roku: Necessary? + Complete Setup Guide | Smart Home Scope

The Roku remote has a voice button that you can use to search by voice commands.

We have a 12 yo trusty Samsung. But in the past 5 yrs had to by 3 TV’s for my mother. First 2 were Samsungs that went bad quickly. Cheaper to buy new than to have them fixed. Guy at Best Buy said their quality is no longer reliable.

I have LG Smart TVs. Like most smart TVs, they provide (or download) various apps. You’ll have a main page, and from that page you access your various apps including YouTubeTV. I’m pretty sure they work independently on the TV. If you want Netflix or Amazon Prime you click on those apps. You don’t go through another app like YouTubeTV to get to them. It’s always a pain getting new TVs initially having to set up all your accounts on all the apps. However, once done you never have to do it again.

LOL. I would be interested to know what information the guy at Best Buy based his statement on. Samsung has 30 percent of the television market share, so by simple statistics, they are going to have more failures than other manufacturers.

You just need to go into your setting on your new LG Smart TV and make sure you have your home WI-FI hooked up to your TV. I had the same problems with my new LG TV and that did it....I, too, have YouTube TV and love it! Good Luck!

If you have a Roku box just plug it in. With a new TV you will probably have to resign in again with user and password. Not really sure what your question here is. Can you not get YouTube TV on the new TV?

I got a new LG Smart TV last year. The tech setting up the TV recommended using my fire stick for access to YouTube TV, prime, etc. I recall he said it updated more often and complete. My fire stick just died and I've been using the LG TV app to get to my streaming apps. It works well. Not sure if I should buy a new fire stick or Roku. From other comments, looks like I should.

I have a question, and if it has been answered already please let me know ............. I cannot use one remote for both channels, i.e. Roku and LG. I have to turn on the LG TV with the LG remote, find the Roku and then switch to Roku remote to negotiate to YouTubeTV. I cannot use theRoku remote for sound or turning off sound. There must be a way and I would appreciate knowing how to do this. I should add that my Roku box is old, maybe 15yrs (give or take) so I may need to update the box and the remote for the Roku.

My thanks in advance.

I would suggest buying a new Roku device. Model 3820R2 for $50 at Best Buy or Amazon is just a plug-in stick, not a box. But, it can be programmed to operate the TV on/off and the volume. I have found that it is not a good idea to use the USB power on the TV, but to plug it directly into a wall outlet or surge protector. The Roku stick will plug directly into an HDMI port on the TV. No box is needed.

Make sure your HDMI is plugged into the ARC HDMI port. Typically that allows for one remote to control everything. Assuming your device (roku) supports ARC. Alternatively you could go with a good universal remote. I'm not sure how advanced current Rokus have gotten, But I can control everything (TV, Amp/soundbar depending on room, and of course the AppleTV itself) all with my Apple remote. Couldn't be easier.

You don't need to use an ARC HDMI output to control the TV with a Roku remote. The Roku remote can be programmed to control the TV independent of the HDMI output. And, if you have a soundbar, you can connect the soundbar to the optical audio output on the TV, and program the Roku remote to control the soundbar. An ARC HDMI connection is not needed. Some TVs do not even have an ARC HDMI connection.

I don't have a Roku but I can do what you are asking about with my firestick remote.

I assume your Roku remote has buttons for TV on/off and TV Volume. Can you tell if your Roku remote has a plastic window for the IR that the TV likely needs?

Here are some search results, a web page, and a YouTube describing how to program the remote to control the TV volume.

Yes, the Roku remote does have an IR window to control the TV. And, as I understand it, the Roku remote uses your wifi system to control the Roku features. I don't know if that is similar to the Firestick.

I didn't know if her (?) particular model had the window.

I know the firestick uses IR for the TV functions but not for the firestick control. I don't know that the remote uses wifi since I never entered my wifi info to the remote. I assume RF but haven't looked into it.

After 15 years, it is definitely time for the OP to replace the Roku device with a new and updated model.

Absolutely!