How to Connect Alexa to an LG Smart TV

You can't currently connect Amazon's digital assistant Alexa (or Ziggy) to your LG smart TV, but you can get them talking through a couple of apps. Here's what to do whether you're running iOS or Android.

How Do I Connect Alexa to My LG Smart TV?

Depending on the version of webOS your LG smart TV is running, you'll follow different steps to connect it to Alexa. Generally, however, you'll need two apps to use Alexa with your LG smart TV: Amazon's and LG's. But you'll need to follow different steps to tie them together.

1. First, check which version of webOS you're using; go to one of the following (depending on your webOS version):

   • Settings > General > Devices > TV > TV Information.
   • Settings > All Settings > Support > TV Information.

2. Your version of webOS determines your next steps.

   • WebOS 4.0: From the Home screen on your TV, launch the Set Up TV for Amazon Alexa app, and skip to Step 12 below.
   • WebOS 4.5: Go to Settings > Connection > Link to Devices for Voice Control, and then go to Step 12.
   • WebOS 5.0: If you have a speaker like the Amazon Echo, go to the Home Dashboard > Settings > Link to Smart Speaker in the upper-right corner. Launch the "Home Dashboard" from the Home screen and go to Settings > Link to Smart Speaker on your LG TV. Otherwise, continue to Step 3.
   • WebOS 6.0: Continue to Step 3 and follow the note in Step 11.

3. Download the LG ThinQ app to your phone:

   iOS
   Android

4. Follow the instructions in the app to set up an LG account if you don't already have one. You can also use your Google account or Apple ID, depending on the platform.

5. Tap the plus sign in the white rectangle to start adding a new product.

6. On the next screen, you have three options:

   • Scan QR: Use the code on your TV to connect using the camera on your phone.
   • Search Nearby: Use Bluetooth to find your TV.
   • Select Manually: Choose your specific TV from a list.

   The Scan QR and Search Nearby options are only available for TVs with those options, but they'll do all the work for you. The following instructions will walk you through the Select Manually procedure, which applies to every compatible device.

7. Under Select Manually, tap TV.

8. The app will try to locate your TV; make sure it and your phone are connected to the same network. Once your device appears, tap its name.

9. An eight-digit number will display on your TV screen; enter it into the app.

10. Read the next page of text carefully and tap Link.

11. A "Welcome" screen will show that your TV is registered with the app. Tap Go to Home to continue.

    If your TV runs webOS 6, you should now tap the TV's card on the main screen and select > Settings > Link LG ThinQ account.

12. Now, download the Amazon Alexa app:

    iOS
    Android

13. Sign in to the app using your Amazon account.

14. Tap Devices at the bottom of the screen.

15. Select the plus sign in the upper-right.

16. Choose Add Device.

17. Scroll down and tap TV.

18. Choose LG.

19. The next screen has instructions for setting up your TV through the LG app, which you've already done. Tap Next.

20. Select Enable to Use to get the Alexa skill for ThinQ.

21. Sign in to your LG account using whatever method you chose before.

22. Tap the bubble to accept the terms to link your account, and then choose Agree.

23. The next screen should have a success message; tap Close to continue.

24. Tap Discover Devices, and Alexa will look for things it can connect to.

25. A banner will appear saying that your TV has been connected via the ThinQ skill, and then it will appear in your devices list.

26. From here, you can use Alexa through the app or a connected speaker to control the TV's power, volume, channel, video playback, and output.

Why Won't Alexa Connect to My LG TV?

You may have to try a few times to get the ThinQ or Alexa app to locate your TV. Check the following to give them the best chance of working:

• Make sure your TV and phone are connected to the same network; your TV can use a wireless or cable connection.
• Your TV must be powered on to be discovered.
• If you're already using LG smart appliances or other devices with Alexa, you must tie the same LG account to your TV.

Is My LG TV Compatible With Alexa?

Whether your LG TV is compatible with Alexa or not depends entirely on software. If your device is running any of the versions of webOS listed above – 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, or 6.0 – it should be able to connect to Alexa using the instructions above.

How Do I Download the Alexa App on My LG Smart TV?

As of webOS 6.0, LG Smart TVs don't have a dedicated Alexa app. They only become compatible with Alexa by using the ThinQ skill in the Alexa app. However, once you've set it up, you shouldn't notice any difference between how you control your TV and how you run your other Alexa-enabled devices.