LG smart TVs use LG's webOS operating system. Like Samsung's Tizen, it doesn't run Android apps and only installs apps from LG's own store, so your choice of IPTV player is whatever LG lists for your TV. The good news is that webOS is quick and simple to use, and a suitable player turns it into a capable IPTV screen with no extra box.
Check your model year first
Which players you'll find depends on how old your TV is, because each model year ships with a newer version of webOS. The model number is on a label on the back of the TV and in the settings menu under Support. On LG OLED TVs, the number at the end of the series name gives the year:
| OLED series ends in | Model year | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021 | OLED55C1 |
| 2 | 2022 | OLED55C2 |
| 3 | 2023 | OLED55C3 |
| 4 | 2024 | OLED55C4 |
| 5 | 2025 | OLED55C5 |
TVs from the last few years usually have the widest and most up-to-date selection; much older ones may only offer apps that are no longer maintained.
Installing an IPTV player
- Press the Home button and open the LG Content Store (called Apps on newer models).
- Search for “IPTV” and read the descriptions of the players listed.
- Pick one that supports your login type: an Xtream Codes login or an M3U playlist.
- Install it, open it and follow its set-up steps.
Some LG players, such as Smart IPTV, use your TV's MAC address and a website to load your playlist, and charge a one-off activation fee after a trial. That fee goes to the app developer, and you should only pay it on the developer's official website. Players that take an Xtream Codes login let you sign in on the TV itself, which is simpler if you don't want to use a website.
Getting the best from webOS
- Wired is best: most LG TVs have an Ethernet port, which is far steadier than the TV's Wi-Fi. On many TVs it runs at up to 100 Mbps, still about 4 times what a single 4K stream needs.
- Updates: keep both webOS and your player updated from Settings > Support.
- Quick start: if your TV has a “Quick Start+” option, it keeps apps ready to open faster, at the cost of slightly higher standby power.
- 4K: 4K LG TVs can play 4K streams in apps that support them, provided your broadband keeps up.
- Fast sport: if football looks juddery or smeared, try LG's TruMotion setting in the picture options. Some people prefer it low or off for a more natural look; it's worth trying both.
- Soundbars: if some channels have no sound through a soundbar, change the TV's digital sound output from Pass Through to Auto or PCM.
Making the remote work for live TV
LG's Magic Remote uses a pointer, which is handy for menus but slower for flicking between channels. In most IPTV players, the arrow keys and the OK button move through the channel list and guide, and some apps support the remote's channel up and down buttons. Spend a minute in the app's settings to see which buttons it supports, and add your most-watched channels to a favourites list so they're a couple of clicks away.
LG Channels is something different
LG TVs come with LG Channels, a free service of ad-supported channels streamed over the internet. It's useful on its own, but it's LG's service, not an IPTV player, so it can't load your subscription. Your channels appear in whichever IPTV app you install.
If there's no suitable app
Older LG TVs in particular may have a limited or outdated selection. In that case, a streaming device in a spare HDMI port is the easiest fix: a Fire TV Stick, a Google TV device or an Apple TV. You'll get a wider choice of players and usually smoother performance, and with HDMI-CEC switched on (LG calls it SIMPLINK) the LG remote can often control the device too.
Have a Samsung instead? See IPTV on Samsung TVs. Not sure which player to use? Our IPTV player guide compares the main options.