It happens to the best of us. You’re finally ready to sink into the couch after a brutal ten-hour shift, but the remote is nowhere to be found. Maybe the dog buried it in the backyard. Maybe it slipped into that weird void between the sofa cushions that seems to lead directly to Narnia. Regardless of the reason, you’re staring at a black screen, wondering if you actually have to get up and buy a new TV. Relax. You don’t. Knowing how to switch on LG TV without remote is one of those basic "adulting" skills that feels like a magic trick until you realize just how many backup plans LG actually built into the hardware. Honestly, it’s mostly about knowing where the manufacturer hid the physical buttons because, let’s be real, modern TV design tries its hardest to pretend buttons don’t exist anymore.
The "Invisible" Power Button Strategy
Most people think their LG TV is a sleek, buttonless slab of glass. It isn't. LG designers are just really good at hiding things. If you have a model from the last five or six years, like the popular C1 or C2 OLED series, look directly under the LG logo at the bottom center of the frame. There is usually a single, tiny button tucked away there. You won't see it from the front. You have to reach under and feel for a small protrusion. Give it a firm press. If the TV is in standby mode—meaning that little red light is glowing—a single click should bring the screen to life.
On some older LED models, the button placement is a bit more chaotic. I’ve seen them on the far right side of the back panel or even tucked under the bottom right corner. It’s a game of tactile hide-and-seek. Once you find that lone button, it usually acts as a "joystick." A long press turns it on or off, while short taps might cycle through a menu for volume or input. It’s clunky, sure, but it gets the job done when you're desperate.
Using the LG ThinQ App (Your Best Friend)
If you have a smartphone—and since you're reading this, you probably do—the LG ThinQ app is the most reliable way to handle an LG TV without a physical remote. But there’s a massive "if" here. For the app to work as a power button, your TV generally needs to have been connected to your Wi-Fi network previously.
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Download the app from the Play Store or App Store. As long as your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV, the app should "discover" the device. Now, here is the nuance: if the TV is completely powered down and "Always Ready" mode isn't enabled in the settings, the app might struggle to wake it up from a cold start. However, for most modern LG WebOS TVs, the app can send a "Wake-on-LAN" signal. You just tap the power icon on your phone screen, and the TV flickers to life. It’s arguably better than the actual remote because you can use your phone’s keyboard to type in search queries instead of clicking through an on-screen alphabet like a caveman.
What if the Wi-Fi isn't set up?
This is where things get tricky. If you just moved or changed your router, the app won't find the TV. In this specific scenario, you can actually plug a standard USB keyboard or mouse into the port on the back of the LG TV. Most people don't realize that LG’s WebOS is surprisingly friendly with peripherals. Once you plug in a mouse, clicking any button often wakes the screen. From there, you can navigate the on-screen menus to set up your new Wi-Fi or even launch Netflix. It’s a weird sight—sitting on your floor with a wired mouse connected to a 65-inch television—but it works perfectly.
The HDMI-CEC Loophole
Do you have a PlayStation 5, an Xbox, or a Roku stick? If so, you might already have a "ghost" remote in your house. LG calls this feature SimpLink, which is just their fancy branding for HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control).
If SimpLink is enabled on your TV—which it is by default on almost all modern sets—turning on a connected device will force the TV to turn on and switch to that input. Grab your gaming controller, hit the PlayStation or Xbox button, and watch the TV wake up automatically. I’ve used this trick more times than I care to admit when my kids have lost the remote for the third time in a week. It’s a seamless handoff between devices that completely bypasses the need for the original LG controller.
Smart Home Integration and Voice Commands
If you’re the type of person who has an Amazon Alexa or Google Home device sitting on your counter, you’ve got another path forward. If you previously linked your LG account to your smart home ecosystem, a simple "Alexa, turn on the TV" usually does the trick.
- Ensure the TV was previously registered in the LG ThinQ app.
- Link the ThinQ "skill" in your Alexa or Google Home app.
- Use the voice command.
The success of this depends heavily on your TV's "Quick Start+" or "Standby" settings. If the TV is in a deep energy-saving sleep, it might have cut off its Wi-Fi chip to save power, meaning it won't hear the command from your smart speaker. It’s a trade-off between your electric bill and your convenience.
Why remotes fail (and how to fix the one you found)
Sometimes the reason you're looking for how to switch on LG TV without remote is that the remote is sitting right in front of you, but it’s acting like a paperweight. Before you give up, try the "reset" trick. Take the batteries out. Hold down the power button on the empty remote for 20 seconds to drain any residual electricity. Put fresh batteries in. You’d be surprised how often a static buildup prevents the IR signal from firing.
Also, check the IR sensor on the TV itself. If you have a soundbar or a pile of decorations sitting right in front of the LG logo, it might be blocking the signal. It sounds stupidly simple, but I've seen people buy new TVs only to realize their "broken" one was just blocked by a decorative vase.
Solving the "No Remote, No Wi-Fi" Paradox
Let's say you're in the worst-case scenario: no remote, the TV isn't on Wi-Fi, and there are no buttons to be found (rare, but happens on some weird budget panels).
Your last resort is a universal remote, but you don't even need to buy a fancy one. Many smartphones from brands like Xiaomi or older Samsung models actually have an "IR Blaster" built into the top of the phone. You can download a generic "TV Remote" app, and your phone will literally act as an infrared remote. If your phone doesn't have this, you can buy a $10 universal remote at a drugstore. It’s a small price to pay to regain control over your entertainment.
Real-world troubleshooting for older models
If you’re rocking an LG TV from the pre-WebOS era—think 2011 or 2012—the ThinQ app won't help you. Those TVs used a different protocol. For these older units, the physical buttons are almost always on the side or the bottom bezel. They are usually physical clicky buttons rather than touch-sensitive pads. If the buttons are unresponsive, it might be a hardware failure in the button board, which is a common issue with older sets due to dust or humidity. In that case, the HDMI-CEC trick with a modern streaming stick like a Chromecast is your most viable lifeline.
Immediate Action Steps
- Check the chin: Reach under the LG logo and feel for a small button or joystick. Press it once to power on.
- App check: Download LG ThinQ. If the TV is on your Wi-Fi, this is your permanent replacement remote.
- Peripheral power: Plug a USB mouse into the back of the TV. Click any button to see if the screen wakes up.
- Console bypass: Turn on your gaming console or Apple TV. If HDMI-CEC is on, the TV will follow suit.
- Final resort: Purchase a cheap universal remote or use a phone with an IR blaster to re-sync the system.
Once you get the TV on, the first thing you should do is go into the settings and ensure Mobile TV On or Always Ready is turned on. This ensures that even if you lose the remote again tomorrow, your phone or voice assistant will always be able to wake the TV from its slumber. There's nothing more frustrating than having the technology to fix a problem but having it disabled in a menu you can't reach.