To use IPTV on an LG Smart TV in the UK, you have two paths: install a compatible player from the LG Content Store, or plug a Fire TV Stick or Android box into an HDMI port and use the player on that. The first is neater when a player is listed for your model, and the second works almost everywhere. This guide compares the two and walks through each, for LG TVs running webOS.
In short
- LG Smart TVs run webOS, and its store lists its own set of players, which differs by model year and region.
- Path one is an app from the LG Content Store. Path two is an external stick or box.
- A third route, developer mode, is for confident users only.
- LG is not connected with British IPTV.
The two paths compared
| Path 1: LG Content Store app | Path 2: stick or box on HDMI | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | The app may be free or charge a fee | The price of the stick or box |
| Remote | The TV's Magic Remote | The stick's own remote |
| Memory and speed | Limited by the TV | Usually more headroom |
| Availability | Depends on model year and region | Works on any TV with HDMI |
| Updates | Through the TV | Through the device's own store |
| Suits | Newer LG TVs with a listed player | Older TVs, or no listed player |
Path 1: an app from the LG Content Store
Press the Home button on the Magic Remote and open the LG Content Store. Search for IPTV in the Apps category. If a compatible player is listed for your TV, install it and open it. Some players ask for the playlist in the app, and others use a code on the TV that you enter with your playlist on the publisher's website. AromaOtt, the app used with Premium, publishes its supported devices at aromaott.com.
Check the date and time in Settings before you start, because a wrong clock can stop an app loading its list. If the TV offers a software update, install it first.
Path 2: a stick or box
If no player is listed, or you would rather not wrestle with the TV's memory, connect a Fire TV Stick or an Android TV box to an HDMI port and switch the TV's input to it. Then follow IPTV on a Fire TV Stick or the Android TV box guide. Some people choose this route from the start, because the stick gets updates from its own store and can move to another TV when you change set.
A third route: developer mode
LG offers a developer mode that lets an experienced user load apps that are not in the store. It needs a developer account, a key that must be renewed periodically, and some patience. It is not required, and most people will find Path 1 or Path 2 easier. If you use it, take apps only from sources you can name; see buying IPTV safely.
Entering your log-in
Choose Xtream Codes if the player offers it, and enter the server address, username and password exactly. Otherwise paste the M3U link. Entering long text with a remote is slow, so type the link in a note on your phone first and copy it where possible. M3U, Xtream Codes or MAC explains the formats.
Setting the picture and guide
In the player, look for the time zone or EPG offset, and for any quality setting. In the TV's picture settings, choose a mode such as Cinema or Standard rather than a heavy motion-smoothing mode, which can make live sport look odd. The picture can only be as sharp as your plan, your panel and your broadband allow; see broadband speed for IPTV.
Fixing the common problems
- No player in the Content Store. Check the model year and region, update the TV, or take Path 2.
- The app crashes after a TV update. Reinstall it, restart the TV and check for an app update.
- The list will not load. Check the date and time, re-enter the log-in, and ask support to check the account.
- The picture keeps stopping. If the TV has a network port, plug in a cable and read IPTV buffering or freezing.
- No programme guide. Read IPTV EPG not working.
Using the Magic Remote
The Magic Remote points at the screen like a cursor, which makes selecting a channel quick but entering long text awkward. Voice input can fill search boxes in some apps, though it is poor at a long address. For a link or a password, either use the on-screen keyboard slowly or pair a Bluetooth keyboard if your TV supports one. Check the batteries before you blame the app, because a weak remote makes the pointer jump.
Checking the network on webOS
Open Settings, then Network, and look at the connection status. A TV that says it is connected but cannot load a list may have a DNS or router problem, so restart the router and try again. The same menu shows whether you are on Wi-Fi or a cable, and which Wi-Fi band. If the TV is far from the router, a powerline adapter or a wired access point can improve it without running a cable the length of the house.
Which path to choose
If your TV is recent and a player is listed, Path 1 means one remote and one device. If the TV is older, if the app is limited or if you want to be able to take your set-up with you, Path 2 is better. In either case a short plan first shows whether your broadband and setup work together; the plans page shows what each costs.
LG and British IPTV
LG and webOS belong to LG Electronics. British IPTV is not affiliated with LG. Samsung owners should read IPTV on a Samsung Smart TV, and the Smart TV page covers both.