So you noticed the app you want is not in the LG Content Store. Is there a way to install 3rd party apps on an LG smart TV? Show
I was wondering the same thing so I decided to try and figure it out for you. It’s frustrating when you are used to using a certain app and then you can’t find it on your smart TV. Even worse, when vital apps like Netflix and YouTube completely disappear from your app store. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a way to install 3rd party apps on your LG smart TV, I have some bad news. LG Smart TVs use LG’s WebOS which does not allow 3rd party app installations. It’s not an Android device, so you can’t access the Google Play Store or sideload APK files. Sideloading apps on an LG smart TV running WebOS is not possible. On the other hand, there are some ways to “unlock” more available or hidden apps on your LG TV. One of the main complaints regarding LG smart TVs is their limited app selection. If you were able to sideload apps, the limited selection of apps wouldn’t be a problem, but you can’t sideload apps on an LG smart TV. What can do you? You have two options:
First things first: How to Access LG App Store?Make sure your TV is connected to the internet. The Home button on your TV’s remote will open the app launcher. Look for the “More Apps” button on the right, it will launch the LG Content Store where you can search and install the app you need. YouTube and Netflix should be installed natively. If you can’t find the app that you want in the LG Content Store, there are a couple of things you can try: How to Unlock More Apps on LG Smart TV:Change Your LG Services CountryAs you know, apps vary from region to region, and the apps you’re used to using in the USA, won’t be available in other regions. An easy way to unlock more apps on your LG smart TV is by changing the LG Services Country. Here’s how you do it:
Bear in mind, not all of the apps work, and some of them will disappear when you change the region back. However, it’s worth a shot. In some cases, an app will check the IP address and location of your TV and lock you out if you’re not in the correct region. To bypass that, you would need a VPN running on your router. You can’t install a VPN directly on an LG TV because it doesn’t use Android. Speaking of Android… Buy a Streaming Stick or Android BoxIf you tried the above method, and the apps you want to use on your LG TV are giving you problems, the best alternative is to buy a streaming stick or Android box. It will save you the headache of dealing with all the above issues. There are lots to choose from, and most are inexpensive. Here are a few of my favourites:
An Android box or Nvidia Shield could do the trick too. If you use a streaming stick that is based on Android, you can also sideload APK files to it. The downside to using a third-party streaming device to access the apps you want is you need to keep switching HDMI inputs. The advantage is you will gain access to lots of apps that are not available on the LG Content Store, not to mention casting features too. Conclusion:So while you can’t install 3rd party apps on an LG TV, you can still gain access to some apps by changing the region of your TV or using a streaming stick. I personally would choose the streaming stick option because they’re very cheap and convenient. Have you tried sideloading apps to an LG TV? Let me know in the comment section below. Was this article helpful?Yes No When it comes to owning TV sets with the best displays on the planet. The only brand that does it perfectly is none other than LG. LG has a wide range of smart TVs for every price range, resolution, and even screen size. As LG smart TVs run on a dedicated Operating System, it brings a lot of useful features. One of the best features of the LG Smart TV is the ability to install or download apps. Here you will learn how to add apps to LG smart TV. TVs are no longer used for only watching TV channels and their programs. There are so many uses for smart TVs thanks to the addition of features such as internet connectivity, smart audio, video, and even the inclusion of voice assistants to control the smart tv. But the most useful feature is the support for Apps that help to run and control other features of a Smart TV. There are plentiful apps available from various categories and almost every platform. LG TVs in particular run their own webOS software on all of their smart TVs. Having the ability to install apps gives end users the choice to choose from a variety of content that they would like to consume. Read along to know how to install apps on your LG smart TV. How to Add Apps to LG smart TVSince LG smart TVs do not have Android OS, you may find it difficult to download and install apps on LG Smart TVs. But don’t worry, after checking out this guide, you no longer be a peculiar LG TV user. There are four ways to install apps on your LG Smart TV. These methods should work easily with almost all LG smart TVs. So let’s start with the first method. Method 1: Install apps from LG Content StoreThe LG Content Store can be defined as the PlayStore for all LG TVs running webOS. The Store has a wide range of apps that you can install and choose from. To make things easier, here are the steps that you can follow to add apps to LG TV from the LG content store.
What happens if your LG TV storage becomes full? You can always plug in an external storage drive such as a USB to store your apps onto it. Do note that you will not be able to install apps. Sometimes, there could be apps that you wish to install on your LG TV but are not available in your country. So, what do you do? Well, the only way to get these apps is to change the LG Services country on your LG Smart TV. Here’s how to do it:
Method 2: Install 3rd party Apps on LG Smart TVRight away you will not be able to install any 3rd party apps on the LG TV because it doesn’t run Android TV OS. However, if you have streaming devices such as Amazon Firestick, Roku, Chromecast, or even Apple TV you can use the wide variety of apps that are available on the streaming device’s store. For reference, we will use Firestick for installing apps in this guide.
If you have got a laptop around with you, you can always make use of the screencast or screen share feature and stream content from your laptop right onto your LG smart TV. Yes, you can also use your Smartphone to cast on LG smart TV. Method 3: Install Apps on LG NetCast OS TVsIf you are using one of those LG Smart TVs that were released before 2014, then follow these steps to add apps to LG TV.
Method 4: Install Apps on LG Roku TV
ConclusionSo, this is how you can ass apps to LG Smart TC and stream popular movies, music, tv series, etc. Before downloading apps from the LG Content Store, make sure to check if you have enough storage space on your TV. If not, you can always delete some items or just plug in an external storage drive. Until LG takes the call to switch from webOS to Android TV OS, you won’t be able to sideload Android apps right away and will have to settle with apps from the LG Content Store or use the FireStick to get apps on your TV. There you have it, a complete guide on how to download apps on LG Smart TV including third party apps. In case you have any queries, let us know in the comment section. Also Check:
How do I add apps to my smart TV that are not listed?Note for Android™ 8.0 and some Android 9 models: If Google Play Store is not in the Apps category, select Apps and then select Google Play Store or Get more apps. You will then be taken to Google's applications store: Google Play, where you can browse for applications, and download and install them on your TV.
Why won't my LG TV let me download apps?These types of issues may mean that the app requires an update, or in some cases, the system may need an update. The first thing to try is removing the app, then re-installing it from the Content Store. Visit the Remove/Initialize section of this page. If that doesn't work, you can try a factory reset on the tv.
How do I get more apps on my LG Smart TV?How to install apps?. Press the Home button on the remote control.. LG Content Store will launch.. Select APPS category shown at the top of the screen. The list of available apps in selected category will be shown.. Select an app from the list.. |