How To Change Input On LG Smart TV | Fast Source Switch

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To change input on LG Smart TV, open the input list from your remote or Home screen, pick the HDMI or app you want, then confirm with OK.

Switching inputs should be a two-second move: jump from your Xbox to HDMI 1, hop back to Live TV, then slide into Netflix. On LG smart TVs, the exact clicks depend on your remote and your webOS version. Some remotes have an Input button. Some don’t. A few models tuck Inputs inside the Home Dashboard.

This guide walks you through every reliable way to change the input on an LG Smart TV, with steps that work even if your remote is missing, your TV is wall-mounted, or your HDMI devices keep “disappearing.”

How To Change Input On LG Smart TV With The Remote

If you have your LG remote in hand, you can switch sources in seconds. Try the methods below in order. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see a row or list of sources like Live TV, HDMI 1, HDMI 2, AV, or your soundbar port (often labeled eARC/ARC).

Use The Input Or Source Button

  1. Press Input — Tap the Input/Source button once to open the source list.
  2. Pick The Source — Move to HDMI, Live TV, or another source using the arrow buttons or pointer.
  3. Confirm With OK — Select the source and wait a moment for the picture to switch.

On many LG remotes, this is the cleanest route. If you don’t see an Input or Source button, don’t sweat it. Newer “AI” and compact remotes often route input switching through the Home screen.

Open Inputs From The Home Screen

  1. Press Home — Tap the Home button to bring up the webOS Home screen.
  2. Find Home Dashboard — Select Home Dashboard or a tile that shows connected devices.
  3. Select Your HDMI — Choose HDMI 1/2/3/4 (or the port your device uses) and press OK.

LG’s built-in webOS guide explains how the Home screen opens and how the on-screen layout works across many models. If your Home screen looks unfamiliar, the LG webOS Home screen guide is a handy visual reference.

Try A Long Press For The Quick Input Bar

  1. Hold Home — Press and hold the Home/Home Hub button for a couple of seconds.
  2. Look For The Input Strip — A small bar or panel may appear with HDMI and other sources.
  3. Choose And Confirm — Select the input you want and press OK.

Some webOS builds surface inputs with a long-press shortcut instead of a dedicated Source button. If the long press opens something else, use Home Dashboard instead.

Best Method By Situation

If you just want the quickest move for your setup, use this table to pick the best route.

Method What You Press When It Works Best
Input list Input/Source button Remotes with a dedicated button
Home Dashboard Home → Home Dashboard Newer remotes without Source
Quick input bar Hold Home Fast switching across two devices
TV joystick Button under/behind TV Lost remote or dead batteries
LG ThinQ app Phone remote → Inputs Remote missing, phone handy

How To Change Input On LG Smart TV Without The Remote

No remote? You still have options. The exact feel depends on your TV model, but many LG sets have a single multi-direction joystick button under the center of the screen, on the back panel, or near the right underside.

Use The Physical Button Or Joystick

  1. Find The Joystick — Feel under the bottom edge or check the rear panel near the logo area.
  2. Open The Quick Menu — Press the joystick once to bring up on-screen controls.
  3. Move To Inputs — Nudge left/right/up/down to reach Input/Source, then press to select.
  4. Pick HDMI — Scroll to the HDMI port you need and press to confirm.

This method is slower than a remote, but it’s steady and works with no Wi-Fi, no phone, and no pairing steps.

Use Your Phone As A Remote With LG ThinQ

If your LG TV is on your home network, the LG ThinQ app can act as a remote and can switch sources. You’ll need the TV powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi as your phone.

  1. Install LG ThinQ — Get the app from your phone’s app store and sign in if prompted.
  2. Add Your TV — Use the app’s add-device flow and accept pairing on the TV screen.
  3. Open Remote Control — Tap the remote feature inside the app.
  4. Switch Inputs — Find Inputs/Source in the remote UI and select HDMI or Live TV.

If the app can’t find your TV, jump to the troubleshooting section below and start with network checks.

Make Input Switching Faster Next Time

Once you can change inputs, you can make it feel instant: rename ports, hide unused sources, and set a default startup source so the TV boots where you actually watch.

Rename HDMI Inputs So You Don’t Guess

Seeing “HDMI 1” is fine until you swap cables or move a console. Clear labels save time and reduce wrong clicks.

  1. Open Home Dashboard — Press Home, then select Home Dashboard.
  2. Edit The Input — Choose the HDMI tile, then pick the edit option for name/icon.
  3. Save The Label — Set names like “PS5,” “Work Laptop,” or “Soundbar,” then confirm.

If your Home Dashboard looks different, check for an edit button near the top corner of the dashboard screen or an “…” menu tied to the input tile.

Hide Inputs You Never Use

  1. Open The Input List — Use Input or Home Dashboard, whichever you have.
  2. Open Edit Mode — Select the manage/edit option for inputs.
  3. Disable Unused Ports — Turn off AV, Component, or HDMI ports with nothing connected.

Fewer tiles makes the right choice pop out fast, especially on TVs with lots of legacy ports.

Set A Default Input Or Startup Source

If your LG TV always boots to Live TV and you never use it, you can often set a startup source in settings. LG documents default input steps for webOS builds like webOS24 and earlier versions, and the menu labels can vary by year.

  1. Open Settings — Press the Settings gear button on the remote.
  2. Go To General — Select All Settings, then General.
  3. Set Default Input — Find the startup input option and choose your HDMI or app.

For model-year-specific menu paths, see the LG guide for setting default input.

Fix Problems When The Input Won’t Change

Sometimes the input list opens, you pick HDMI 1, and nothing happens. Other times the TV flips back to the Home screen, shows “No Signal,” or the device vanishes from the list. These fixes handle the usual causes without guesswork.

Check The Basics First

  1. Wake The Device — Turn on the console, streamer, or laptop before switching inputs.
  2. Reseat The HDMI — Unplug both ends of the HDMI cable, then plug back in firmly.
  3. Try Another HDMI Port — Move from HDMI 1 to HDMI 2 to rule out a port issue.
  4. Swap The Cable — Test with a known-good HDMI cable, especially for 4K/120 gear.

Most “No Signal” screens come down to a sleeping device, a loose connector, or a cable that can’t handle the video mode you’re feeding the TV.

Reset The Handshake When You See No Signal

  1. Power Cycle Everything — Turn off the TV and the HDMI device, then unplug both for 30 seconds.
  2. Reconnect In Order — Plug in the TV first, then the external device.
  3. Select The Input Again — Return to the HDMI input after both are powered on.

This clears many HDMI handshake glitches, especially after a resolution change, an HDR toggle, or a sleep-wake loop.

Turn On HDMI-CEC If You Want Auto Switching

LG calls HDMI-CEC “SIMPLINK.” When it’s on, some devices can wake the TV and pull the TV to the right HDMI port when you power them on.

  1. Open Settings — Press Settings, then open All Settings.
  2. Open External Device Options — Find the HDMI device or external device section.
  3. Enable SIMPLINK — Turn on SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) and confirm.

If auto switching gets annoying, turn SIMPLINK off and switch inputs manually. Manual switching is often cleaner when multiple devices fight for attention.

Fix A TV That Keeps Jumping Back To Home

  1. Disable Auto Device Detection — In Connection or External Devices settings, turn off auto detection if present.
  2. Remove Unused Universal Controls — Delete any device profiles you no longer use.
  3. Update The TV Software — Install the latest webOS update from Settings → System → Software Update.

Auto detection can misread a wake signal and bounce you away from the source you picked. Cleaning up saved device profiles helps too.

Get The Right Input For Common Setups

These quick patterns help you choose the right source when your gear is spread across ports.

Soundbar Or AVR With ARC Or eARC

  1. Use The Labeled HDMI Port — Plug the soundbar/receiver into the HDMI port marked ARC or eARC.
  2. Pick The Correct Source — Your viewing device still uses its own HDMI input; ARC/eARC handles audio return.
  3. Set Audio Output — In Sound settings, choose HDMI ARC/eARC as the output if needed.

If your soundbar is connected through ARC/eARC, you usually don’t “switch to the soundbar” as a video source. You switch to the console, streamer, or set-top box input, while audio routes to the bar.

PC Or Laptop That Shows A Blank Screen

  1. Set The PC To Duplicate Or Extend — Use your computer’s display shortcut to send video to the TV.
  2. Match The Refresh Rate — Start at 60 Hz, then test 120 Hz if your TV and cable allow it.
  3. Change The HDMI Icon To PC — Labeling the input as PC can improve text clarity on some models.

If the PC only shows on one HDMI port, stick with that port. Some TVs limit full bandwidth features to specific ports.

Streaming Stick That Vanishes From Inputs

  1. Use A Powered HDMI Adapter — Some sticks behave better with a short HDMI extender.
  2. Plug Into Wall Power — Avoid powering a stick from a weak USB port on the TV.
  3. Disable Power Saving — Turn off aggressive power saving on the stick so it stays awake.

When a stick sleeps too hard, the TV may not detect it. Wall power keeps it steady and makes input switching feel instant.

Input Change Checklist Before You Give Up

If switching sources still feels like a fight, run this short checklist in order. It catches almost every “can’t change input” case without extra tools.

  1. Confirm The Device Is On — Wake the console, laptop, or box before selecting its HDMI input.
  2. Try Home Dashboard — If the remote lacks an Input button, Home Dashboard is the usual path.
  3. Reseat Or Replace HDMI — Loose ends and weak cables cause most No Signal screens.
  4. Power Cycle Both Devices — Unplug for 30 seconds to clear handshake issues.
  5. Test Another HDMI Port — Rule out a bad port fast.
  6. Use The TV Joystick — Switch inputs even with no remote.
  7. Set A Default Input — Make the TV start where you watch, so you switch less often.

Once you’ve got input switching dialed in, day-to-day TV use gets smoother: fewer menu dives, fewer wrong ports, and fewer “No Signal” surprises.