How to Unlock LG TV Key Lock

The key lock function on an LG TV prevents users from operating the device using the buttons located on the side or bottom. Instead, you can adjust the volume, channels, and TV settings using a compatible app or third-party devices such as those equipped with Google Assistant. The setting is ideal for those with kids that like to mess with the buttons; however, what happens if you don’t have a compatible app or lose the remote? How do you unlock the key lock then?

Fortunately, there are a few ways to potentially fix the problem—different LG models may work differently—so you can regain some semblance of sanity, watch TV, and turn your brain off for a while. Read on to learn more.

How to Unlock LG TV Key Lock with a Remote

The standard way to unlock an active LG TV key lock is to use the remote to deactivate the feature.

1. Press Menu
2. Select Lock
3. Select Key Lock
4. Off.

In a perfect world, that’s all it will take to remove the key lock on an LG TV.However, unfortunately, you may likely find yourself in an unavoidable situation where the LG TV’s key lock function is activated and the remote is missing. The odds of this happening increase dramatically if you have pets or kids under the age of 15.

How to Unlock LG TV Key Lock Without a Remote

You can try several options, the worst-case scenario option requiring a universal remote purchase to release the key lock on your LG TV; since LG TV models are different from year to year, some buttons or features may be positioned in disparate positions.

Perform a Soft Reset

The soft-reset is the quickest/simplest method and serves our purpose in this process of elimination.

Locate the “OK” or “Enter” button on the LG TV’s panel, press it, and hold it for at least five seconds to initiate a “soft reset.” If that doesn’t remove the key lock, a hard reset is next.

Perform a Hard Reset

Most of the hard reset and/or factory data reset instructions involve a remote control or using the LG TV panel. In this case, there is no remote control, and the TV panel is key locked and unusable.

There are two options, one easy—but may not work with some models—and one difficult and not recommended by LG manufacturers.

The first method is to simply press and hold the Ok/Enter button on the LG TV for more than ten seconds. If your LG TV is designed to hard reset in this manner, it will do so. If not, there’s another way.

Many LG TVs come with a battery pack situated inside the back panel. It’s designed to keep your settings and features going in the event of a power outage. Since the key lock is a setting/feature, you can remove the battery pack to effectively delete it:

1. Completely unplug and unmount the LG TV from wherever you have it set up.
2. Lay it face-down on a soft surface.
3. The back panel should have a series of screws along the border. Remove them.
4. Lift the back panel off.
5. Locate the battery pack.
6. If there is anything resembling a circuit board around the battery, you’ll have to ground any tools you use to remove it. You’ll also want to put on a pair of thin rubber gloves. Unattach the cables and remove the screws securing the battery before attempting to remove it.
7. Once it’s removed, leave it out for five minutes before placing it back in, reattaching any cables, and replacing the back panel cover.

Hard Reset with the LG TV Plus App

If you happen to own an LG Smart TV, this method will work if your remote has gone missing.

Start by downloading the TV Plus app for LG. You can find it on the Apple App Store here. Unfortunately, there is no Android version, but a comparable smart remote app will work.

1. Turn the TV on. Even with key lock, the power button should still work.
2. Open the app and choose the LG TV you’re using.
3. Now, scan for devices until the app locates your TV.
4. Connect your smartphone to the LG TV.

Now that you have remote control access, removing the keylock feature is a cinch.

1. Select Menu.
2. Access the Lock feature.
3. Toggle it On/Off.

If you happen to have the remote control handy, the same steps will remove the keylock from your LG TV. The only difference is that one is virtual and the other is not.

Final Thoughts

The key lock feature is easy to remove with a remote control. Of course, that’s assuming one is available and not sneakily hiding away deep down in the wedge between the couch cushions, just out of reach from your prying fingers.

Thankfully, there’s more than one way to remove the feature. Hopefully, it’ll never come to removing the back panel of your LG TV, but the method is there for those who are desperate enough to risk it.

For those with an LG Smart TV, the downloadable app is a lifesaver. For those without, consider purchasing an infrared sensor that you can download a remote for and never have to deal with removing a key lock or finding your lost remote again.