How to turn on an LG TV without the remote

Updated November 3, 2026. How we check these numbers

Quick answer: Press the power button on the TV itself. LG says it’s usually under the LG logo on the front or on the back of the TV, depending on the model. Once the TV is on, your iPhone can take over as the remote over Wi‑Fi, and if you turn on TV On with Mobile › Turn on via Wi‑Fi, it can turn the TV on next time too.

Where the power button is

LG doesn’t put the button in the same place on every model, but there are two usual spots:

Where	What to look for
Under the LG logo, front bottom edge	A small button or nub you press up into, often invisible from the front
On the back of the TV	A button near one edge, usually the lower right or lower left when you face the screen

Run a finger along the bottom edge under the logo first; it’s the most common place. If you find nothing, check the back, keeping the TV steady.

What the button can do

On many LG TVs the same button is a small joystick: a short press turns the TV on, and once it’s on, pressing it again brings up a small menu for things like power, input and volume. The exact behavior varies by model, so if your TV’s button only does power, that’s normal. Your TV’s manual has the details for your model.

Use your iPhone once the TV is on

With the TV on and connected to Wi‑Fi, an iPhone remote app can do everything the lost remote did. The TV asks you to allow the phone the first time: use the TV’s button to choose Accept if needed.

LG’s free ThinQ app also includes a remote for recent LG TVs. See how to use your iPhone as an LG TV remote for both options.

Make sure it doesn’t happen again

To let your phone turn the TV on in future, the TV has to keep listening on the network while it’s off:

Open the TV’s settings and find TV On with Mobile (on webOS 6 it’s under General › Devices › External Devices).
Turn on Turn on via Wi‑Fi.
If the TV still won’t wake from the phone, turn off Quick Start+ under General › Devices › TV Management.

Which should you do?

Situation	What to do
TV is off, no remote, nothing set up	Press the TV’s power button
TV is on, remote lost	Use a phone remote app over Wi‑Fi
You want the phone to turn the TV on next time	Turn on TV On with Mobile › Turn on via Wi‑Fi

Frequently asked questions

Where is the power button on an LG TV?

LG says it's usually under the LG logo on the front edge, or on the back of the TV. The exact spot varies by model, so feel along the bottom edge under the logo first.

Can my iPhone turn the TV on right now?

Only if the TV was already set up to listen while off (TV On with Mobile › Turn on via Wi‑Fi). If it wasn't, use the TV's button this time and turn the setting on for next time.

The button turns it on but I can't change anything else. What now?

Once the TV is on and on Wi‑Fi, a phone remote app can take over. Choose Accept on the TV the first time; use the TV's button to move to Accept if needed.