[LuvNH]

I need help please. I have just purchased a new LG Smart TV. I have been using YouTubeTV as my main source for basic news. I know it and would like to keep it, but I cannot pin it to myj new TV. I have installed YouTubeTV through the app on the TV, but it will not just come up as my main program and I am getting frustrated. Would appreciate anyone being able to help me.

Back in the dark ages when I first got into streaming I used a ROKU Box and could access my other sites through that. This new TV does not recognise ROKU so do I have to install all my other programs on this new TV to be able to watch them.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by LuvNH

I need help please. I have just purchased a new LG Smart TV. I have been using YouTubeTV as my main source for basic news. I know it and would like to keep it, but I cannot pin it to myj new TV. I have installed YouTubeTV through the app on the TV, but it will not just come up as my main program and I am getting frustrated. Would appreciate anyone being able to help me.

Back in the dark ages when I first got into streaming I used a ROKU Box and could access my other sites through that. This new TV does not recognise ROKU so do I have to install all my other programs on this new TV to be able to watch them.

I have not used an LG Smart TV so can't help with exactly what you asked.

However, have you considered buying an inexpensive Roku box and connecting it to one of the HDMI connectors on the television? We do exactly that (firestick rather than Roku) and very rarely use the "Smart" features of the TV. One of the nicest things about this... when we bought a new television we moved the firestick and were up and running in under five minutes.

[LuvNH]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I have not used an LG Smart TV so can't help with exactly what you asked.

However, have you considered buying an inexpensive Roku box and connecting it to one of the HDMI connectors on the television? We do exactly that (firestick rather than Roku) and very rarely use the "Smart" features of the TV. One of the nicest things about this... when we bought a new television we moved the firestick and were up and running in under five minutes.

I actually have a ROKU box connected to this TV, but was told I did not need it and that ROKU was being phased out. However, shortly after writing my help message on TOTV I came across someone who has managed to make YouTubeTV their main page by using the settings. A bit complicated, but I will try it and hope it works. I was talked into getting my old and trusty Samsung by my techi son and now I regret it ............. don't mess with success, guess I'll never learn.

Thank you for offering your help so quickly, really appreciate your kindness.

[retiredguy123]

I have 4 smart TVs, but I don't use any of the smart TV functions. I have a ROKU stick plugged into every TV using an HDMI input on the TV. YouTubeTV is one of the apps preloaded onto the ROKU sticks. I don't know what you mean by having YouTubeTV as your main page, but it sounds like you want to use the smart functions on the TV. In my opinion, this is a mistake. Just use a ROKU stick. When you turn on the TV, switch the input to the HDMI input where the ROKU stick is connected. I do not think ROKU is being phased out.

[Snakster66]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I have 4 smart TVs, but I don't use any of the smart TV functions. I have a ROKU stick plugged into every TV using an HDMI input on the TV. YouTubeTV is one of the apps preloaded onto the ROKU sticks. I don't know what you mean by having YouTubeTV as your main page, but it sounds like you want to use the smart functions on the TV. In my opinion, this is a mistake. Just use a ROKU stick. When you turn on the TV, switch the input to the HDMI input where the ROKU stick is connected. I do not think ROKU is being phased out.

This.

That you don't NEED Roku on the LG is true. But that doesn''t mean you can't use Roku instead of the native OS. If Roku is what you know, plug it into an HDMI input and be happy. Roku isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[laryb]

If you have the LG magic remote you can go to the YouTube TV login screen and then hold down the #1 channel button until it memorizes the YouTube screen. When you turn on your TV you'll just hold the #1 button down until the login screen appears

[Papa_lecki]

I have an LG TV. Theres a setting to lock the list at the bottom or let it be variable.

[Rocksnap]

I NEED to sign into YouTube, then access YouTube tv via the menu in YouTube. The functions when you open the menu to access Subscriptions, Home, etc…. It’s a pain, but it works. Just make sure you back out/exit YouTube tv before you turn off the tv. Sometimes when I power back on, the tv gets stuck on YouTube tv, and I’m not able to turn access YouTube. Software glitch I imagine.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Rocksnap

I NEED to sign into YouTube, then access YouTube tv via the menu in YouTube. The functions when you open the menu to access Subscriptions, Home, etc…. It’s a pain, but it works. Just make sure you back out/exit YouTube tv before you turn off the tv. Sometimes when I power back on, the tv gets stuck on YouTube tv, and I’m not able to turn access YouTube. Software glitch I imagine.

With a Roku stick, you go directly to the app, "YouTubeTV", and sign in one time. After that, you never need to sign in again. If an app is out-of-date, you can delete the app, and re-install it to get the latest version.

I don't know if the same process works on the LG TV smart page. Can you delete the app and then re-install it?

[Romad]

I guess I’m not the only one finding LG TVs a pain to use. I use an Apple TV 4K for my apps. The problem I had was the Apple was causing my TV to turn off every 10 minutes. So I switched to a Fire Stick, which worked ok, but not as good as my Apple TV. A few months later, I needed to use my Apple TV and it worked fine. That was several months ago, and I still don’t know if the problem was my Apple software or LG operating system. Samsung TVs have always worked fine.

P.S. older devices do get phased out, and that includes Roku, Amazon, and Apple. Using the native TV apps is cheaper, but the operating systems are so clunky.

[retiredguy123]

You can buy a Roku stick, Model 3820R2, for $50 from Best Buy or Amazon, and they often go on sale. I have found them to be much more user-friendly than any smart TV built-in app screen. Also, if you have several TVs, every TV will operate the same way.

[rsmurano]

Originally Posted by Romad

I guess I’m not the only one finding LG TVs a pain to use. I use an Apple TV 4K for my apps. The problem I had was the Apple was causing my TV to turn off every 10 minutes. So I switched to a Fire Stick, which worked ok, but not as good as my Apple TV. A few months later, I needed to use my Apple TV and it worked fine. That was several months ago, and I still don’t know if the problem was my Apple software or LG operating system. Samsung TVs have always worked fine.

P.S. older devices do get phased out, and that includes Roku, Amazon, and Apple. Using the native TV apps is cheaper, but the operating systems are so clunky.

I have been using all Apple TV devices for over a decade with no issues. Your Apple TV was not the issue, you have another problem.

Apple TV devices are much better than the Roku/firestick/chromecast devices. The downside is that they cost a little more, but since I also use them as hubs for my whole house automation, they can display my ring doorbell camera in the top right corner if somebody comes up to the door, and the Apple TVs run all the apps I need.

The tv salesman is wrong to say that you don’t need a roku because you might have an app that runs on Roku but won’t run on your tv.

Plug in your roku device, then make this hdmi port your default port so when you start your tv, it always starts your roku.

[PoolBrews]

It's far better to run your apps from an Android TV box, Firestick, Roku, or Apple TV than the TV itself. The TV manufacturer is in the business of selling TV's, not apps. Apps on most TV's go through far less testing and optimization than the apps specifically designed for streaming devices.

If the TV is a Fire TV, Android TV, or Roku TV, then it will use the same well designed apps as the separate devices.

LG has it's own OS and makes it own apps. Typically, these apps provide basic functionality but run slower and may buffer more than well tested apps.

The other advantage to using a separate streaming box is that it is portable. If you get a new TV, just plug the box into an HDMI and use it - you don't have to set up apps and log them in again. Also, if you travel, take the box with you. Plug it into any TV and watch all of your favorite shows!

[vonbork]

I purchased a Roku sound bar to enhance my tv's sound. It operates like a Roku stick and converted my tv to a Roku tv which has YouTube TV

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by laryb

If you have the LG magic remote you can go to the YouTube TV login screen and then hold down the #1 channel button until it memorizes the YouTube screen. When you turn on your TV you'll just hold the #1 button down until the login screen appears

I LOVE the LG Magic Remote. I bought an LG tv that came with it a decade ago and loved it. Since then I’ve bought a couple larger LGs that didn’t come with it but can handle it, and I bought one new on Amazon for about $35-$50, I think. It’s like using a mouse with a computer. So much faster than the usual remote. My latest LG is four years old, and YouTube is one of the Smart options. On the bar near the bottom that shows Netflix and Amazon Prime and more, just click on that right arrow a time or two and the YouTube icon shows up. It should certainly be there with a new tv.