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To update an LG webOS Smart TV, open the Software Update menu and select Check for Updates while the TV is connected to the internet. If you can’t go online, you can install firmware from a USB drive, but only using the file LG publishes for your exact model. Which menu you use depends on your TV’s webOS generation, and whether an update is available depends on your model and region. Nothing in LG’s guidance means every TV receives every webOS upgrade or that one version is current for all sets.
Find your webOS generation first
LG’s menus differ by model year. LG Electronics USA’s update guide (September 10, 2026) separates TVs from 2020 and later, which run webOS 5.0 or newer, from 2019 and earlier sets running webOS 4.5 or older. Older NetCast sets use a third path. Settings can still vary between models, so if a path below doesn’t match what you see, check the manual or the support page for your exact model.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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LG - 27" Class LED Full HD Smart TV Monitor with webOS | $189.99 | Buy on Amazon |
LG’s guide says that pressing the Settings or Mute button three times displays the webOS version. That shortcut is described only in that guide, so if it doesn’t work on your set, use your model’s documentation instead.
| TV generation | Update check path | Automatic update path |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 and later (webOS 5.0+) | Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Check for Updates | Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Auto Update > On |
| 2019 and earlier (webOS 4.5 and earlier) | Settings > All Settings > General > About This TV > Check for Updates | Settings > All Settings > General > Support > Software Update > Auto Update > On (as listed for webOS 4.5 in LG’s September 2026 guide) |
| NetCast sets (older than webOS) | Smart or Home > Settings > Support > Software Update > Check Update Version > Update | Separate path; check the model’s manual |
Check for updates over the internet
This is the simplest method and the one LG recommends when the TV is online. Use the path in the table for your generation, then select Check for Updates.
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- If an update is offered: install it and keep the TV connected to power and the internet. LG notes that the TV may restart during installation.
- If the TV reports no update: LG says it may already have the latest software for that model. This is a model-specific result, not a sign that the TV is broken.
- If nothing happens when you select Check for Updates: confirm in the network settings that the TV is actually connected to the internet, then try again. The check can’t find an update it can’t reach.
LG Electronics USA’s help article (June 12, 2026) states: “Firmware updates are released on an as-needed basis for LG Smart TVs.” Updates are not scheduled, so a missing update on one day doesn’t mean a later one won’t appear.
Turn on automatic updates
With Auto Update turned on, the TV can install updates without you starting the check each time. Use the automatic update path in the table above and set the option to On. Keep the TV connected to power and the internet so that background installs can complete.
Update offline with a USB drive
Use this method when the TV can’t connect to the internet. It requires a computer, a USB drive, and the correct firmware file for your exact model.
What you need
- An empty USB flash drive with at least 1 GB of storage. LG Electronics USA’s June 2026 guide specifies this minimum. The drive is needed only for this offline method, not for updating over the internet.
- The firmware file from the LG support page for your exact TV model number. Don’t use firmware from a different model, region, or product family.
- A computer that can download and extract a compressed file.
Steps
- On the computer, go to LG’s support site and search by your exact TV model number. Download the firmware file listed for that model.
- Extract the downloaded file. The result should include an
.epkfirmware file. - Format the USB drive. LG’s September 2026 guide says FAT32 or NTFS; check the instructions for your region and model before formatting, because they can differ.
- Create a folder named exactly
LG_DTVin the root of the USB drive, then place the extracted.epkfile inside it. - Turn the TV on, insert the drive, and follow the on-screen prompts. Installation may take 3 to 5 minutes, according to LG’s June 2026 guide. That is an estimate for that process, not a guaranteed duration.
- When installation finishes, LG’s June 2026 guide says to power the TV off for 10 seconds and then back on. If your model’s instructions say to wait through a restart instead, follow those.
If the screen turns off or freezes during an update
An update can restart the TV, and the screen may go dark or look frozen during that restart. Don’t interrupt it. LG’s September 2026 guide says the TV should be left alone: Do not unplug your TV or disconnect it from the internet during the update. Interrupting the process can cause a system error.
If the screen goes dark or appears frozen, wait about 5 to 10 minutes for the automatic restart to finish. Keep the TV plugged in throughout. Only after that window should you consider the update stalled.
When the update still fails
- Confirm the file matches the model. Firmware is model-specific. If the file doesn’t match the exact TV model on LG’s support page, don’t install it.
- Retry from the start. For a USB update that didn’t complete, check that the drive has the
LG_DTVfolder in its root and that the.epkfile is inside it. - Contact LG. LG’s guide says that for persistent problems, readers can use LG’s chatbot or request a technician visit.
What these guides don’t establish
The LG guides explain how to check for and install updates. They don’t state the current latest firmware for any TV you haven’t identified, and they don’t establish that every older set can receive a major webOS upgrade. For those answers, use the LG support page for your exact model number and region.
The menu paths are also based on standard models and settings, and LG notes that they may vary.
If you want to choose between methods, the internet check is the default when your TV has a reliable connection. USB is the fallback for sets that stay offline, and it adds a computer step and a model-matching requirement.
Quick Recap
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