Key Takeaways
- Check Another App: If your LG TV apps freeze or won’t load, open a second app. One failure usually points to the app itself, while several suggest a TV or network problem, so check for a recent webOS update or a break at Gateway or DNS.
- Restart and Retest: Unplug your LG TV for a minute, turn off Quick Start+, check DNS, and test a hotspot before updating or reinstalling apps. On webOS 25, try Memory Optimizer if you see “App will now restart to free up more memory,” then check for updates.
- Support and Backup: If one LG TV app still fails, contact its provider. If several fail on a hotspot, contact LG, save the factory reset for last because it removes apps and account information, and use an HDMI streaming stick while you wait.
LG TV apps not working? Unplug your TV for a full minute, turn off Quick Start+, and check the network status screen. Try opening another app, too. LG says a single failing app usually points to the app itself, while several failing apps can point to your connection or the TV.
If the trouble began after an update, check your webOS version. The webOS 25 rollout has reached eligible LG OLEDs from 2022 through 2024, and some owners report playback trouble after updating. If you’re troubleshooting a Samsung set as well, you can search for our Samsung TV app guide.
Is It One App or Every App?
Open the app that’s giving you trouble, then try streaming something in a second app. What happens in the second app tells you where to start.
Only One App Fails
If YouTube freezes but another app streams normally, start with YouTube. Check whether the app provider is reporting an outage, then look for your symptom in the known bugs table below.
If there’s no reported outage, update the app and reinstall it if needed. If it still freezes, unplug the TV for a full minute and try the same video again.
Every App Fails or Shows a Network Error
If several apps fail to open or say you’re offline, start with the TV’s connection. Your Wi-Fi can work on your phone while the TV has trouble reaching the router or looking up an app’s internet address.
Read the TV’s network status, then try a phone hotspot. Use the result to decide whether to test Ethernet or DNS, check the TV’s clock and country, or contact LG.
Why LG TV Apps Stop Working
An app can freeze when a session gets stuck, after a software update, or when the TV has trouble getting online. The way it fails can help you tell those problems apart.
Quick Start+ May Keep a Glitched Session Alive
With Quick Start+ on, pressing the power button can leave the TV in standby. If an app opens in the same frozen state when you turn the TV back on, its previous session may still be active.
The exact behavior can vary by TV. A full minute without power lets you test whether a fresh start clears the freeze.
A webOS or App Update Changed Something
Apps need to be certified again for each new webOS version. In October 2024, a developer testing an app for webOS 25 reported that videos kept loading without playing.
The webOS 25 rollout to eligible B, C, and G OLEDs from 2022 through 2024 includes firmware 33.21.85 and 33.22.15. Some owners report that media player apps crash after extended use and suspect a memory issue.
Network, DNS or Region Problems
The Gateway and DNS icons on your TV can help narrow down a connection problem. A break near Gateway can point to trouble reaching your router, while a break near DNS can mean the TV is having trouble looking up internet addresses.
If the app is missing from the LG Content Store, check which country and model the app supports. LG says the catalog varies by both.
How to Fix LG TV Apps That Won’t Open or Keep Crashing
Start with a full power cycle, then test the TV’s connection before deleting apps or resetting the TV. If you already know the problem affects just one app, go straight to the app update and reinstall steps.
Unplug the TV for a Full Minute
Turn the TV off, unplug it from the wall, and wait a full minute before plugging it back in. Open the app and play something long enough to see whether it still freezes.
Some owners say LG support suggested holding the TV’s physical power button for 30 seconds while it was unplugged. That extra step cleared the YouTube screensaver bug for some owners, with mixed results overall.
Turn Off Quick Start+
Weekend.com lists All Settings > General > System > Additional Settings for Quick Start+. It also lists General > OLED Care > Device Self Care on some TVs. These paths are unconfirmed and may vary by model.
Turn off Quick Start+ if you find it. That allows the TV to shut down fully when you turn it off, and the next startup may take a little longer.
Read the Network Status Screen
Use the model-year table below to open the network screen. On a 2025 TV with webOS 25, choose Wi-Fi Connection under Internet Connection, then select your connected network to view its status. You’ll see TV, Gateway, DNS, and Internet in that order.
Green lines across all four mean the TV passed its network check. If there’s a red break at Gateway, check your router and its cables. If it’s at DNS, the TV may be reaching the router but having trouble looking up addresses.
Restart your modem, router, and TV, then reconnect and check again. If the connection still fails, LG also suggests resetting the modem and router and setting up the TV’s connection again.
Try a Phone Hotspot to Rule Out Your Router
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and turn it on. On Android, LG lists Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot. Turn on the hotspot, connect your TV to it, and try the same app again.
If the app works over the hotspot, check your home router or contact your internet provider. If several apps still fail on the hotspot, contact LG so it can check whether the TV needs inspection.
Switch to Ethernet or Change the DNS Server
If you can run an Ethernet cable to the TV, connect it and choose Wired Connection (Ethernet) from the network menu where available. One owner of an older LG 47LB6500 reported that going wired stopped Netflix from stalling at 25%.
If the network screen shows a break at DNS, you can try entering 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1 manually, as Weekend.com suggests. The path for manual DNS entry is unconfirmed, so look for the option in your TV’s network menu.
Check Your TV’s Date, Time and Country
Check the date and time your TV displays and correct them if they’re wrong. An incorrect clock may interfere with a secure app sign-in, so try signing in again after the correction.
If an app is missing, check the TV’s selected country. The Tech Gorilla lists Settings > All Settings > General > Location, though that path is unconfirmed. The LG Content Store catalog depends on your country and TV model.
Update the App, Then Delete and Reinstall It
Press Home and select the affected app to check whether it offers an update. Install it if offered, then repeat the action that usually triggers the error.
If the app still fails, highlight its tile and hold Wheel [OK] to bring up the delete option. Delete the app, reinstall it from the LG Content Store, and sign in again.
Run Memory Optimizer to Free Up Space
Some webOS 25 owners have seen “App will now restart to free up more memory” during 4K playback. If you see that message, try Memory Optimizer if your TV has it.
Weekend.com lists Settings > Support > TV Device Self-Care > Memory Optimizer, an unconfirmed path that may vary by model. Run it if available, then replay the same video to see whether the app stays open.
Install the Latest webOS Software Update
Third-party guides list Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Check for Updates on newer sets and General > About This TV on older ones. Those paths are unconfirmed and may differ on your TV.
Install any update offered and turn on Allow Automatic Updates if you see it. Tom’s Guide also describes downloading firmware for your exact model from LG’s support page and installing it from a USB drive.
Reset Your LG TV as a Last Resort
A factory reset deletes your saved account information and installed apps. Be ready to set up the TV again, reinstall the apps you use, and sign back in.
Use the reset path for your TV in the table below. On a 2025 webOS 25 set, select Reset All at the end of the path to start the reset.
Model Year Menu Paths
LG groups the network and reset controls differently across model years. Start at Settings > All Settings, then follow the path for your TV in the table.
| Model year | webOS version | Network path | Reset path |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | webOS 25 | General > Network > Internet Connection | General > System > Reset to Initial Settings > Reset All |
| 2021 to 2024 | webOS 6.0 and later, including webOS 22, 23, and 24 | General > Network | General > System > Reset to Initial Settings |
| 2020 | webOS 5.0 | Connection > Network Connection Settings | Support > Reset to Initial Settings |
| 2019 | webOS 4.5 | Connection | General > Reset to Initial Settings |
| 2018 and earlier | webOS 4.0 or earlier | Network | General > Reset to Initial Settings |
If you’re unsure of the model year, find the model number in About This TV and use it to identify your set. Check the installed webOS version while you’re there, since eligible OLEDs from 2022 through 2024 can also run webOS 25.
Known App Bugs on LG TVs Right Now
Does your app fail at the same point every time? Compare the symptom, model, and app version with these dated reports to see which workaround fits.
| App | Symptom | Affected models | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube and YouTube TV | Screensaver starts during playback | CX and some BX OLEDs | July 2026 | Owners reported it after app updates |
| Plex, native player, and Jellyfin | App restarts during 4K Dolby Vision or HDR playback | G4 and G5 on webOS 25 | September 2025 | Owner-reported |
| Apple TV | “Couldn’t Load Video” after the intro | QNED85 and C4, with webOS 24 cited | 2024 to 2025 | Owners shared workarounds in the discussion |
| Media player apps | App crashes after extended use | TVs upgraded to webOS 25 | October 2025 | Owner-reported |
YouTube Screensaver During Playback on CX and BX OLEDs
Owners reported the screen going black while audio kept playing, especially with Shorts, older videos in a four-by-three format, or YouTube TV multiview. Pressing a remote button brought the video back.
Reports pointed to YouTube 1.2.15 and continued after YouTube 1.2.16 and YouTube TV 1.1.13 came out. Android Authority reported in July 2026 that neither LG nor Google had acknowledged the bug.
Plex and Media Apps Restarting to Free Memory on webOS 25
Some G4 and G5 owners say 4K Dolby Vision or HDR playback stopped after 5 to 20 minutes. They saw “App will now restart to free up more memory,” and similar reports involved Jellyfin and the TV’s own player.
Try a 1080p copy or a version without Dolby Vision if you have one. Some owners said 1080p played normally.
Apple TV App Says Couldn’t Load Video
Some owners reported that the intro or recap played before the Apple TV app showed “Couldn’t Load Video.” Reports included app version 1.0.74, and other streaming apps still worked for some owners.
If you have an iPhone, try playing the video there and sending it to the TV with AirPlay. Owners reported using this as a workaround.
If Nothing Works
If a fresh install and a hotspot test get you nowhere, choose who to contact based on how many apps fail. If you have a streaming stick, you can use it while you wait for help.
Contact the App Provider or LG Support
Contact the app provider if only its app fails. Tell them what you were trying to play and share any error message you saw.
If several apps fail even over your phone hotspot, contact LG Support. Have the model number and webOS version from About This TV ready, along with the result of the hotspot test.
Use a Streaming Stick as a Stopgap
An HDMI streaming stick runs its own apps. Plug it into your LG TV and switch to that HDMI input to use the streaming stick’s version of the app.
Sign in on the stick and pick up where you left off. You can keep watching while the app provider or LG looks into the problem.
If your new streamer acts up, see our fixes for a Google TV Streamer or Chromecast not working or a Fire Stick with no signal.
Keep Your LG TV Apps Running Smoothly
Once your apps are working again, check whether your TV can install updates automatically. You can also make a full restart part of your regular routine.
Leave Automatic Updates On and Power Cycle Monthly
Keep Allow Automatic Updates on if your TV offers it. About once a month, give the TV a full power cycle by unplugging it for a minute.
Use Ethernet if you’ve found that it gives your TV a steadier connection. Keep some storage free by deleting apps you no longer use.
Tired of ads on the home screen? See how people are using AI to remove ads from a smart TV.
FAQs
Your LG TV can have its own connection or DNS problem even when your phone is online. Check the Gateway and DNS indicators on the TV, then try a phone hotspot to see whether the same apps work on another connection.
Deleting an app means you should expect to sign in again after reinstalling it. A factory reset removes all installed apps and saved account information, so you’ll need to set up the TV and sign back in.
A phone-style option to clear an individual app’s cache is unconfirmed on LG TVs. If an app seems stuck, unplug the TV for a full minute to restart it, or delete and reinstall the app if the problem returns.
The app may be unavailable for your LG TV model or in your country. Check the catalog for your TV and make sure the country selected on the TV is correct.
Your LG TV may take a little longer to turn on with Quick Start+ off. It starts from a full shutdown, which can help when an app keeps reopening in the same frozen state.
Look for About This TV to check your installed webOS version and model number. Third-party guides place it under All Settings > General > About This TV on older sets, and the menu can vary by model.
