How Do You Get Apple TV On Older LG Smart TVs?
Streaming your favorite Apple TV movies and shows on an LG TV is easier than ever, but how do you access the app on an older LG smart TV?
Table of Contents
- How do you get Apple TV on an older LG Smart TV?
- Which LG Smart TVs Support Apple TV?
- Why is Apple TV Not Available on my LG Smart TV?
- How to Download Apple TV onto an LG Smart TV
- How to Watch Apple TV if my LG TV is Incompatible
- Key Takeaways
How do you get Apple TV on an older LG Smart TV?
Apple TV is only available on compatible LG smart TVs that were made in 2016+. For all older LG TV models, you can watch Apple TV by using a compatible LG device such as Roku, Firestick, smartphone, tablet – or an HDMI input.
After extensively researching LG devices, I have gathered enough information to determine how to get Apple TV to work on an older smart TV. My research has indicated that you need to ensure that you have a compatible LG smart TV for Apple TV to work seamlessly.
Which LG Smart TVs Support Apple TV?
LG makes some of the best smart TVs on the market and one of their key features is that you can install your favorite streaming apps. Apple TV is one of the newest streaming applications available and they offer their customers a solid variety of content to enjoy.
However, some LG smart TV owners have run into an issue with their devices not supporting Apple TV. Despite streaming applications being available on most modern TVs, Apple TV is not compatible with every LG smart TV.
If you own an older LG TV, then you may have a harder time getting Apple TV to work on the device.
Before you start looking for alternative solutions to this issue, you should first confirm whether your LG smart TV supports Apple TV. This is a list of compatible LG TVs:
- LG NanoCell (2020)
- LG NanoCell (2019)
- LG Super UHD TV (2018)
- LG Super UHD TV (2017)
- LG Super UHD TV (2016)
- LG UHD TV (2020)
- LG UHD TV (2019)
- LG UHD TV (2018)
- LG UHD TV (2017)
- LG UHD TV (2016)
- LG OLED (2020)
- LG OLED (2019)
- LG OLED (2018)
- LG OLED (2017)
- LG OLED (2016)
If you own one of these LG TVs, you should not have any issues getting Apple TV to work. However, if you own a model that is not mentioned in this list, then you may need to consider a workaround to get Apple TV onto your LG TV.
Why is Apple TV Not Available on my LG Smart TV?
If you own an LG smart TV, you would naturally think that you can use any of the applications that are available in the app store. At the end of the day, smart TVs are designed specifically for app integration, but some LG customers have not been able to get Apple TV onto their devices.
Depending on what is causing the problem, you may be able to get Apple TV to work on your older LG TV.
Incompatible LG TV
Apple TV is a relatively new streaming service that has intentionally made its app incompatible with certain LG TVs. This is particularly the case with older LG TVs that lack modern technology features.
As someone who is very familiar with Apple’s business model, I understand that they constantly strive to innovate and push technology to new horizons. This often implies that you need to have the latest devices, software, and hardware for their services and products to work.
Unfortunately, this is very much the case with older LG TVs, which is why Apple TV was initially limiting their services to LG TVs that were made from 2018+. However, in 2021, Apple expanded their streaming service to certain LG TVs that were made in 2016+.
Apple TV App Not Downloaded
Many LG customers who have older model TVs will find that Apple TV is not available on their devices when they boot up the system. This does not necessarily mean that you cannot watch Apple TV.
If you own a compatible LG TV, particularly models that were made from 2016 – 2020, there is a good chance that you will not see the Apple TV app pre-installed. Apple TV only launched towards the end of 2019, which means that all smart TVs prior to this would not come with the app pre-installed.
Once you have confirmed that your older LG TV is compatible with Apple TV, all you need to do is go to the app store and download the app.
How to Download Apple TV onto an LG Smart TV
If your older LG TV did not have Apple TV pre-installed as it would be on newer TV models, you need to download the app manually to access the streaming service.
This is the same procedure as for any other app that you download onto your TV. Follow these steps to download Apple TV onto your LG smart TV:
- Navigate to the LG TV Home Screen
- Launch the App Store
- Search for ‘Apple TV’
- Download the ‘Apple TV’ app
- Log in or Sign up for Apple TV
If the Apple TV app is not available or does not work on your LG smart TV, then you may need to try a different solution to access the streaming service.
How to Watch Apple TV if my LG TV is Incompatible
Unfortunately, virtually all LG smart TVs that were made prior to 2016 will not support Apple TV. This can be particularly frustrating for LG smart TV owners that do not want to upgrade their entire entertainment system just to stream Apple TV.
Luckily, there are some great solutions to this issue that allow you to stream Apple TV without having to buy a new LG smart TV. With that said, these methods are less conventional and may require you to utilize additional devices or services. Try one of the following options to watch Apple TV on an incompatible LG TV:
- Roku
- Firestick
- Smartphone
- Tablet
- HDMI Input Device
If you already own a streaming device such as a Roku or Firestick, then watching Apple TV on your LG TV will be very straightforward. However, buying a Roku or Firestick is very affordable and you can add one of the devices to your TV setup for as little as $30. While this does require you to spend some additional cash for Apple TV to work on your LG smart TV, it is still a lot cheaper than upgrading the entire system.
Alternatively, you can stream directly from your tablet or phone by using services such as Airplay or screen mirroring. If all else fails, your last resort option is to connect a device such as a laptop to the LG smart TV using an HDMI cable. This will allow you to stream Apple TV using a web browser.
Key Takeaways
- To get Apple TV on an LG smart TV, make sure that your TV is mentioned in Apple’s list of compatible devices.
- Apple TV is only available on LG smart TVs that were made in 2016+ – with older models requiring you to install the Apple TV app manually.
- To watch Apple TV on incompatible/older LG smart TVs, use an LG-compatible device such as Roku, Firestick, smartphone, or tablet – or an HDMI input device such as a laptop.