LG's Smart TV operating system, webOS, has reached version 6.0 this year 2021. This is now available for its new Smart TVs with 4K and 8K resolution. The Koreans have done a whole facelift to the system, with a new look which is quite different from the original concept that they had been working on since the original version that was released in 2013.
What is webOS?
webOS is the operating system used by the South Korean company LG for its range of smart televisions. They started using it in 2014 as a replacement for the obsolete Netcast.
The system is Linux based and was initially developed by Palm in 2009. The smartphone brand was acquired by HP a year later, which would transform the system into open source. Everything seemed to be going smoothly for those from Palo Alto until a change in the leadership of the corporation upset HP's plans. The system went from being the flagship of the Americans to being a surplus asset in the company. LG Electronics it would take advantage of that unique opportunity and take control of the system for its televisions, although it is currently also present in smart projectors and even refrigerators.
webOS interface
The classic webOS interface (2014 – 2020)
The visual interface of webOS has been very consistent over the years. Very similar to what Apple has had us used to with iOS throughout its different versions.
The system interface has been maintained until version 5. The applications have always been displayed in a strip in the lower third of the screen. In the most basic televisions, the interaction has always been done through the buttons on the remote control. However, in more advanced models you can use the Magic Remote as pointer.
The new interface webOS 6.0 (2021…)
Whole visual section has been redesigned since version 6.0, available since 2021. The application dock, so characteristic of the brand, has completely disappeared.
Instead, the new look is made up of quadrants. It is even easier to use than previous versions because it is very similar to other proposals offered by other competitors in the market. The main quadrants will show the channels and streaming services you use the most, so you'll always have your apps at hand. Below you can find the entire list of services that you have downloaded from the store.
If you are familiar with the old version It won't cost you anything to adapt to this new interface. If, on the other hand, you get your first LG Smart TV now, you will surely notice the comfort when navigating through the menus and applications on the television.
Even Park Hyoung-sei, president of the entertainment division of LG Electronics, has spoken about this version of webOS: "This is the most significant update since we first introduced webOS in 2014."
LG Content Store: The webOS app store
The LG Smart TV app store is called the LG Content Store. Through this platform we will be able to acquire channels, streaming services and applications and even some games.
Multimedia platforms available on LG Content Store
These are the main multimedia content apps that are available in Spain currently in the LG store:
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime Video
- HBO Max
- Disney +
- Apple TV
- Rakuten TV
- DAZN
- The film
- YouTube
- YouTube Kids
- Orange-TV
- Atresplayer
- Movistar +
- My TV
- RTVE Play
- Twitch
- plex
- Spotify
- lg channels
The content varies depending on the region in which we are. If you wonder how you can install apps like Hulu o Pluto TV, we inform you that said operation is currently only possible if we are in United States. However, the offer of applications in our country is immense.
lg channels
In a world where almost all streaming services cost $10 or more a month, LG Channels is a breath of fresh air. It is a completely free on-demand television service that contains almost 200 channels to choose from. There's a channel for almost every genre, from horror to comedy, and plenty of news channels.
Google Stadia
LG has also opted for the game in the cloud. Therefore, televisions that support the latest versions of webOS can make use of this Google service. You will simply have to have an active Google Stadia membership and a compatible controller that you will connect to your television. As long as you have a good Internet connection, you can enjoy quality titles at a very good resolution directly from your sofa at home, and without having any type of console connected to the screen.
Voice assistants, remote control and artificial intelligence
No TV is truly smart without its voice assistant. The webOS system makes use of its artificial intelligence ThinQ with your own voice commands. In addition, we can count on the help of Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
At Magic Remote, we will also have dedicated buttons to quickly activate our favorite voice assistant. As if that were not enough, televisions now have the technology magic explorer. This function uses LG's AI to provide us with real-time data about the content we are consuming. You will be able to consult the information that you want, such as the names of the actors that appear on the scene, some biographical information about them or the exact name of the location in which the shot you are watching was recorded. When the AI gets to know you a little better, it will also offer you content according to your tastes.
Another very interesting feature of webOS is the possibility of use your smartphone as if it were the Magic Remote. To do this, you just have to download the LG TV Remote app, which is available on both iOS and Android. In models with webOS 6.0 and higher, new features are also added to take advantage of the chip NFC of your mobile. You will be able to pair your phone with your TV in a matter of seconds and send content with total comfort.
How to update webOS
To keep your Smart TV always up to date, all you have to do is update the system software to the latest version. This is something that we highly recommend, since in addition to fixing bugs we will be able to obtain some improvements that will include new functions and more comfortable shortcuts. To update your television, all you have to do is follow these steps:
By Internet
- Go to Settings by pressing the gear button on your remote control.
- The shortcuts menu will appear, so choose the option “all settings» to see all the detailed settings.
- Select the option Support.
- Sign in Software update.
- Click on «Search for updates«.
It is interesting that you leave the option “Allow recommended updates” activated if you want to avoid doing this every time an update is released.
This process will instruct the TV to search the internet (make sure you have the TV connected to the internet) for available updates. If there is one, it will download and ask if you want to install it now or at the next TV restart.
With a USB stick
- This is the way to find updates that are already published on the internet on LG's servers, but if you don't have an internet connection, you can always do it manually by downloading the necessary files. To do so, visit the website that we leave you at the end of the steps.
- Enter the model of your Smart TV. For example, OLED65CX6LA. If you don't know the exact model, just enter Settings> All settings> Support> TV information> Model
- In the results of your model you will find the update files (if there are any updates) under "Software and drivers". Download the most recent version that is published. You will receive a zip file.
- Prepare an empty USB stick with no files, and create a folder inside the stick called LG_DTV (must be in uppercase and with an underscore).
- Copy into the folder file with .epk extension that you will get when you unzip the files you downloaded in step 3.
- Insert the USB stick into any of the USB ports on your TV.
- The TV will recognize the memory and ask if you want to switch to SmartShare. Click on DO NOT CHANGE.
- A new message will appear telling you that the update is ready and if you want to install it. Click on INSTALL.
- Wait for the process to finish and do not turn off the television at any time until everything is finished. At the end of the process, the TV may restart and stay black for almost a minute, wait and don't worry.
Can I upgrade to webOS 6.0?
webOS version 6 is only available on smart TVs released since 2021 Until now. Unfortunately, this LG policy has been around forever. The brand does not usually support models from previous years, although it does offer sometimes new features of modern systems on TVs running older versions of webOS.
If you meet the requirements and have an LG Smart TV compatible with version 6, you can receive regular updates. With them, LG will provide you with new features, solution of bugs and improvements to the quality and security of your device.
For receive new updates of webOS you will have to go to Menu of your LG Smart TV and then to the tab Support y Software update.
Models compatible with LG webOS 6.0
Most of Smart TVs released by LG from 2021 They are compatible with webOS 6.0. OLED, QNED Mini LED, Nanocell and UHD ranges are fully supported.
On the other hand, smart TV models from input range such as the LG LED TV series (with Full HD resolution), it will keep in previous versions of webOS even if they are models launched very recently.
How to know what webOS my LG Smart TV has
This is all very well, but do you know which version you have on your Smart TV? If you need to check which webOS is running on your television, the procedure to follow to find out is very simple:
- Go to the Settings from your TV
- Get into the tab General
- Navigate to Devices, TV and click on «TV Information».
As simple as that. With these steps you will be able to know the exact version of the system of your model and if it is compatible or not with the available software updates.
Is it worth buying a Smart TV with webOS?
Good question. In general, LG is one of the brands that makes the best panels on the market, so if you want to enjoy the image quality of its televisions, you will have to assume that the operating system of the television will be webOS.
Generally, webOS has a very good reputation. It is a fairly lightweight system, it works well and is quite intuitive. In addition, the Koreans have been gradually improving the system to improve all their lacks.
The weak point of webOS is the customization and applications. We cannot say that webOS has few apps, but the number of programs that we will see in the LG Content Store will be ridiculous if we compare it with a television that works with Android TV. Also, when it comes to tinkering and customizing the system, webOS has more limitations.
What do I do then? Simple: buy the television that best suits your needs and ignore the operating system. If you opt for an LG television, assess yourself if it seems like a good system and if it suits your needs. If you don't, absolutely nothing happens. Just buy a set-top box o dongle for television with the system that you like the most and thus be able to replace the native system of the LG.
The usual thing in these cases is to get a device with Android TV, and even the Chromecast with Google TV, which works with one of the most interesting systems we have today. However, there are many more options. you can get a Amazon Fire TV Stick (Fire OS, based on Android), with the dongle Nvidia Shield TV and even with the magnificent Apple TV 4K, which is one of the best multimedia centers that you can connect to your television. As we say, it is a matter of taste, and the native operating system of a television should not condition your purchase.