How To Change Volume On LG TV Without Remote | No Remote

Losing a remote is annoying. Getting stuck at the wrong volume is worse. The good news is that most LG TVs still give you at least one clean way to raise or lower sound without buying anything.

This guide walks through every reliable method, starting with the ones that work in 30 seconds. You’ll also get a short troubleshooting flow for the cases where the TV buttons seem to do nothing, the volume bar never shows, or a soundbar is stealing control.

Changing Volume On An LG TV Without A Remote Fast

Start with the TV itself. Many LG models hide their controls on the underside of the panel, near the center, or along the back edge. Some sets have a row of buttons. Many newer ones use a single joystick-style switch that clicks in and nudges up, down, left, and right.

Find the physical control

• Check the bottom edge — Run your fingers along the underside of the TV, near the logo, for a small button or joystick.
• Check the back panel — Feel behind the TV on the lower right or lower center area; some models place the joystick there.
• Follow the input ports — If you see HDMI ports on the side, the control button is often close by on the same side or directly behind it.

Use the joystick button to change volume

On joystick models, a short press often opens a mini on-screen menu with Power, Inputs, and Volume. On some TVs, you adjust volume by pushing the stick up or down after the menu appears.

1. Press the joystick once — Wait for the on-screen control strip or quick menu.
2. Move the joystick up or down — Raise or lower the volume when the Volume icon is selected.
3. Press to confirm — If the menu needs a selection, click the joystick to apply the change.

Use separate volume buttons

On button-row models, volume buttons may be marked with + and −, VOL, or a speaker icon. If the TV shows a volume number or bar, you’re set.

1. Tap Volume + — Increase volume one step at a time while you listen.
2. Tap Volume − — Lower volume until speech feels clear.
3. Tap Mute — If you see a Mute button, press it once to toggle sound back on.

Control Volume With Your Phone Using LG ThinQ

If your TV is on Wi-Fi and you can reach the home screen, the easiest “new remote” is your phone. LG’s ThinQ app can act like a controller, including volume, mute, and input switching. LG shows these controls in its ThinQ setup instructions. LG ThinQ app setup steps.

Get the TV ready for pairing

You’ll pair faster if the TV and phone share the same network name and band. If you have both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with similar names, pick one and stick with it on both devices.

1. Turn on the TV — Use the physical button so the TV is fully awake.
2. Connect the TV to Wi-Fi — If the TV is offline, use the on-TV controls to reach Network settings and join Wi-Fi.
3. Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi — Use the same router and network name as the TV.

Pair LG ThinQ and adjust volume

Once the app sees the TV, you’ll get an on-screen PIN or pairing prompt. After the pairing, volume control behaves like a standard remote.

1. Install LG ThinQ — Download the LG ThinQ app on iOS or Android, then sign in if asked.
2. Add the TV in the app — Use the plus/add flow, select TV, then choose your LG TV from the list.
3. Accept the pairing prompt — Confirm the match on the TV screen, then finish setup.
4. Tap Volume up or down — Use the on-screen volume buttons in the remote view.
5. Use Mute for quick fixes — If the TV is silent, toggle mute once and listen for audio.

Fix ThinQ volume controls that do nothing

When the app connects but volume stays stuck, the usual cause is audio routing. If the TV is sending sound to an external device, the volume buttons may control that device, or may be locked at a fixed level.

• Check Sound Out — If you’re on HDMI ARC/eARC, optical, or Bluetooth, the TV may be set for fixed output.
• Lower volume on the speaker device — Use the soundbar’s own buttons, or its app, if it has one.
• Switch to Internal TV Speaker — If you need the on-screen volume indicator, LG notes it appears when audio output is set to Internal TV Speaker. Volume indicator settings.

Use HDMI-CEC To Control Volume From Another Remote

If you have a streaming stick, game console, cable box, or Blu-ray player connected, you may already have a second remote in the house. HDMI-CEC lets one device remote send volume commands through the HDMI connection. Brands label this feature differently, yet the behavior is similar.

When HDMI-CEC works best

• TV speakers are active — The TV is set to Internal TV Speaker.
• A soundbar is connected by HDMI ARC/eARC — The connected device remote can control the soundbar volume through the TV link.
• The device remote has volume buttons — Many Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and console remotes include volume controls.

Turn on CEC on an LG TV

LG calls its CEC setting SIMPLINK on many models. If you can get into Settings with the joystick button or ThinQ, enable it so connected devices can send commands.

1. Open Settings — Use the on-TV button menu or ThinQ to reach the Settings screen.
2. Find SIMPLINK or HDMI-CEC — Check Connection, General, or Devices menus depending on webOS version.
3. Enable the toggle — Turn SIMPLINK/CEC on, then back out.
4. Test volume on the device remote — Press Volume + or − on the streaming device remote.

Try A Universal Remote App Or An IR Blaster

Some phones still have an infrared blaster. Many do not. If yours does, an IR remote app can adjust LG TV volume even when Wi-Fi pairing fails, since it works like a classic remote pointed at the TV’s IR sensor.

Choose the right option for your phone

Method	What you need	Works when
LG ThinQ app	Phone + same Wi-Fi	TV is on network
IR remote app	Phone with IR blaster	TV IR sensor can see phone
CEC remote	Streaming device/console remote	CEC/SIMPLINK is enabled
Physical TV button	TV joystick or buttons	Button is accessible

Set up an IR app without guesswork

IR apps vary, yet most follow the same pairing flow: pick LG as the brand, test a power or volume command, then save the profile.

1. Confirm your phone has IR — Look up your model specs or check for a small IR window on the top edge.
2. Pick LG as the brand — Select LG in the app’s TV list.
3. Run the test button — Point the phone at the TV and test Volume + first, since power tests can turn the TV off mid-setup.
4. Save the matched profile — Keep the working code set so volume stays consistent.

Adjust Volume When A Soundbar Or Receiver Is In The Chain

A lot of “volume won’t change” complaints come from the audio chain, not the TV. If your LG TV is feeding a soundbar or receiver, you might be changing the TV volume while the real loudness lives somewhere else.

Spot the audio path in one minute

• Look for an ARC/eARC label — HDMI ports marked ARC or eARC often mean the TV sends audio to a soundbar.
• Check for an optical cable — A thin square-ended cable (TOSLINK) signals external audio.
• Watch the TV volume bar — If it says “Fixed” or never moves, the TV may be outputting at a set level.

Change volume the right way for each setup

1. Use soundbar buttons — Most soundbars have Volume + and − on the top or side panel.
2. Use the soundbar app — Many brands ship a phone controller that adjusts loudness over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
3. Enable CEC on both devices — With ARC/eARC and CEC on, the TV can pass volume commands from a device remote.
4. Switch back to TV speakers — If you need quick control, set Sound Out to Internal TV Speaker so the TV handles volume again.

Fix Common Roadblocks That Block Volume Changes

If the volume buttons work sometimes yet fail in specific apps or inputs, the cause is often a setting that locks the output, a mode that limits volume range, or a device that is sending its own audio rules.

Volume bar missing on screen

If you press volume and nothing shows, the TV may be outputting audio to an external device. LG notes that the on-screen volume indicator appears when the output is set to the internal speaker mode. Use the Sound Out menu to switch back if you want the on-TV indicator. LG steps for missing volume indicator.

Stuck at zero or stuck on mute

• Toggle Mute once — Some TVs get stuck showing a muted icon until you toggle it off.
• Raise volume slowly — Tap Volume + five to ten times to clear an accidental minimum level.
• Power-cycle the TV — Unplug the TV for 30 seconds, plug it back in, then test volume again.

Volume changes on one input, not another

Inputs can behave differently. A console may output bitstream audio to a receiver, while a built-in app plays through TV speakers. Match your volume method to the active audio path.

• Switch inputs and test — Try a built-in app, then HDMI 1, then HDMI 2 to see where volume control breaks.
• Check the device audio setting — Set the console or streaming box to a standard output mode that matches your speaker setup.
• Confirm ARC/eARC status — If ARC is active, the TV may hand off volume to the external device.

Hotel mode or volume limit settings

Some TVs can be configured to cap max volume or lock volume changes. This is common on TVs that were once used in rentals, dorms, or hospitality setups. If you suspect a lock, try the simplest route first: a factory reset after you regain basic control with ThinQ or an IR app.

1. Check for a Volume Limit setting — Search the Settings menu for Volume Limit, Max Volume, or similar.
2. Turn the limit off — If the option is available, disable it and test again.
3. Reset the TV if needed — Use General settings to reset, then redo network and app setup.

Get A Replacement Remote Without Overpaying

Once you can control volume again, it’s worth lining up a long-term remote plan. You don’t always need the original Magic Remote, and you don’t need to pay collector pricing for an older model.

Pick the right replacement type

• Match model family — Search your TV model number (from the back label) plus “remote” so the layout matches your TV generation.
• Choose an LG-branded remote — OEM remotes tend to pair quickly for pointer functions on Magic Remote models.
• Choose a basic IR remote for volume — If you only need Power and Volume, a basic compatible IR remote usually works fine.

Keep one fallback method ready

Even after you buy a replacement, keep one backup method in place. A phone app, a device remote with CEC, or a universal IR remote can save you the next time batteries die.

• Leave ThinQ paired — Keep the TV saved in the app so volume control is one tap away.
• Enable SIMPLINK — Keep CEC on so your streaming device remote can adjust volume.
• Write down your TV model — Store the model code in Notes so ordering a remote is quick.

One-Pass Checklist To Restore Volume Control

If you want a single flow you can run from start to finish, use this checklist. It moves from “works on almost every LG TV” to “works in edge cases.”

1. Find the TV joystick/button — Test Volume + and − on the TV itself.
2. Toggle mute and retest — Clear any stuck mute state.
3. Pair LG ThinQ — Use your phone for volume control over Wi-Fi.
4. Check Sound Out — Switch to Internal TV Speaker to confirm the TV can change volume.
5. Enable SIMPLINK — Test volume on a connected device remote through HDMI-CEC.
6. Use soundbar controls — If external audio is active, adjust volume on the speaker device.
7. Power-cycle the TV — Unplug, wait 30 seconds, plug back in, then test again.
8. Check volume limit settings — Disable caps, then retest.

Once you regain control, keep at least one backup method ready. That way “no remote” turns into a minor hassle, not a full stop.