The LG WM4500HBA works with the LG ThinQ app, and LG's Wi-Fi troubleshooting table has five causes for a failed connection: the Wi-Fi password was entered wrongly, mobile data on the phone is on, the network name has special characters, the router is not on 2.4 GHz, and the washer is too far from the router. Only a 2.4 GHz router frequency is supported. The same manual describes Smart Diagnosis, a feature that helps diagnose problems with the washer through the app.
Differential
Likely causes of “LG front-load or top-load washer will not connect to Wi-Fi or the manufacturer's app”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A router that is not on 2.4 GHz
What separates it The app cannot find or join the washer's network
How to confirm Check the router frequency with your internet provider or the router maker; LG says only 2.4 GHz is supported
- 2
A wrongly entered Wi-Fi password
What separates it Setup fails at the Wi-Fi password step every time
How to confirm Delete your home Wi-Fi network from the phone and begin the connection process again
- 3
Mobile data left on
What separates it The phone jumps between networks during the setup steps
How to confirm Turn off the mobile data on your smartphone before connecting the appliance
- 4
A network name with special characters
What separates it The router name has symbols or spaces in it
How to confirm The name (SSID) should be a combination of English letters and numbers
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The step where setup fails and any message shown
- The router band and network name and whether the phone has mobile data on
- How far the washer is from the router
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedSet the router to 2.4 GHz
ReversibleLG says only a 2.4 GHz router frequency is supported. Set the wireless router to 2.4 GHz and connect the appliance to it; check the frequency with your internet provider or the router maker.
Fix the network name
ReversibleUse an SSID made of English letters and numbers, without special characters, then reconnect the washer to it.
Prepare the phone
ReversibleTurn off mobile data before connecting, and delete your home Wi-Fi network and begin again if the password was mistyped.
Move closer
ReversibleIf the washer is too far from the router the signal may be weak and setup may fail; move the router closer or add a Wi-Fi repeater.
Handle the app password prompt
ReversibleIf the app asks for a password to connect to the product, find the network name starting with LG under Settings > Networks: for LGE_Appliance_XX-XX-XX enter lge12345, and for LGE_Appliance_XXXX enter the last four characters twice.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Specification table (WM4500H*A)
- 120 V, 60 Hz. Water pressure must be 20 to 120 psi (138 to 827 kPa). Size 27 x 39 x 33 1/4 in (70 x 99 x 84 cm), 53 1/4 in (135.5 cm) deep with the door open. Net weight 201.5 lb (91.4 kg). Maximum spin speed 1300 rpm.
- Wi-Fi
- 2.4 GHz only. Network name in English letters and numbers. Mobile data off during setup. Setup through the LG ThinQ app.
- Tools and supplies
- Your smartphone with the LG ThinQ app, your router's settings page and a flashlight to read the washer display.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models WM6500HBA, WM5500HWA, WM4200HWA, WM4000HWA, WM3600HWA, WM3400CW, WM8900HBA, WM9500HKA, WM6998HBA, WKEX200HBA, WKEX300HBA, WT8405CW, WT7900HBA, WT7400CW, WT7300CW, WT7150CW, WT6105CW, WD300CV.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the washer will not power on at all, use the no-power steps instead of Wi-Fi steps
- !If setup still fails after 2.4 GHz, a plain network name and a nearer router, contact LG support
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The chapter names are the manual's own: Error Messages, Noises, Operation, Performance and Maintenance. Other LG washers use different error lists, dimensions and cleaning steps, so use the model label inside the door opening to confirm the model before relying on any code or measurement here.
Exact questions
Common questions
Which Wi-Fi does the LG WM4500HBA support?+
Only a 2.4 GHz router frequency.
Which app does it use?+
The LG ThinQ application, which lets you communicate with the appliance using a smartphone.
What if the app asks for a password?+
Look up the network name starting with LG in Settings > Networks. If it is LGE_Appliance_XX-XX-XX enter lge12345; if it is LGE_Appliance_XXXX enter the four characters twice.
Why turn off mobile data?+
LG says mobile data on the phone can interfere with connecting the appliance, so turn it off first.
Can the service stop working?+
Yes. LG notes the feature may be subject to change without prior notice and may not operate for reasons such as Wi-Fi unavailability or local app store policy.