The Magic Remote that ships with the LG G5 is more than a pointer: it has a microphone for voice commands, a scroll wheel, a handful of hotkeys for streaming services and a pointer that runs on motion sensors, and the most common complaints are specific to those functions. If the voice button gives no response, press and hold it and look for the microphone icon on the screen; if the icon does not appear, the remote's Bluetooth link is gone.
The checks in more detail
If the icon appears but nothing is recognized, check Settings, General, AI Service, and the language chosen for voice, and test your internet connection, since voice recognition needs the network. The pointer is the next function to fail. A pointer that drifts, shakes or disappears usually has weak batteries, so fit two fresh AA cells, and the pointer's speed and shape can be adjusted in Settings, General, Devices, Pointer Options. If the pointer appears only when you wiggle the remote, that is the default behavior on webOS, which hides it after a few seconds of stillness.\n\nA scroll wheel that does not scroll,
or a wheel press that is ignored, may be dirt: wipe around the wheel with a dry cloth and test again. The hotkeys can be reassigned on newer webOS versions in the settings for the remote, and a hotkey that opens the wrong app was probably set that way on purpose or by a software update. If the whole remote is silent, re-pair it by pointing at the TV and pressing the wheel for a few seconds. When that fails, press and hold Home and Back for five seconds to reset the remote, then pair again.
Because the G5 uses a camera-free design for its remote, nothing in the room needs to be visible to it, but a soundbar blocking the infrared receiver on the lower front edge still prevents the button signals. Update webOS, since remote bugs are fixed with the software. The ThinQ app works as a stand-in remote while you sort it out. A remote that gets wet or is dropped may fail at the pointer sensors, and a replacement remote is the answer, paired as above.
Differential
Likely causes of “LG G5 OLED evo TV remote will not control the TV”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Weak batteries
What separates it The pointer drifts or shakes
How to confirm Fit two fresh AA cells
- 2
A lost Bluetooth link
What separates it The voice button and pointer do nothing
How to confirm Re-pair with the wheel button
- 3
Voice settings or no network
What separates it The microphone icon shows but nothing is recognized
How to confirm Check the AI service language and the internet
- 4
A dirty wheel
What separates it The wheel does not scroll or click
How to confirm Wipe around it with a dry cloth
- 5
A damaged remote
What separates it No response after a reset
How to confirm Replace it and pair it
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which function fails
- Whether the microphone icon appears
- The batteries
- The webOS version
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedFit fresh batteries
ReversibleBoth AA cells.
Test the voice button
ReversibleLook for the icon.
Adjust Pointer Options
ReversibleIn Devices.
Wipe the wheel
ReversibleWith a dry cloth.
Re-pair the remote
ReversibleWheel button, then Home and Back reset.
Use the ThinQ app
ReversibleWhile you fix it.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Voice
- It needs the network and the right language.
- Pointer options
- Speed and shape can be adjusted.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a reset and re-pair fail, replace the remote
- !If the phone app also fails, check the TV
- !Update webOS
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my G5 pointer shake?+
Weak batteries are the usual cause.
Why does the voice button do nothing?+
The remote's link or the network.
Can I change the hotkeys?+
On newer webOS versions.
How do I reset the remote?+
Hold Home and Back for five seconds.