LG Smart TVs quietly install unremovable Microsoft Copilot app, sparking consumer backlash

LG Quietly Installs Microsoft Copilot on Its Smart TVs -- And You Can't Delete It

Microsoft Copilot app is now appearing on LG TVs after a recent software update, and some say it's another example of the tech industry forcing AI on consumers who are not asking for it. The app is not deletable, according to one LG TV owner on Reddit. "When something is pushed this hard it begins to grate," writes a commenter. LG and Samsung both announced their Copilot integrations in January 2025 at the CES technology conference. LG highlighted it as a new perk of its latest OLED evo TVs, but we haven't heard much since then. Samsung installed the Microsoft Copilot app in late August on its 2025 smart TV lineup. You can talk to it through the mic button on the remote, asking for things like show recaps, content recommendations, and trivia, such as, "Who was the voice actor for that character?" This could be a helpful addition to the viewing experience, provided it works as intended. LG has not announced the app's official arrival, and did not respond to our request for comment. The icon appears pinned to the home screen on the Reddit post. It acts as a shortcut to a web-based Copilot interface, not the native application LG initially promised, according to Tom's Hardware. However, the rub is not what the app can do, it's that it's not removable unless you disconnect the TV from the internet, but that could disable some features and prevent future updates.

LG TV users baffled by unremovable Microsoft Copilot installation -- surprise forced update shows app pinned to the home screen

Users report Copilot appearing after a recent software update, with no option to uninstall. LG smart TV owners are reporting that a recent webOS software update has added Microsoft Copilot to their TVs, with no apparent way to remove it. Reports first surfaced over the weekend on Reddit, where a post showing a Copilot tile pinned to an LG TV home screen climbed to more than 35,000 upvotes on r/mildlyinfuriating, accompanied by hundreds of comments from users describing the same behavior. According to affected users, Copilot appears automatically after installing the latest webOS update on certain LG TV models. The feature shows up on the home screen alongside streaming apps, but unlike Netflix or YouTube, it cannot be uninstalled. My LG TV's new software update installed Microsoft Copilot, which cannot be deleted. from r/mildlyinfuriating LG has previously confirmed plans to integrate Microsoft Copilot into webOS as part of its broader "AI TV" strategy. At CES 2025, the company described Copilot as an extension of its AI Search experience, designed to answer questions and provide recommendations using Microsoft's AI services. In practice, the iteration of Copilot currently seen on LG TVs appears to function as a shortcut to a web-based Copilot interface rather than a fully native application like the one described by LG. The issue, for many, isn't necessarily what Copilot does, but that it has been forced onto consumers with no option to remove it. LG's own support documentation notes that certain preinstalled or system apps cannot be deleted, only hidden. Users who encounter Copilot after the update report that this limitation applies, leaving them with no way to fully remove the feature once it has been added. It's a similar story on rival models, for instance some Samsung TV's include Gemini. The overwhelmingly negative reaction from users indicates a growing frustration with AI features being imposed on consumers in every way possible. Smart TVs have naturally become platforms for advertising, data collection, and now AI services, with updates adding new functionality that owners did not explicitly request and, in most cases, do not want. While LG allows users to disable some AI-related options, such as voice recognition and personalization features, those settings do not remove the Copilot app itself. Ultimately, those wanting to minimize Copilot's presence on their TVs are limited to keeping it disconnected from the Internet. That's about the most that can be done at the moment, unless LG backtracks and either allows users to disable or completely uninstall the app in response to backlash, which seems unlikely.

Copilot is beginning to appear on LG TVs, and no, you can't delete it

* Copilot auto-installed on some LG TVs via update and appears undeletable. * Users report it showed up without consent after an automatic OS update. * Owners call it 'mildly infuriating' and warn against connecting smart TVs to the internet. At the start of 2025, Copilot was beginning to get its bearings in the AI world. Now we're looking at the start of 2026, and Copilot has become a part of every part of Microsoft's ecosystem. And now that the Redmond giant has added Copilot to pretty much every product it can think of (yes, even Notepad), it has decided that Copilot should be on other people's services, too. Some LG TV owners have reported that there's a new Copilot entry on their app list, which they didn't download themselves. Unfortunately, for those who didn't want it around anymore, there doesn't seem to be any way of getting rid of it. Microsoft has somehow found yet another way to get you to use Copilot It's getting a little bit jealous of other services. Posts 2 By Simon Batt Oct 20, 2025 LG TV owners are reporting a surprise, unremovable Copilot app It will help you, and you will like it As reported by Digital Trends, people on Reddit are beginning to report the appearance of a Copilot app on their LG TVs. It doesn't seem to be an app that people choose to download; instead, it's something that reportedly arrives with an automatic update. Once Copilot has landed on the TV, it's undeletable. The first report comes to us via defjam16 on the "mildly infuriating" subreddit, which definitely fits the bill: As you might expect from a subreddit with that name, people flocked to the comments to share their lamentations about this new technology. Some people claim that they're sick of Copilot being added to everything, and some show this as a reminder that people shouldn't attach their TV to the internet in the first place. And one person compared it to that one smart TV patent that showed someone yelling "McDonald's!" at the screen to end a commercial. At any rate, with Copilot appearing on lots of different products, it feels like Microsoft is really hedging its bets on getting its AI assistant to take off. While other AI companies are working hard at making them more powerful, Microsoft seemingly wants to make it more readily available. Unfortunately, given how Microsoft's stock has slipped 5% due to its AI rivals going tall instead of wide, it doesn't seem like the correct move right now. Fortunately for the Redmond giant, Copilot is seeing some success in specific areas. For example, the AI assistant is getting a ton of updates for Excel, such as an automatic formula generator that works off of plain English. You can also check out these ways to up your Excel game with Microsoft Copilot.

LG quietly added an unremovable Microsoft Copilot app to TVs

Microsoft made a big punt this year with Copilot. The company put its AI chatbot into a and has also tried to integrate it into other tech products. The latest place you may find Copilot is on your LG smart television, whether you want it or not. Several LG smart TV owners have taken to over the past few days to complain that they suddenly have a Copilot app on the device and cannot uninstall it. Two Engadget staffers discovered the app on a 2022 LG OLED and a 2023 UA8000. They confirmed that the app can't be removed, although they were able to hide it from the home screen. One other person from our team also has a 2022 LG OLED but isn't seeing Copilot, so your mileage may vary based on what permissions and privacy settings you already have set up with LG. LG said during the 2025 CES season that it would have a Copilot-powered AI Search in its next wave of TV models, but putting in a permanent AI fixture is sure to leave a bad taste in many customers' mouths, particularly since Copilot among people using AI assistants.

Users report Microsoft Copilot appearing on LG Smart TVs after software update

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Sounding off: Tech giants and ambitious startups keep wedging chatbots and other AI add-ons into products that never needed them. Smart TVs are the latest target, with LG and others baking in assistants that interrupt the simplest tasks - and viewers are getting fed up. LG has allegedly begun forcing Microsoft Copilot onto its smart TV customers. A Reddit user says a recent software update installed the app with no means of removal. If this proves widespread, it would mark a new milestone in Big Tech's push to monetize AI before its financial bubble bursts. The Redditor reporting the spontaneous Copilot installation said his TV never even prompted him to authorize the rogue app. It just appeared after a routine update and is now classified as a system app, meaning you can't remove it without heavily modifying the firmware. Apps that cannot be easily uninstalled are slowly creeping into TVs and other smart devices. Samsung, another prominent Korean TV manufacturer, recently drew complaints from users saying the company's TVs reinstalled Xbox, Rakuten, Samsung TV Plus, and other apps after they were deleted or disabled. Both Samsung and LG previously announced plans to add Copilot to their respective TV platforms in 2025. A third-party chatbot that users cannot remove or disable is unprecedented, even in the notoriously obnoxious world of Smart TVs. Reddit users offered some practical advice for dealing with the issue, such as avoiding sign-in or disconnecting the TV from the internet entirely. LG Smart TV owners have also posted complaints about a service called "Live Plus." Allegedly enabled by default, the setting scans what users watch to offer an "enhanced viewing experience." Essentially, the company is selling viewing habits to advertisers, though users can still disable the feature in the TV's "additional settings" menu. Binge-watching enthusiasts who don't want the app spying on their viewing habits face a frustrating experience when trying to uninstall it. The business implications are even more concerning. Microsoft is determined to deploy its chatbot service everywhere, prompting some regulatory agencies outside the US to respond. Yet few users are embracing the service, and the company now faces pressure to limit its sales prospects.

LG TVs Get Unremovable Microsoft Copilot App

AI is everywhere, including places that no one wants it. The latest example of the technology's proliferation being forced down users' throats, likely in the name of artificially inflating growth metrics, appears to be LG brand smart TVs. Tom's Hardware spotted a number of owners taking to Reddit to complain about the fact that their TVs now have an apparently unremovable Microsoft Copilot app living on their homescreen. According to users, the Copilot app was inserted into their TV interfaces following a recent update to webOS, the Linux-based operating system that fell under LG's control back in 2013. Upon installing the update, a Copilot app reportedly showed up on the TVs at startup. To make matters worse, it seems that the app cannot be deleted, living alongside other apps for streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu. LG previously said that it would integrate Copilot into its TVs. At CES 2025, the company made an effort to position itself as the "AI" TV company, announcing that it would introduce an AI section to the webOS platform. It also started calling its remote an "AI Remote" and claimed that the introduction of Copilot would help users “efficiently find and organize complex information using contextual cues.†What complex information are they organizing on their TVs? Who can say? Regardless, it seems the Copilot app won't be going anywhere for LG owners. Per the manual the company provides with its smart TVs, "You cannot delete the preinstalled apps or system apps on your Smart TV, so the trash bin does not appear when you select these apps." The company also isn't the only one giving its users access to AI tools whether they want them or not. Google's Gemini is built into new TCL models, and Perplexity's search engine is reportedly making its way to Samsung TVs. Samsung also announced earlier this year that it'd start supporting Microsoft's Copilot, though it at least seems like it won't be by installing a permanent billboard for the tool on the homescreen. But no company seems to be as committed to the AI bit as LG. Per The Verge, the latest models of the company's TVs come littered with AI branding that extends well beyond the Copilot app, with features branded as "AI Picture Pro" and "AI Sound Pro." There's even a built-in chatbot, in case you feel lonely while endlessly browsing options of what to stream. Gizmodo reached out to LG for comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication.

LG TV owners baffled by a Microsoft Copilot app that can't be removed

While users can hide Copilot from their home screen, the inability to completely remove the pre-installed app has frustrated many owners. LG TV owners are expressing confusion and annoyance online after Microsoft Copilot suddenly appeared on their smart TVs, with no option to uninstall the app, Tom's Hardware reports. Copilot was reportedly added to some LG models in conjunction with a recent webOS update and subsequently appears pinned to the home screen. For now, however, it functions primarily as a shortcut to Copilot on the web, rather than as a fully integrated TV app. LG has previously announced that it has partnered with Microsoft as part of its "AI TV" initiative. According to the company, Copilot will be used to provide AI-based search and recommendation assistance directly in the TV interface. While Copilot cannot be completely uninstalled, it is possible to hide the app so that it does not appear on the home screen.

LG forces Copilot onto smart TVs, and there's no way to delete it

Oh, you don't want an AI chatbot on your TV? That's too bad, buddy, because you're getting one. Well, if you have an LG smart TV, at least. Tech site Tom's Hardware spotted that users began complaining that a recent software update to LG TVs included the addition of Microsoft Copilot and it could not be deleted. The complaints first surfaced on Reddit's r/mildlyinfuriating, which feels right. The post has racked up some 36,000 upvotes and thousands of comments, most of which expressed annoyance. Tech site Endadget wrote that two staffers with LG TVs confirmed that, yes, Copilot had been installed and was not removable. At best, you could hide it from the home screen. Why would you want an AI assistant app on your TV? Good question. I don't necessarily have the answer. But guess what? If you own an LG smart TV, it looks like you have it, whether you want it or not.

Your LG TV may get an unremovable Microsoft Copilot app in its next update, and yes, users are annoyed

If there's one thing that would stop me from buying one of the best TVs in the current world of everything being online and connected, it's the fear of the manufacturer taking a perfectly good TV and spoiling it. And that's exactly what some LG owners think is happening to their TVs in the latest update. The conversation is happening on social media including Reddit's r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, where users are discussing an LG firmware update that automatically adds an unwelcome app: Microsoft Copilot. And to make things worse, once the app is on your TV, you can't remove it. This is proving roughly as popular as the time when Apple forced a U2 album into everybody's iTunes library. Whether it was a good album or a bad album* didn't matter. The issue was that Apple forced an album on millions of people and initially didn't give them any way to remove it again. It's widely regarded as one of the biggest PR disasters in music. It seems that if what LG is doing to its TVs were a U2 song, it'd be Bad. So what's going on? Smart TV manufacturers' goal of monetizing TVs they've already sold you is one of the less welcome trends of the last few years. We've been reporting on TV firms using updates to implement unpopular changes for some time now, such as when LG added screensaver ads in 2024, when Roku tested an ad that ran before the Home Screen appeared or when Google revamped Google TV with much larger advertisements. The addition of unremovable Copilot seems like a further step in a bad direction. This is more significant than adding a bit of advertising. This is adding an AI app, and that raises concerns about privacy and whether it's getting any of your information. As Reddit user defjam16 put it: "I always hated bloatware, but installing an AI assistant (without explicit permission) that cannot be deleted, with unknown access to microphone and other services might just take the cake." ASouthernDandy certainly isn't a fan - "Pre-installed crap is universally dogshit. If I wanted it, I'd have installed it myself eventually. The whole reason it's bundled is because no one would choose it." - although their solution, "burn your television", isn't one I'd recommend, for both financial and environmental reasons. But the many comparisons to the bloatware that infests PCs and many phones too seem fair to me. Satan-o-saurus says: "tech companies have taught me to principally never install or opt in for any new features they try to make me use, ever. It's literally always a scam/something that will make my user experience worse/something that is designed to just harvest my data or otherwise exploit me." We've contacted LG for comment and will keep you posted. * It's okay, but it's no Achtung Baby.

Microsoft Copilot quietly shows up on LG TVs, and you can't remove it

A new webOS update brings Copilot and Live Plus feature to LG TVs Microsoft's Copilot has quietly appeared on LG webOS TVs, and many owners only noticed after it was already there. The issue first came up when a Reddit user shared screenshots showing a Microsoft Copilot tile on their LG TV home screen after a recent webOS update. The post spread quickly, and other LG TV owners confirmed they were seeing the same thing. Recommended Videos As more reports appeared, it became clear this is not a bug limited to one model. This move matches LG's earlier plans to integrate Copilot into its TV software, especially for newer versions of webOS. LG's own documentation says some apps are treated as system components, which is likely why Copilot does not have a removal option like other downloads. Users can avoid signing in or move the tile out of sight, but the app itself stays installed. Live Plus is also switched on by default Along with Copilot, the latest LG TV update is also turning on a feature called Live Plus by default. According to LG's on-screen description, Live Plus lets the TV recognize what content is being shown and use viewing data to power personalized services such as recommendations and advertising. Unlike Copilot, Live Plus can be turned off. According to Video Cardz, Live Plus can be disabled by going to Settings > All Settings > General > Additional Settings and toggling off Live Plus (these steps may differ by region and model). Once turned off, the TV stops using on-screen content recognition for those services. Copilot does not currently offer a similar toggle. That leaves LG TV owners with limited control beyond hiding the app or avoiding online features entirely. For now, the situation shows how smart TVs are adding AI features at the system level, sometimes faster than users can react or opt out. If you are planning to upgrade, LG's 2025 TV lineup already leans heavily into software driven features like AI assistants, which is something worth keeping in mind before choosing a new model. LG's recent CES announcements also hint at where TV software and AI features could be headed next, offering a glimpse at what might define the biggest TV trends in 2026.