To change HDMI settings on LG OLED TV, press the gear button on your remote, select All Settings, and adjust options like Picture Mode, HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color, or Game Optimizer, each HDMI input stores its own configuration, so switch to the input you want to tweak first. These settings are per-input, meaning your gaming console on HDMI 1 can use Game Optimizer while your Blu-ray player on HDMI 2 stays in Cinema mode, and you can also change the frame rate on my LG OLED TV to match the content source for smoother motion. If you want theater-quality sound from your set's HDMI eARC port, add Sonos to LG OLED TV.
Before You Change HDMI Settings on LG OLED TV: How to Open the Main Menu
Press the gear (Settings) button on your LG remote to open the main menu, then select All Settings (the full settings panel with categories like Picture, Sound, and General). Every change you make in this menu applies only to the HDMI input currently selected on your TV, so if you’re on HDMI 1, your adjustments won’t affect HDMI 2 or the built-in apps. This per-input behavior is why you should always switch to the correct source before making changes, especially when setting up a console or streaming device.
Change Picture Mode for a Specific HDMI Input
To change the picture mode for a specific HDMI input, select that input first, then go to All Settings → Picture → Picture Mode. Choose from presets like Standard (balanced for everyday viewing), Cinema (accurate colors and contrast for movies), Sports (brighter, more motion-focused for live games), or Game (reduces input lag and enhances dark scenes for gaming). For HDR or Dolby Vision content, the TV often locks the mode to Cinema or Game automatically, but you can still override it manually. Remember that each HDMI input remembers its own mode, so you can set HDMI 1 to Game for your PlayStation and HDMI 2 to Cinema for your Apple TV without switching back and forth.
Enable HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color for HDR and 4K Gaming
For HDR, Dolby Vision, or 4K 120Hz gaming, you must enable HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color on the specific port. Go to All Settings → Picture → Additional Settings → HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color and toggle it On for the HDMI input connected to your compatible device. Without this, the TV caps the signal to standard dynamic range and 4K 60Hz, so HDR content will look washed out and 120Hz modes won’t appear. This setting is required for the full bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 features like 4K@120Hz, VRR, and eARC, so if you’re using a PS5, Xbox Series X, or a high-end PC graphics card, turn it on for that port. Note that some older devices may not support Deep Color; if you see flickering or no signal, toggle it off for that input.
Turn on Game Optimizer to Reduce Input Lag
With HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color enabled on your gaming input, go to All Settings → General → Game Optimizer and turn it On. This mode reduces input lag to near-instant levels and gives you a dedicated dashboard for VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), black stabilizer, and response time controls. Game Optimizer is available on LG OLED models from 2020 onward (CX, C1, C2, G1, G2, and newer); on older webOS versions, look for Instant Game Response under All Settings → Picture → Additional Settings, it serves the same purpose. For competitive gaming, keep Game Optimizer on and set VRR to On if your console or GPU supports it; this eliminates screen tearing without adding latency. Remember that Game Optimizer only works on the HDMI input where it’s enabled, and it requires Deep Color to be active on that port.
Adjust HDMI Black Level for Deep Shadows
To preserve shadow detail in dark scenes, set the HDMI Black Level to match your source device’s output range. Go to All Settings → Picture → Additional Settings → HDMI Black Level and choose High (for devices set to “Full RGB” or “High” output) or Low (for devices set to “Limited” or “Standard” output). If you select the wrong level, blacks will appear crushed (too dark, losing detail) or washed out (grayish). Check your device’s video output settings to match them, if you’re unsure, try both and look at a dark scene with subtitles; the correct setting will show deep blacks without losing texture in shadows. This setting is per-input, so adjust it separately for each connected device.
Fix Stretched Images with Aspect Ratio Just Scan
To prevent cropping or distortion on widescreen and cinematic content, set the Aspect Ratio to Original or Just Scan for each HDMI input. Go to All Settings → Picture → Aspect Ratio and select Original (keeps the source’s native ratio) or Just Scan (displays pixels 1:1 without overscan). For 21:9 cinematic movies, the TV will automatically show letterbox bars; do not force 16:9 or you’ll stretch the image. If you see black bars on all sides, that’s normal for certain content, Just Scan ensures you’re seeing exactly what the source sends, not a scaled version. Apply this per input, as some devices (like a DVD player) may need 4:3 mode instead.
Set HDMI-CEC (SIMPLINK) for One-Remote Control
To control connected consoles and players with your LG remote (or vice-versa), enable SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC). Go to All Settings → General → External Devices → HDMI Settings → SIMPLINK and turn it On. This lets your TV’s remote power on/off a connected soundbar, switch inputs automatically when you start a console, and control basic playback on streaming sticks. If you have multiple devices, SIMPLINK will list them under External Devices so you can switch between them without changing inputs manually. This is especially useful for soundbars, SIMPLINK routes audio back through HDMI ARC/eARC automatically when enabled.
Quick Fine-Tuning: Picture and Sound Advanced Settings
For deeper customization, each HDMI input has its own Advanced Picture and Sound menus. Under All Settings → Picture → Advanced Settings, you’ll find Contrast (adjusts white level), Brightness (adjusts black level), Sharpness (edge enhancement), Color Temperature (warm/cool tones), and Gamma (mid-tone brightness). For sound, go to All Settings → Sound → Sound Out to choose HDMI ARC or Bitstream for a soundbar, and under Sound → Advanced Settings you’ll find an EQ (equalizer) with presets like Standard, Music, Movie, or Game. These settings are saved per input, so you can have a bright, sharp picture for sports on one port and a warmer, softer look for movies on another. The key is to adjust them while watching content you care about, don’t just set numbers blindly.
Remember that each HDMI input stores its own configuration, so if you change something on HDMI 1, it won’t affect HDMI 2 or the TV’s built-in apps. For the best results, set up each device individually: enable Deep Color and Game Optimizer for your console, use Cinema mode with Just Scan for your Blu-ray player, and leave SIMPLINK on for all ports to keep control centralized. If you ever need to reset a specific input, go to All Settings → General → Reset to Initial Settings, but note that this clears all picture and sound adjustments for that input only. For more advanced tweaks like white balance or color management, use the ISF Expert modes (available in Picture Mode) which give you professional-grade controls for calibrating your LG OLED TV settings (LG OLED TV: Settings and Setup) to your room’s lighting.
For the wider topic, see LG OLED TV settings.
