How to Enable Developer Mode on LG Smart TV

Enabling Developer Mode on your LG TV opens the door to customizing your TV experience and testing third-party applications. Whether you’re a developer looking to deploy and test your apps or a tech enthusiast eager to explore advanced features, Developer Mode gives you the tools to do so. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process of setting up Developer Mode on your LG TV, from initial setup to running and testing your applications.

Why Enable Developer Mode on LG Smart TV?

Enabling Developer Mode on your LG TV offers several benefits, particularly for developers and advanced users.

• With Developer Mode, you gain access to debugging, performance tracking, and network testing tools, making it easier to optimize and troubleshoot your apps.
• Developer Mode lets you install and run apps not available in the LG Content Store, allowing you to explore custom or experimental features that enhance your TV experience.
• If you are developing your own apps or testing third-party ones, this mode allows you to install and evaluate them directly on your TV, ensuring they work as intended.

Steps to Enable Developer Mode on LG TV

Enabling developer mode on LG TVs is quite complicated and may be new for some users. Considering it, this section covers the whole process in step-by-step.

Download and Sign In to the Developer Mode App

• Open the LG Content Store on your TV and search for the LG Developer Mode app. Then, install it on your TV.
• Open the app and Log in using your LG Developer account. If you don’t have an account, go to the LG Developer Portal to create one.

• Inside the app, toggle on the Dev Mode Status option to enable it. Your TV will reboot now.

Connect Your PC to the LG TV

There are two ways in which you can connect your PC to your LG TV. One is by using the CLI and the other method is by using the WebOS Studio.

WebOS CLI

• Download and set up webOS CLI (Command Line Interface) on your PC using Node.js or npm. Open the CLI once installed.
• Type this command to under this sectionares-setup-device and select Add.

• Follow the instructions to enter your TV’s name, IP address, port, and password.
• To confirm the connection, type: ares-setup-device --list and check it.
• On your LG TV, go to the Developer Mode app and turn on the Key Server option.

• On your PC, run: ares-novacom --device tv --getkey to get the key file.
• A passphrase will appear on your TV. Enter it on your PC to finish connecting. To check the connection between your PC and TV, run the following command. ares-device --system-info --device tv2
• If the connection is successful, you’ll see device information like this (though the specifics may vary based on your TV model).

modelName : WEBOS6.0
sdkVersion : 6.1.0
firmwareVersion : 00.00.00
boardType : K7LP_ATSC_KR
otaId : HE_DTV_W21P_AFADATAA

Once the connection is confirmed, you’re all set to install and run your app on the LG TV.

WebOS Studio

• Open VS Code and launch webOS Studio on your computer.
• Access the Command Palette (Ctrl + Shift + P), choose “webOS: Set Up Device,” and click “Add Device.” Alternatively, use the + icon in the Known Device section.
• Enter the necessary details: device name, IP address, port number (9922), and user name (prisoner).
• On your LG TV, enable Developer Mode and open the Developer Mode app. Then, enable Key Server.
• In VS Code, open the Command Palette, choose “webOS TV: Set Up SSH Key,” and select your device.
• Enter the case-sensitive passphrase displayed on your LG TV’s Developer Mode app. Refresh the KNOWN DEVICE list to finalize the connection.

Install and Test Apps on Developer Mode

• Use this command to install an app on your TV:ares-install --device tv ./path-to-app/com.domain.app_0.0.1_all.ipk

Replace path-to-app with your app’s location and tv with your LG TV’s name. If successful, you’ll see a confirmation message on your PC.

• To launch the app, type:ares-launch --device tv com.domain.app Replace com.domain.app with the app’s package name.

You can now test the app’s features directly on your TV.

If testing takes longer than expected, you can extend the session time from the Developer Mode app. Developer Mode is active for a limited period. You can view the remaining time in the “Remain Session” field once it’s enabled. To extend the session, simply connect your TV to a Internet and click the “EXTEND” button under the Extend Session Time. Keep in mind that if the session expires, you won’t be able to extend it.

Exit Developer Mode

• Open the Developer Mode app on your TV.
• Toggle off the Dev Mode Status option. This will disconnect your PC and remove any test apps from your LG Smart TV.

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