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How to Get PBS Passport on an LG Smart TV

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Install the regular PBS app—not a separate PBS Passport app—on your LG TV. The TV must run webOS 23 or later and, under PBS’s current guidance, be used in the United States. After installing PBS, choose Sign In and enter the TV’s seven-character code at PBS.org/tv using the account linked to your PBS Passport benefit.

1. Check whether your LG TV is compatible

PBS currently supports its LG app on televisions running webOS 23 or later. This generally includes LG TVs released in 2023 or later, plus some 2022 models that can update to webOS 23. LG TVs released in 2021 or earlier, and 2022 models that cannot receive the required update, are not supported natively.

Compatibility also depends on the TV’s model, region, and LG Content Store settings. PBS’s current guidance applies to LG TVs in the United States; PBS says the app is currently unavailable on LG TVs in Canada. See PBS’s LG compatibility list for the latest model-specific information.

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Find the webOS version

Check the TV’s product or software information and confirm that it says webOS 23 or newer. On some LG models, pressing the remote’s Mute button three times repeatedly opens product information that includes webOS details. This shortcut is not universal, so use the TV’s software-information or product-information screen if it does not work. Menu names vary by model and webOS version.

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2. Update the LG TV

  1. Open Settings on the TV.
  2. Look for Support, Software Update, or a similar option.
  3. Check for available updates.
  4. Install any update offered by LG.
  5. Restart the TV, then search for PBS again.

An update can help if the TV is eligible for webOS 23, but it cannot make every older LG model compatible. If the model cannot update to webOS 23, use an external streaming device instead. LG’s LG Content Store guide and app compatibility guidance provide model- and region-specific details.

3. Install the PBS app

Do not search for “PBS Passport.” Passport videos are included in the standard PBS app.

  1. Press Home on the LG remote.
  2. Select Apps.
  3. Choose the magnifying-glass search icon.
  4. Search for PBS.
  5. Select the PBS app under Apps & Games.
  6. Choose Install.
  7. After installation, select Launch.

The app should also appear in the TV’s Home launcher. The exact appearance of the Apps screen can differ between webOS versions. PBS’s current installation instructions are available in its LG app installation guide.

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4. Sign in to PBS on the LG TV

  1. Open the PBS app and select Sign In.
  2. Note the unique seven-character alphanumeric code shown on the TV, or scan the QR code.
  3. On a phone or computer, go to PBS.org/tv.
  4. Enter the code displayed on your TV and select Continue.
  5. Sign in with your PBS account, or with the Google, Apple, or Facebook login connected to your Passport benefit.
  6. Return to the TV. The PBS app should refresh to its home screen.

Each device receives its own current code. Do not reuse a code from an earlier session. The PBS app is free to download and sign into; Passport eligibility is a separate member benefit connected to support for a participating local PBS station.

5. Make sure you are using the Passport-linked account

Passport is not a separate TV subscription login. It is a benefit attached to the account used when Passport was activated. The account may use an email-and-password PBS login or a third-party login such as Google, Apple, or Facebook.

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To confirm that Passport is connected:

  1. Open PBS.org on a phone or computer.
  2. Sign in with the account you believe is linked to Passport.
  3. Verify that Passport is active.
  4. On the LG app, open Settings.
  5. Choose Sign Out or Change Account.
  6. Repeat the TV sign-in process with the correct account.

After switching accounts, give the app time to refresh. PBS says the TV may take approximately 30 seconds to update after reactivation.

6. How to tell whether PBS Passport is working

Open a program in the PBS app and look for episodes or videos marked with the Passport indicator. Try playing a Passport-only video. If it plays, the account and benefit are connected correctly.

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The four-word Passport activation code from your local station is different from the seven-character device sign-in code shown by the LG app:

  • Four-word code: used once to activate the Passport benefit through your local PBS station.
  • Seven-character code: used to connect this LG TV to your PBS account at PBS.org/tv.

Passport activation is generally a one-time process. If the four-word code has already been used, sign in with the account used during the original activation rather than trying to activate the benefit again. See PBS’s Passport activation instructions.

Troubleshooting

The PBS app does not appear in the LG store

Search for PBS, not “PBS Passport.” If it is still missing:

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  1. Confirm that the TV is being used in the United States.
  2. Check the webOS version.
  3. Install pending LG software updates.
  4. Check the LG Content Store region and confirm it matches the TV’s location.
  5. Restart the TV and search again.
  6. Check the specific model in LG’s compatibility tools.

If PBS remains unavailable, the TV is likely unsupported, or it may be a commercial or hospitality model with restricted app availability. LG notes that apps can vary by model, region, and webOS version.

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The app says I do not have Passport

The most common cause is an account mismatch. You may have activated Passport with one email address but signed into the TV with another, or used a PBS login on one device and Google, Apple, or Facebook on another.

Sign out of the PBS app, check Passport status on PBS.org, and sign in again using the exact account originally linked to the benefit. Follow PBS’s account-switching instructions if necessary.

The activation code does not work

Make sure you are entering the current seven-character code at PBS.org/tv. Do not use an old code from a previous session. If PBS says the code has already been used, it usually means Passport was activated previously; sign in with the original Passport-linked account instead. PBS explains this situation in its activation-code support article.

I donated but have not received Passport instructions

Passport activation is handled through the participating local PBS station, not through the LG app. PBS recommends allowing up to one business day after a donation for the station to create the benefit and send activation instructions. If the benefit is still unavailable, contact the station that received the contribution.

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The local PBS station is incorrect

In the PBS app, open Settings, select the station option, enter your ZIP code, and choose the correct local station.

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What to do if your LG TV is unsupported

You do not need to replace the television solely to watch Passport. Connect a supported streaming device by HDMI, watch at PBS.org on a computer, cast or mirror from a compatible mobile device where supported, or use another television with a supported PBS app.

PBS’s supported-device list includes platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, and VIZIO SmartCast. Platform availability can change, so check PBS’s current supported-devices page.

Do not try to sideload an Android APK onto an LG TV. LG webOS is not Android TV, and an Android app package is not a supported installation method.

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Key takeaway

For a compatible U.S. LG TV, the process is straightforward: update the television if necessary, install the regular PBS app, sign in at PBS.org/tv with the seven-character code, and use the same account linked to Passport. If PBS is missing from the LG store, verify webOS 23 compatibility and the region; if the app works but Passport content is locked, check the account before troubleshooting the television.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is PBS Passport a separate app for LG TVs?

No. Install the regular PBS app. Passport videos appear inside that app after you sign in with the account linked to your Passport benefit.

Does every 2022 LG TV support PBS?

No. Some 2022 models can update to webOS 23, but others cannot. PBS requires webOS 23 or later.

Can I watch PBS Passport outside the United States on an LG TV?

PBS’s current LG guidance is for the United States, and PBS says the app is currently unavailable on LG TVs in Canada. Availability elsewhere may differ by region.

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Can I use Passport without the PBS app on my LG TV?

Yes. You can use PBS.org on a computer or a supported streaming platform connected by HDMI. The PBS account linked to Passport is still required.

Do I have to pay to download the PBS app?

No. PBS says the app is free to download and sign into. Passport eligibility is a separate member benefit handled through a participating local PBS station.

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