LG TV users irked by unremovable Microsoft Copilot after webOS update

LG TV Owners Face Unwanted Copilot Intrusion

Owners of LG smart televisions are finding themselves unexpectedly sharing their screens with Microsoft Copilot, following a recent webOS update. This AI assistant has appeared as an unremovable tile on the main interface, nestled amongst popular streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. Unlike these familiar applications, Copilot cannot be uninstalled, sparking widespread frustration among users.

The issue first gained significant traction on Reddit, where a post showcasing Copilot on an LG TV's home screen garnered over 35,000 upvotes in the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit. Hundreds of comments corroborated this experience, confirming that Copilot appeared spontaneously after the latest webOS update.

LG's AI TV Strategy and User Discontent

While LG had previously announced its intentions to integrate Microsoft Copilot into webOS as part of its AI TV strategy, the reality has fallen short of user expectations. At CES 2025, LG had described Copilot as a component of an enhanced AI Search feature, designed to provide AI-powered answers and recommendations. However, many users are encountering what appears to be merely a shortcut to the web version of Copilot, rather than a fully integrated, native application.

The core of the user dissatisfaction isn't necessarily the functionality of Copilot itself, but rather the involuntary nature of its installation. LG's own support documentation indicates that certain system or pre-installed applications cannot be removed, only hidden. It seems Copilot now falls into this category, much to the chagrin of its customers.

A Growing Trend of Forced Integrations

This situation is not unique to LG. Competitors, such as Samsung, have also faced similar backlash with the integration of AI features like Gemini into some of their TV models. The prevailing sentiment among users is one of growing weariness with AI functionalities being imposed without explicit consent. Smart TVs have increasingly become conduits for advertising, data collection, and various services, and now, AI is being aggressively added to this list.

Although LG offers options to disable specific AI features, such as voice recognition or personalization, these measures do not remove Copilot from the interface. The only current method to significantly minimize its presence is by disconnecting the television from the internet, a solution LG itself has implicitly acknowledged by not offering alternatives.

The Unresolved Future of Copilot on LG TVs

Whether LG will yield to user criticism and provide the ability to fully disable or uninstall Copilot remains an open question, but the immediate outlook suggests this is unlikely. The Copilot situation on LG TVs serves as a stark illustration of a broader market trend: manufacturers are increasingly pushing third-party applications onto their devices without allowing for uninstallation, even when users have not requested them. This comes amid other concerning developments, such as India's attempt to mandate government apps on all new smartphones and Xiaomi's planned default installation of crypto wallets on new devices starting in 2026.