Smart TVs: LG forces Microsoft's Copilot on users

LG sets up a Copilot shortcut on TVs with webOS without consent, which cannot be completely removed. It opens Microsoft's AI in the browser.

In the editing mode of LG's webOS, Copilot can be hidden but not completely removed.

(Image: heise medien)

Dec 16, 2025 at 9:10 pm CET

2 min. read

By

Mark Mantel

LG is causing annoyance with an update: On smart TVs with LG's own operating system webOS, Microsoft's AI app Copilot is now set up as a shortcut without prior consent. A software update automates the setup; Copilot can no longer be completely removed manually either. Users can only hide the shortcut so that it disappears from the home screen.

Strictly speaking, it is not a standalone app, as it only opens Copilot in the webOS browser. Therefore, no unsolicited installation is apparently taking place. The whole thing seems more like advertising for Microsoft's AI. The usual functions are available in the browser view, such as the ability to ask for movie recommendations.

Copilot running on a large TV — The virtual TV mouse at the top of the screen reveals that Copilot on LG TVs only runs in the pre-installed browser.

(Image: heise medien)

The topic came up, among other things, through posts on the platform X. LG TVs seem to be affected at least in North America and Europe. We found the shortcut on one of our OLED TVs from the B5 series with a 65-inch diagonal.

Shortcut not entirely deletable

In the editing mode for the home screen, webOS normally displays a stylized trash can to uninstall apps, and an eye to hide them. The trash can is missing for the Copilot shortcut; the tile can only be hidden.

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Once hidden, users will no longer see the Copilot shortcut. Without app installation and unused, Copilot should not collect any data. Copilot only reappears in editing mode, where users arrange the tiles.

Neither LG nor Microsoft have commented on the cooperation so far. The background is therefore unclear. It is plausible that Microsoft is paying for this or that it is a reciprocal deal, but this has not been confirmed.

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