LG TV picture Off-Center (Causes and How to Fix)

As an owner of an LG TV, I know all too well the frustration of having the picture off-center. After much trial and error I finally discovered a few solutions that worked for me, and I’m here to share them with you.

In this blog post, I’ll be discussing the possible causes of an off-center picture as well as some tips to help you get your LG TV back to normal. By the end of this article, you should have a better understanding of how to fix this issue and get your LG TV picture back on track.

It may be due to connecting the LG TV to a new cable or changing the aspect ratio in the settings. More often than not, it’s nothing to worry about, and it’s easily fixable.

Tips
The aspect ratio of the LG TV is most likely the cause of the off-center picture.
You can adjust the aspect ratio of the TV through the settings.
You can also zoom in on the picture to fit the LG TV screen.
Automating the aspect ratio through the “Set by Program” option is another way to center the image.

Table of Contents

Why Is Your LG TV Picture Off-Center?

Before we discuss why your LG TV picture seems off-center, let’s first understand the aspect ratio.

A television’s aspect ratio is basically the ratio of the screen’s length vs. height. Since the development of televisions, the standard aspect ratio was 4:3. Later, better and larger versions debuted, reaching a ratio of 16:9.

A better question is why your LG TV isn’t set to the correct aspect ratio. The improper fit is probably what’s making the image off-center.

Here’s why that may happen:

New Device Connected

Whether it’s a new cable, SAT box, Android box, or even a Blue-ray player, these devices can primarily affect the LG TV’s aspect ratio. It happens because they come with their exclusive aspect ratio settings.

That’s why both devices need to be in sync regarding the image size, or else the screen will appear off-center.

Incorrect Aspect Ratio Setting

One of the most common issues with an off-center screen can probably be resolved when adjusting the aspect ratio.

Now, most, if not all, LG TVs have a 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen might be wonky-looking because the image is set to a 4:3 ratio instead. So, you need to adjust it from the settings.

How to Fix Off-Center LG TV Picture

Now that you know what’s causing an off-center picture on your LG TV, it’s time to go through how you can fix it. Check out each method below.

Adjust the Aspect Ratio of the LG TV

Since the ratio is distorted, you’ll need to fix it through the settings. Here are the steps to do so below.

Step 1: Set to Home Use

Before going to the aspect ratio settings, you’ll want to set the TV to Home Use. This is opposed to In-Store Use, which is mainly optimizing the screen to be used as a display in stores.

To ensure you’re on Home Use, click on the “Smart” button on your LG TV remote, which has a home icon.

Then, navigate to the “Settings” tab. Click on “Options” followed by “Mode Settings” and “ENTER.” The screen should show you that the mode setting is Home Use.

Step 2: Set Aspect Ratio

In this step, start by pressing the “Menu” button on the remote. Navigate to the “Options” section, which you can find at the second to the bottom tab on the list.

Afterward, click on “Aspect Ratio.” It’ll show you a list of the ratios available for the LG TV. Go for the 16:9 aspect ratio option. If you want to keep it automatically at 16:9, then choose “Set By Program.”

Zoom In

Another method you can use to widen the screen for a less off-center picture is to zoom in on the image. This may work better for some programs than others. The edges of the picture will get cut off, but you’ll be able to fit the entire image onto the screen.

The first thing you want to do is press the “Menu” button on the remote. Next, navigate to the “Picture” tab with the arrow buttons and select “Enter.”

Go to the “Aspect Ratio” option and click “Enter.” Next, locate the “Zoom” or “Cinema Zoom” tabs. In the “Zoom” setting, you can press the left and right arrow buttons to zoom out or in. The zoom ranges between 1 to 16.

Once the picture is well-adjusted, select “Enter.” That being so, the “Cinema Zoom” changes the aspect ratio to a cinema view ratio of 2.35:1. This range may be too large for the LG TV screen, so you may want to take care of that.

Do a soft reset

Often, simply doing a soft reset is enough to solve the issue. To do a soft reset, just remove the plug from the wall outlet and wait for at least 60 seconds before putting it back in again.

Do a factory reset

Another option you have is to do a factory reset. This will completely reset the TV to its factory defaults, so should be done as a last resort.

Here’s how:

Using your remote control, press the Home button, then select the Gear symbol
Select General

Choose Reset to Initial Settings
Press Confirm for the pop-up message
Enter your password on the screen (if you forget the pin code, you won’t be able to reset your LG TV till you reset it)

Don’t unplug the TV till the procedure is finished

How to Reset the Pin Code

Since you can’t reset your LG TV if you forget the pin code, it might come in handy to know how to change it.

Thankfully, there’s a hidden code to assist people who have forgotten their pins.

This is how you do it:

From the Menu setting, select Settings
Locate the Advanced Settings by scrolling through the Configuration Settings

Scroll till you find the Safety page and select it
You’ll see a Reset Password option (don’t press it, but just highlight it)
On your remote, click channel up twice, then channel down, and channel up again

Type 0325 or 0313 in the pop-up window
In the screen that appears next, type 0000
You should be able to modify your password now

To Conclude

Why is your LG TV picture off-screen? It mostly comes down to the aspect ratio your television sets.

After resizing it to fit the standard LG 16:9 ratio, the picture should become well-fit. You can also enlarge the image by zooming in to fit the LG TV screen.

Another method of centering the picture is automating the aspect ratio through the “Set by Program” option. Having said that, if all else fails, you may always revert to LG’s customer support.