Turning off your LG Smart TV normally feels like the end of the conversation. But on some newer models, the television can remain partially active after you press the power button — including supporting voice recognition while the screen is off.
That does not automatically mean your TV is secretly recording everything said in your home. The reality is more specific, and understanding the difference matters if you are concerned about smart-TV privacy.
What’s actually true
LG confirms that certain compatible televisions can recognise voice commands while they appear to be switched off. Its Direct Voice Recognition feature can respond to a wake-up phrase such as “Hi LG” and then turn the television on when instructed.
On supported models, this is linked to features such as Always Ready on some 2022-era TVs and Quick Start or Quick Start+ on earlier models. LG says that when Always Ready is enabled, the TV enters that mode after being switched off with the remote, allowing certain functions — including voice recognition — to remain available.
In other words, “off” does not necessarily mean completely disconnected from power or inactive. It can mean the display is off while parts of the television remain operational.
That is an important distinction from the much stronger claim that an LG TV is continuously recording every conversation and sending it to the company.
LG’s UK privacy documentation does, however, acknowledge that products with voice-recognition functionality may record and analyse voices and utterances from people nearby when the relevant AI services are being used. LG also says certain voice-related information can be processed as part of its services.
How this connects to the bigger smart-home privacy question
The bigger issue is not really whether a television is “off”. It is what remains active when it is apparently off, and which services you have enabled.
Smart TVs increasingly behave more like connected computers than traditional televisions. Network connectivity, voice controls, personalised services and standby features can continue operating even when the screen is dark.
That means the privacy settings on your TV deserve the same attention as those on a smart speaker or smartphone.
It is also worth remembering that features vary significantly between LG models and webOS versions. LG itself says the availability of Always Ready and voice-recognition functions depends on the television model.
Common misconceptions
- “If the screen is black, the TV cannot hear me.”
Not necessarily. Compatible LG models can support voice recognition while in certain standby modes. - “My TV records everything in the room.”
That is an oversimplification. The existence of an active microphone or wake-word system does not, by itself, establish that every conversation is being permanently recorded or transmitted. - “Unplugging the TV from the remote is the same as unplugging it from electricity.”
No. LG states that Always Ready does not operate when the power cord is removed from the socket. - “Every LG Smart TV has the same privacy settings.”
Again, no. Menus, features and available controls differ between models and software versions.
What to do next
If you would rather your LG TV did not respond to spoken commands while the screen is off, check its voice-recognition settings.
On supported models, LG directs users to Settings → All Settings → General → AI Service → Voice Recognition Settings. Depending on the model, you may also need to review Always Ready, Quick Start or Quick Start+ settings.
If privacy is your priority, review LG’s current privacy terms and the manual for your exact model rather than relying on generic advice found online. LG’s UK privacy policy was updated in 2026, so the manufacturer’s latest documentation is the most reliable reference for current settings and data practices.
For maximum certainty that the TV cannot hear anything, disconnecting it from mains power removes the possibility of its built-in microphone operating while powered.
The bottom line
Yes, some LG Smart TVs can remain capable of voice recognition after you have switched off the screen. But that is not the same thing as proving that the television is secretly recording every conversation around it.
The sensible response is not panic. Check your model, review its voice and standby settings, understand LG’s current privacy terms and disable features you do not need.
