How to Set Up Your New Smart TV — Complete Guide

You've unpacked your new television, mounted it on the wall or placed it on the stand, plugged it in — and the initial setup wizard appears on screen. Where to begin? Which settings to choose? How to connect a soundbar, configure apps, and not get lost in dozens of menus?

This article is a step-by-step guide to setting up a new Smart TV. We'll cover the entire process: from first power-on to fine-tuning the picture and sound. The instructions are applicable to Samsung, LG, Sony, Philips, Hisense, and TCL televisions — the most popular brands in Latvia.

First Power-On: The Setup Wizard

When first switched on, any modern Smart TV launches a step-by-step setup wizard. The interface differs between brands, but the core steps are the same:

Language and Region Selection

Choose the interface language and region. For Latvia, select "Latvia" or "Europe" — this is important for apps, the content store, and broadcast settings to work correctly. You can choose any interface language — Latvian, Russian, or English. This can be changed later in settings.

Accepting Terms of Use

The TV will ask you to accept the user agreement and privacy policy. This is a standard step without which setup won't continue. We recommend reading the data collection section carefully — many Smart TVs send anonymised usage statistics to the manufacturer. This can usually be disabled later in privacy settings.

Network Connection

The TV will prompt you to connect to your home network — via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable. More on this in the next section.

Connecting to Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is the most common way to connect a Smart TV to the internet. Here's what you need to know:

Selecting Your Network and Entering the Password

The TV will display a list of available Wi-Fi networks. Select your home network and enter the password. Use the on-screen keyboard — it can be fiddly with a remote, but most modern remotes have a voice input function that makes the process easier.

2.4 GHz or 5 GHz?

If your router supports both frequencies, choose 5 GHz — it offers higher speeds and less interference, which is critical for streaming 4K video. However, the 5 GHz signal doesn't penetrate walls as well. If the TV is far from the router or separated by several walls, use 2.4 GHz for a more stable connection.

Wired Connection (Ethernet)

If the TV sits near the router, an Ethernet cable is the best option. It provides stable speeds without interference, minimal latency (important for online gaming), and isn't affected by other devices on the network. Simply plug the cable into the Ethernet port on the TV — configuration happens automatically.

What to Do if Wi-Fi Won't Connect

• Make sure you've entered the password correctly (check the keyboard layout and capitalisation).
• Restart the router.
• Try moving the router closer to the TV.
• Update the router's firmware.
• If nothing helps, read our article on Smart TV Wi-Fi problems.

Account Setup

Most Smart TVs require an account for access to the app store and full functionality:

Samsung (Tizen / Tizen OS)

Samsung asks you to create or sign into a Samsung Account. With an account, you gain access to the Samsung App Store, cloud features, and synchronisation between Samsung devices. You can sign in with a Google account or create a separate Samsung Account with any email address.

LG (webOS)

LG offers you to create an LG Account. It's needed for the LG Content Store (app shop) and LG ThinQ (smartphone-based control). Creation is free and takes a couple of minutes.

Sony, Philips (Google TV / Android TV)

TVs running Google TV or Android TV require a Google account (Gmail). Through it, you gain access to the Google Play Store, YouTube, Google Assistant, and the entire Google ecosystem. If you already have a Google account on your smartphone, simply sign in with the same credentials.

Apple TV (Built into Some Models)

Some modern Samsung and LG TVs have a built-in Apple TV app. To use it, you need an Apple ID. If you use an iPhone or iPad, sign in with the same Apple ID to access your purchases and subscriptions.

Picture Calibration

Factory picture settings on most TVs are designed for the showroom floor — vivid, punchy colours that catch the eye in a shop but tire your eyes at home. Proper calibration is essential for comfortable viewing.

Choosing a Picture Mode

Start by selecting a preset mode:

• Cinema / Filmmaker Mode — the most accurate mode, closest to what the director intended. Disables excessive processing, correct colour temperature (D65), smooth motion without the "soap opera effect." Recommended for films and series.
• Standard — a compromise between accuracy and brightness. Suitable for everyday viewing.
• Dynamic / Vivid — maximum brightness and saturation. Only suitable for very bright rooms, and even then tiring on the eyes over long periods.
• Game — minimum input lag. Use for console gaming.

For most viewers, Cinema or Standard is the optimal choice.

Key Parameters for Manual Adjustment

If you'd like to fine-tune manually:

• Brightness: affects the black level. Set it so dark areas of the image are truly black but don't "crush" into complete darkness with loss of detail.
• Contrast: determines the white level. Set it so bright areas are vivid but don't "blow out" — you should be able to see details in white clouds and snow.
• Colour temperature: choose "Warm" or "Warm 2" — this is closer to the D65 standard (6,500K), considered the reference for video. "Cool" mode gives a bluish tint and tires the eyes.
• Sharpness: the factory value is usually too high. Try reducing to 5-15 out of 100 — for 4K content, high sharpness creates artificial halos around objects.
• Backlight / OLED Brightness: adjusts the overall screen brightness. For a dark room, 40-60%; for a bright room, 70-90%.

Turn Off Unnecessary Processing

Modern TVs enable numerous image "enhancement" features by default. Most are worth disabling:

• Motion interpolation (Motion Smoothing, TruMotion, Motionflow, Auto Motion Plus) — creates the "soap opera effect," making cinema look like a cheap daytime drama. Disable or set to minimum.
• Dynamic contrast — abruptly changes backlight brightness between scenes. Can be distracting. Disable.
• Noise reduction — unnecessary for quality 4K content; only useful for low-resolution broadcast TV.
• Eco Mode / Energy Saving — reduces brightness. Disable if the picture looks dim.

Sound Settings

Built-in Speakers

Built-in speakers in modern TVs are a compromise. The slim casing doesn't allow for quality acoustics. But you can improve the sound:

• Choose the "Cinema" or "Standard" sound mode — they're more balanced than "Music" or "Sport."
• Enable the dialogue mode (Clear Voice / Voice Enhancer) — it makes voices clearer.
• If the TV is wall-mounted, enable "Wall Mount" mode in sound settings (available on Samsung, LG). It compensates for sound reflecting off the wall.

Connecting a Soundbar via HDMI ARC / eARC

If you want good sound, a soundbar connects via HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC (Enhanced ARC):

1. Find the HDMI port on the TV labelled ARC (usually HDMI 2 or HDMI 3 — varies by brand).
2. Connect the soundbar to this port with an HDMI cable.
3. In the TV's sound settings, select "HDMI ARC" or "External Speakers" as the primary audio output.
4. Ensure CEC is enabled (details below).

ARC vs eARC: standard ARC transmits compressed audio (Dolby Digital, DTS). eARC supports uncompressed multi-channel audio (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, Dolby Atmos). If your soundbar supports Atmos, use eARC and a high-speed HDMI cable.

CEC Setup (One-Remote Control)

HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is a feature that lets you control multiple devices with a single remote. For example, switching on the TV automatically turns on the soundbar; adjusting the volume with the TV remote changes the soundbar volume.

Each brand uses its own name for CEC:

• Samsung: Anynet+
• LG: SimpLink
• Sony: BRAVIA Sync
• Philips: EasyLink
• Hisense: Anyview Cast / HDMI CEC
• TCL: T-Link

To enable CEC:

1. Go to Settings → General → HDMI CEC (the path varies by brand).
2. Enable the CEC function.
3. Enable automatic power on/off so devices turn on and off with the TV.
4. Restart the TV and connected devices.

Installing Apps

Essential Apps for Latvia

After connecting to the internet, install the apps you need from the store:

• Streaming: Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+
• Local TV: Tet TV (if you have a subscription), Shortcut
• Music: Spotify, YouTube Music
• Sport: DAZN (if available in the region)

How to Install Apps

• Samsung: open the Samsung App Store → find the app → tap "Install."
• LG: open the LG Content Store → find the app → "Install."
• Sony / Philips (Google TV): open Google Play Store → find the app → "Install."

Organising Apps on the Home Screen

Add frequently used apps to the home screen or quick-access bar. On most TVs, this is done by long-pressing the app icon → "Add to Home Screen" or "Move."

Accessibility Features

Modern Smart TVs have built-in features for people with disabilities:

• Voice control — operate the TV using voice commands via the built-in microphone in the remote (Samsung Bixby, LG ThinQ, Google Assistant).
• Screen reader / Voice Guide — the TV reads out menus and controls for the visually impaired.
• Subtitles — enable subtitles for content.
• Text enlargement — larger menu font for the visually impaired.
• High contrast — high-contrast interface mode.

These features are available under Settings → Accessibility.

Parental Controls

If there are children in the household, set up parental controls:

• Channel blocking — select channels to block and set a PIN code.
• Age restrictions — configure the permitted age rating for content.
• Viewing time limits — some TVs allow you to set an auto-off timer.
• App blocking — lock access to individual apps with a PIN code.

Parental controls are found under Settings → General → Parental Controls (the path varies by brand).

Firmware Updates

After completing the setup, check for firmware updates:

1. Go to Settings → Support → Software Update (the path varies by brand).
2. Select "Update Now" or "Check for Updates."
3. If an update is available, install it. The update may take 10-20 minutes, during which the TV must not be switched off.

Firmware updates fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features. We recommend enabling automatic updates — the TV will download and install updates overnight when not in use.

Useful Tips After Setup

• Disable shop demo mode. If the picture looks unnaturally bright and promotional banners occasionally appear on screen, the TV may be running in "Demo" or "Shop" mode. Go to Settings → General → Usage Mode and select "Home."
• Enable HDR mode. If your TV supports HDR and you watch HDR content, ensure HDR is enabled for the HDMI input you're using. On some TVs, this must be activated manually (Samsung: Input Signal Plus; LG: HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color).
• Set a sleep timer. The TV can switch off automatically after a set period — handy if you fall asleep in front of it.
• Register your TV on the manufacturer's website for warranty service.

When to Visit a Service Centre

Smart TV setup is a process most users can handle themselves. But if you encounter problems that settings can't resolve, we're here to help:

• The TV won't connect to Wi-Fi after every attempt — there may be a hardware fault with the Wi-Fi module.
• No sound via HDMI ARC — there could be an issue with the HDMI port or the control board.
• The picture is distorted, flickering, or shows artefacts — diagnosis is needed.
• The TV is stuck on the boot screen and won't load the system — a software or hardware failure.

The SATER service centre repairs Samsung, LG, Sony, Philips, Hisense, TCL, and other brands of television. We've been operating in Riga since 1993 — over 30 years at the same address, Silmaču iela 6. We have 186 Google reviews with a 4.3★ rating.