LG TV Can't Change Aspect Ratio, Greyed Out (Here's Why)

Do you have an LG TV that won’t let you change the aspect ratio because the option is grayed out?

Not to worry, you are not the only one facing this issue, and I know it can be frustrating, especially since we used to be able to control the Aspect Ratio of TVs when we used to have older TVs.

As a victim myself as I faced it on my LG C1, I will explain why your LG TV is not allowing you to change the aspect ratio, why it happens, and what needs to be done to get it sorted.

Basically, When this occurs, you may find that you are unable to change your aspect ratio no matter what settings you try to use.

First, Just to get a bit idea about the Aspect Ratio on TVs, let’s see what it is and how it affects the TV viewing experience.

It is the ratio between the width and height of a display.
Different aspect ratios produce different sizes of images, such as a standard 4:3 ratio or a wide 16:9 ratio.
This is especially important as an incorrect aspect ratio can lead to incorrect-sized pictures or black bars on your screen.

Why Can’t I Change the Aspect Ratio On My LG TV?

Aspect Ratio Greyed Out On LG TV — LG TV Aspect Ratio Settings Greyed Out

Let’s see common reasons which can restrict the Aspect Ratio option to be disabled or Grayed out:

This usually happens when you are attempting to watch Dolby Vision or Ultra HD 4K content, Because that is already formatted into the best picture size which can not be changed.
Moreover, it also occurs when using native apps such as Netflix, where the aspect ratio option may be grayed out on the LG TV, as native apps don’t allow changes in picture size.

Finally, another problem that may arise is when playing games on an LG TV. You may find that there are black bars on one corner of your screen, I’ve covered that as well.

Let’s take a look further to see how these can be sorted.

How to troubleshoot a TV that can’t change the Aspect Ratio?

Now that we have gone over some of the causes of this issue, let’s look at some solutions that may help you get your LG TV to allow you to change its aspect ratio.

Lower the Resolution

Make sure you are not playing 4K, Dolby Vision content as the TV itself adjusts the best screen size to display and restricts any changes to the Aspect Ratio of the TV.

As often 4K content restricts any manual changes to picture size which means changing the aspect ratio. If this is the case, then switch to a lower-resolution format and see if this helps fix the issue.

Change HDMI Inputs

Another solution is to switch HDMI inputs if you find that using a particular HDMI input has caused your aspect ratio to become disabled.

It’s because, sometimes due to temporary glitches the Aspect Ratio option becomes grayed out depending on the connected input source, and switching the HDMI ports or using different HDMI inputs will enable the option of Aspect Ratio which you will be able to change.

Use Streaming Devices

If these solutions do not work, then it may be worth trying a streaming device such as a Chromecast or Roku in order to take control of your LG TV’s aspect ratio settings.

It’s because the native apps which are already installed on your LG TV like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video, don’t provide any option to change the Aspect Ratio like it used to happen on older TVs.

So in this case, if you still wish to change the Aspect Ratio, you need to use external streaming devices like Firestick, Roku, Apple TV, etc on your LG TV.

Factory Reset

Moreover, if you are unable to change the Aspect Ratio with certain HDMI inputs where you used to do it, then it happens due to a glitch in the TV settings or if the AI picture modes are enabled which takes care of the best picture size itself restricting any manual changes.

And, If you feel like the Aspect Ratio was not grayed out earlier and your HDMI input source requires you to change the Aspect Ratio then you need to perform a hard reset to change the TV settings to factory default.

The last solution you should try is a factory reset. This will reset all of your settings back to their default values and may help fix any issues with your device’s settings and enable the Aspect Ratio option again on your LG TV.

Fix Black Bars on LG TV Which Comes While Playing Games

In case you wish to correct the display size on your LG TV which is showing black bars or lines on any side of the screen, you need to tweak the “Screen Move” settings.

Here’s how to do it:

“Screen Mode: Support – OLED Care – OLED Panel Care – Screen Move” which should fix the issue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are an LG TV user and are having difficulty changing your aspect ratio then you are not alone and there are a few solutions worth trying.

It usually happens due to incorrect picture settings, native app restrictions, higher-quality content that restricts manual picture size changes, etc.

To quickly wrap it up for you, there are a few things you can do when the Aspect Ratio option is grayed out on your LG TV, which include performing a factory reset, switching HDMI inputs, using a streaming device to take control of your aspect ratio settings, and making sure that you are not trying to watch 4K content which may prevent you from changing your aspect ratio.