How to get the most out of a smart TV

This guide is for anyone who has a smart TV sitting in the corner and isn't quite sure what it can do, or for family members helping a parent get started. By the end, you'll be able to connect to your home broadband, watch BBC iPlayer, Netflix and YouTube, and adjust the picture, subtitles and audio settings to suit you. No technical background needed.

A quick note on what "smart" means here: a smart TV is simply a television with built-in internet access and a set of apps, much like a smartphone but on a bigger screen. You don't need a separate box for most streaming services. The TV handles it all.

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Step 1: Connect your TV to Wi-Fi

Before any of the apps will work, the TV needs to be connected to your home broadband. This is a one-time setup that takes about five minutes.

Take your remote and look for a button labelled Settings, Menu or a small cog icon. Press it. On screen you'll see a list of options. Look for Network or Wi-Fi (Samsung TVs often call this "Network"; LG TVs use "Wi-Fi Connection"; Sony TVs label it "Network & Internet"). Select it and the TV will search for nearby Wi-Fi networks.

Find your home network's name in the list. If you're not sure what it's called, check the label on the back of your broadband router (the box your internet provider gave you). Select your network, then type in the password, also printed on the router label. TV remotes can be slow for typing, so take your time. Press OK or Connect when done.

The TV will confirm the connection, usually with a green tick or the words "Connected".

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Step 2: Set up BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer is free, requires no subscription, and gives you live BBC channels plus years' worth of programmes on demand.

From your TV's home screen, look for an icon labelled BBC iPlayer. On most modern smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense), it's pre-installed. If you don't see it, look for an Apps section on the home screen and search for "BBC iPlayer" there.

Open the app. It will ask you to sign in with a BBC account. If you haven't got one, you can create one free at bbc.co.uk/register on a phone or computer. You'll need an email address and a password you choose yourself. Once you have those details, select Sign In in the app and enter them using the remote.

You'll also be asked to confirm you have a valid TV licence. Simply select Yes if you do.

After signing in, you can browse programmes by category, search for something specific, or go straight to a live channel. The top of the screen usually has a row labelled Channels for live viewing.

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Step 3: Set up Netflix

Netflix requires a paid subscription, starting from around £4.99 a month as of early 2025 (the standard tier costs more and removes adverts). If someone in your household already has an account, you can use their login details.

Open the Netflix app from your TV's home screen. Select Sign In. Enter the email address and password linked to the Netflix account. The TV remote keyboard can be fiddly, so go slowly.

Once signed in, you'll see a row of profile icons. Each person in the household can have their own. Select yours (or set one up if you're new).

Netflix will remember you after this. The next time you open the app, it goes straight to your profile.

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Step 4: Set up YouTube

YouTube is free and carries an enormous range of content: cookery, gardening, documentaries, music, old TV clips, exercise classes for older adults and much more. You don't need to create an account to watch, which makes it the easiest of the three to start with.

Find the YouTube app on your home screen and open it. You'll be asked whether you want to sign in or continue as a guest. For a first go, selecting Use YouTube without signing in is perfectly fine. You can browse and search for anything you like.

If you do want to sign in (it means YouTube remembers what you've watched and suggests similar things), you'll be given a short code on screen. Go to youtube.com/activate on your phone or computer, type the code in, and the TV will log in automatically. No typing your password through the remote.

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Step 5: Turn on subtitles

Subtitles make an enormous difference, especially in rooms with background noise or for anyone with any degree of hearing loss.

On BBC iPlayer: While a programme is playing, press OK or the centre button on your remote to bring up the playback controls. Look for a speech bubble icon or a button labelled AD/Subtitles. Select Subtitles: On.

On Netflix: Press the down arrow on your remote while something is playing. A menu appears at the bottom of the screen. Select the speech bubble icon (Audio & Subtitles), then choose English under the Subtitles column.

On YouTube: Press down while a video is playing to see the controls. Select the three-dot menu or the CC button (Closed Captions) and switch subtitles on.

On some TVs, you can also set subtitles on by default for all content. Look under Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and set them to always on. This saves doing it manually each time.

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Step 6: Turn on audio description

Audio description (AD) adds a narrator who describes on-screen action, so you can follow what's happening without relying entirely on visuals. It's particularly useful for anyone with sight loss.

On BBC iPlayer: The same AD/Subtitles button mentioned in Step 5 also controls audio description. Select Audio Description: On.

On Netflix: Through the Audio & Subtitles menu (the speech bubble icon), look for an audio track labelled English - Audio Description and select it.

On your TV generally: Many TVs also have a system-wide audio description setting for broadcast TV. On Samsung, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Audio Description. On LG, it's Settings > Accessibility > Audio Description. Turn the toggle on.

Not all programmes carry an audio description track; those that do will usually show a small "AD" badge in the programme listing.

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Step 7: Adjust text size and picture settings

The default text on many smart TVs is surprisingly small. A few minutes adjusting the accessibility settings can make a real difference.

For text size, go to Settings > Accessibility on your TV. Samsung, LG and Sony all include a text scaling or "Zoom" option here that enlarges menus and on-screen text. It won't affect the picture itself, just the TV's interface.

For picture brightness and contrast, particularly helpful if the room is bright or if the picture looks harsh, go to Settings > Picture. Look for a mode called Movie or Cinema; in my experience, it tends to be gentler on the eyes than the default "Standard" or "Vivid" mode, which is often set very bright in showrooms.

If you use a hearing loop or other assistive audio device, also check Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Accessibility (Samsung) or Settings > Accessibility > Menu Audio (LG) for options to boost menu audio or mono sound.

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