LG OLED TV F38 Error Code – No-Nonsense Fix Guide

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What This Error Means

F38 on an LG OLED TV means the TV has detected an internal hardware fault in its electronics, usually the power supply or main board.

Plain English: the TV doesn’t like what it sees on its power or control lines, so it locks up or shuts down and throws F38 to protect itself.

What you usually see:
  • TV tries to turn on, logo or backlight blip, then F38 shows and/or the set powers off.
  • Sometimes it clicks on and off in a loop, then stops responding.
  • Remote may still light up, but the TV won’t stay on.
This is not a “settings” problem. It’s the TV saying: something inside is out of spec.

Official Fix

LG’s official playbook on this one is short: reset it, strip it down, and if the code stays, get the boards checked or replaced.

Run through this in order:
  • 1. Hard power reset (not just standby)
    • Turn the TV off with the remote.
    • Unplug the power cord from the wall. Pull it fully out.
    • Hold the power button on the TV (not the remote) for 15–20 seconds to dump any leftover charge.
    • Wait 5–10 minutes with it unplugged.
    • Plug it directly into a wall outlet, no surge strip, no extension.
    • Turn it on and see if F38 comes back.
  • 2. Kill all external gear
    • Unplug everything from the TV: HDMI, USB, soundbar, game consoles, antenna, CI card, all of it.
    • Leave only power connected.
    • Turn the TV on. If it now starts without F38, add devices back one at a time. A bad device or cable can trip the protection if it drags a voltage rail down.
  • 3. Check for heat and blocked vents
    • Make sure the TV is not jammed tight in a cabinet or against a wall. It needs a few inches of airflow.
    • Look at the rear vents. If they are packed with dust, lightly vacuum or blow them out (TV unplugged).
    • Let the TV cool for 20–30 minutes, then try power again.
  • 4. Try a firmware update (if it stays on long enough)
    • If you can get to the webOS menu before F38 drops it, go to Settings → Support → Software Update.
    • Update if an update is available, then power-cycle once more.
    • If it crashes before you can update, skip this. Don’t fight it.
  • 5. Factory reset via menu (only if stable enough)
    • If the TV will stay on for a few minutes, go to Settings → General → Reset to Initial Settings.
    • Run the reset, then test again with no external devices plugged in.
    • If F38 still returns after a clean reset and bare setup, you are past anything software can fix.
  • 6. When LG says: stop and call service
    • If F38 comes back after the hard reset and bare‑bones test, the manual answer is: internal fault.
    • Real translation: the power supply board, main board, or panel drive circuitry likely has a failing component.
    • At this point, the official fix is board‑level repair or straight board swap by an LG service center.
Safety note: Don’t open the TV if you are not used to working around high voltage. The power supply holds charge and can bite even unplugged. Under warranty? Stop now and get LG involved so you don’t void coverage.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: High‑end LG OLED under ~5–6 years old, good screen (no burn‑in), and a repair quote for power/main board under roughly 30–40% of a similar new model.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: TV is 6–8 years old, out of warranty, or needs “diagnosis first” with no clear cap on price; worth it only if you love the set and a repair shop gives a solid estimate.
  • ❌ Replace: Visible burn‑in, cracked panel, or multiple boards quoted; if the repair number is close to a new mid‑range OLED, put that money toward a new TV instead.

Parts You Might Need

  • Power supply board (PSU) – common culprit when the set tries to start, then shuts down with an F‑code.
    Find Power supply board on Amazon
  • Main board / main logic board – handles signal processing, HDMI, and a lot of the protection logic that can trigger F38.
    Find Main board on Amazon
  • Power cable for LG OLED TV – cheap, but worth swapping if the original plug is loose, damaged, or burnt.
    Find Power cable on Amazon
  • HDMI cable (high‑speed, certified) – a shorted or garbage HDMI lead can drag lines down and help trigger protection on marginal boards.
    Find HDMI cable on Amazon
  • Surge protector / line conditioner – if your power is dirty or you’ve lost gear to surges before, protect the new board or new TV.
    Find Surge protector on Amazon
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