LG G5 User Manual & Setup Guide

If you need a manual or help with the setup of your LG G5, check out our user guide to start using your handset, connect to the internet and more!

1. Unboxing and assembling your LG G5
2. Set up your phone for the first time
3. Connecting to Wi-Fi and mobile networks
4. Find out how to add your email accounts
5. How to add and import contacts to your LG G5
6. Using the Play Store to find new apps
7. Securing your LG G5 with a lock screen
8. How to make phone calls on your LG G5
9. Send text & picture messages
10. Sending emails and attachments on your LG G5
11. How to set alarms on the LG G5
12. Read our tips to learn more about your phone

click here for LG's G5 user manual

Unboxing and assembling your LG G5

So, first of all, let's make sure you have everything you need. Inside the box* you should find:

• 1 x LG G5 with removable battery
• 1 x Mains adaptor
• 1 x USB cable
• 1 x Wired headset
• 1 x SIM removal tool
• 1 x Information pack

*some box contents may vary

Assembly

There is no real assembly required in order to use your new LG G5. The only thing to do is install the nano-SIM and microSD (memory) cards into their tray. This can be located towards the bottom end of the right hand edge of the G5's body, where you should be able to see its outline, and the pin hole at the upper end of it..

Insert the pin end SIM tool into the hole at the end of the outline of the tray. press this into the body and the tray will pop out. Remove the SIM tool, and then slide the tray out from the body of the phone. Place the G5 on a flat surface screen side up, with the tray slot facing you.

Looking at the tray as it came out of the phone, the memory card should be placed into the larger holder on the left, orientated to that the narrow end slides in first, and with the gold-coloured contacts facing down. The SIM card should be placed into the smaller holder on the right, with the gold-coloured contacts facing down, and the cut off corner nearest the pin hole on the tray (as shown in the image.

Finally slide the tray back into the body of the phone, taking care not to dislodge either card as you do so. When the tray is flush with the edge of the phone, you're ready to turn it on and get started on setting up your new handset.

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Set up your phone for the first time

Before you turn on the G5 for the first time, please make sure you have inserted the SIM (and memory card, if required) correctly, as described in the previous chapter.

Push the power button on the back of the handset to turn it on, holding it in for a few seconds until you feel a vibration. The phone will then turn on, and display the setup wizard.

1. Choose your language, it may already be correct but you can change it by tapping on it. Once you're happy with your language selection tap the Right arrow.
2. Choose which internet connections you'd like to enable with the switches. Mobile Network should already be enabled, and if you wish to connect to Wi-Fi networks then tap that switch to turn it on too. Tap Next when you're ready to move on.
3. To connect to a Wi-Fi network, tap its name, or tap Next to skip this (which I wouldn't recommend, as the G5 will download updates after the setup wizard completes, which may use a lot of data).
4. Enter the wireless password when prompted. This may be shown on a sticker on your router, and is sometimes referred to as a WEP key, WPA key or wireless passphrase. Check your typing if you wish by tapping the Show password box, and when you are ready to proceed tap Connect.

5. If successful, you will see the word Connected under the network name, which will now be coloured blue. You should also see a Wi-Fi indicator (a fan-shaped symbol next to the mobile signal bars, as shown left) on the top line of the display. Tap Next.
6. You will be asked whether you have another device, as the G5 can quickly copy your current setup. This uses Tap & Go, which is a method of transferring apps and data from an existing Android device using NFC. If you wish to try this, tap Copy Google accounts.... As NFC isn't universally supported, we'd recommend skipping this by tapping No, thanks and then tapping Next.
7. Next you will be asked to sign in with your Google account (an email address ending @googlemail.com or @gmail.com) which will unlock some great features on your phone. Without one you can't browse the Play Store or sync your contacts! If you don't have an account already, you can get one for free by tapping Create a new account and completing the onscreen form. You could also Skip this step, but your use of the G5 will be severely restricted without a Google account.
8. If you already have a Google account, enter your Google address where indicated and tap Next to continue.

9. If you're signing in, enter your Gmail password where indicated then tap Next.
10. In order to sign in you have to agree to the Terms of Service and the Privacy Policy. Tap the links to inspect these, and when you are ready to proceed tap Accept.
11. The next page is about background services your Google account can perform. The options are all ticked by default, so if you wish to opt out of any service here untick the box. The first section is allows the G5 to Back up to your Google account which is extremely useful when it comes to upgrading or replacing a lost or damaged handset, and therefore something we would recommend. Tap the down arrow to see the other options.
12. Location settings relate to letting your phone (and Google) know where in the world you are, which will help improve internet search results, and satellite navigation apps will thank you for it. You can also help improve location services by allowing the handset to check for Wi-Fi networks even when Wi-Fi is turned off. The final option allows the G5 to send back anonymous information to Google. Untick any of these if you wish to opt out of that service, and when you're ready to proceed tap the down arrow again.

13. When you reach the bottom of the Google services page, tap Next to move forward through the setup wizard.
14. The Play Store contains a lot of paid-for content including music and premium apps, as well as free items. You can add your card details now if you want to, set up mobile network billing (if permitted by your network) or redeem a Play Store voucher. You can also choose No, thanks if you don't want to complete this now. When you've selected your billing option, tap Next.
15. If your Google account was used on a previous Android device, you may be offered a backup(s) to restore from. Tap your old device's name to see what backups are available to restore.
16. When you have chosen the backup, you can elect to install some or all of the apps used on that device by tapping on the Also include line. Uncheck any apps you don't want to transfer, then tap Next to restore the data back to your new G5.

17. If you don't want to restore any of the available backups, and would rather start over and set up your handset as a new device, then select Set up as new device from the Restore from this backup menu.
18. You will then be invited to Protect your phone by adding a screen lock. Your options will be to Set up fingerprint unlocking, Set up a PIN, pattern or password, or to say No, thanks to protecting your data. When you've made your choice, tap Next.
19. In our example we've chosen to set up fingerprint unlocking, which the screen advises will require you to set up an alternative unlock method as well, should the sensor not be able to detect your fingerprint. If you chose another option, you won't see this screen. Tap Next to proceed.
20. Select the screen lock you would like to use by tapping the appropriate option onscreen; Knock Code, Pattern, PIN or Password. A Knock code is a series of taps onto the handset's screen, Pattern allows you to draw a pattern over a grid of dots, PIN is a simple 4-8 digit numeric code, and Password is a more complex combination of letters and numbers (it doesn't have to be an actual word, as long as you can remember it!)

21. In our example we're setting a PIN, and this gives you the option to have the G5 require the PIN when the phone starts, giving an extra layer of security. Choose whether to require this or not, then tap Next.
22. You will now enter your chosen unlock method. Enter the PIN you'd like to set, then tap Next.
23. Repeat the PIN you wish to use (to ensure you got it right!) and tap OK. As long as they match, this will be your new unlock code.
24. You can choose what notification information shows on the lock screen. Hide all and Show all are self explanatory, the option to Hide sensitive is probably the most useful - you can see there are notifications, but the detailed content is hidden until you unlock the screen. Choose the option you prefer (you can always change it later) then tap OK.

25. If you're setting up fingerprint unlocking, you will now be prompted to place your finger onto the sensor (it's contained within the power button on the back of the G5) in order to scan it. Remove and replace it several times when prompted until you see advising you that your fingerprint has been added. You can Add more fingerprints if you wish (we cover this in a later chapter) or you can move on by tapping Next.
26. The End User Licence Agreement is the next screen shown to you. Inspect the legal information displayed, and tap the box to tick it to show you agree. You will also see information about Software Updates. Again, read the information and agree by ticking the box. When you are ready to proceed tap the down arrow.
27. You will now be shown information regarding Activity logs and Low power location estimation. The paragraphs under each heading outline what this information is used for. Tick both boxes to agree to them and tap Doneto complete the setup.

You will now be looking at the home screen of your LG G5. At the bottom of the screen is a bar with three icons on it. The circle is the Home button, the square is Recent Apps and the triangle is Back. Tapping the Home icon will always bring you back to this home screen.

Now that your handset is up and running, why don't you read through the other chapters in this guide to discover how to import your contacts, receive email on your phone and download more apps!

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Connecting to Wi-Fi and mobile networks

connecting to Wi-Fi

1. Tap the Apps icon on your home screen, then tap the Settings icon.
2. If it's not already selected, tap the Networks tab at the top of the screen.
3. Check that the Wi-Fi switch is blue, which means that Wi-Fi is switched on. If it's grey just tap the switch to enable it.
4. Tap Wi-Fi.

5. You should now see a list of nearby wireless networks, tap on the one you want to connect to.
6. Input the wireless Password when prompted, you can tick the Show password box if you wish to be certain of typing it correctly. When you're ready to proceed, tap Connect.
7. If successful, the network name will turn blue and you'll see the word Connected underneath.

You can check if the phone is using a Wi-Fi connection by looking for the fan icon in the notification area at the top of the screen.

connecting to Mobile Data

In order to check and configure the mobile data connection, you will need to turn off Wi-Fi. The mobile data connection is indicated by letters next to the signal bars on the top line of the display (as shown left). The letters may vary to indicate different speeds (G, E, 3G, H, H+ or 4G), but the presence of any letter here indicates an active data connection.

1. From the home screen, swipe down from the top or tap the Apps icon, then tap on Settings.
2. If it's not already selected, tap the Networks option at the top of the screen.
3. If Wi-Fi is turned on (blue indicator) then tap the switch to turn it off - but remember to turn it back on again once you have got your mobile internet connection working! Check that the Mobile Data switch is blue, this means that your data connection is switched on. If it's grey just tap the switch to enable it, then check for a data indicator.
4. If you're still not connected, the settings themselves may be incorrect. Scroll to the bottom and tap More.

5. Tap Mobile Networks.
6. The settings that control your handset connecting to the internet are called APN settings, so to change these tap Access point names.
7. The active network setting should have a blue dot against it. If this is not alongside your network's name, or none of the listed networks are enabled, tap on the correct setting in the list to activate it.

8. If your network isn't listed, or if there are no networks at all, tap the Menu button (three dots in the top right-hand corner).
9. Tap Reset to default. This will read all the available settings stored on the SIM card, and you may be required to select your mobile network operator from a list displayed onscreen.
10. Tap the radio button next to the correct access point to enable it.

If after resetting to default you still don't see your network listed, then you can enter the settings manually. Tap the Menu button again and then tap New APN. Complete the onscreen form with your mobile network's correct settings, then tap the Menu button and tap Save. Activate the setting by tapping the circle to put the blue dot into it.

To help you enter the APN manually, we have written a series of Access Point Name (APN) settings guides covering the most popular UK mobile networks to help you. If your mobile network isn't listed, you may need to contact them directly to ask them to send the settings through to your new phone.

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Find out how to add your email accounts

The G5 supports multiple POP3, IMAP or Exchange accounts so if you have one email address for work and a separate one for home, receiving those emails is simple. Simply follow the guide below to set up your preferred email accounts, along with setting up a Google email (or Gmail), a vital necessity for almost all Android devices.

Gmail Setup

We covered setting up a Google account in the initial setup, but if you didn't complete it then you can add one now.

1. From the home screen, tap the Settings icon.
2. At the top of the settings menu are several tabs. Tap the General tab.
3. In the personal section, tap Accounts and sync.
4. Any accounts already set up on your G5 will show onscreen. At the bottom, tap Add account.

5. Tap Google to start adding a Gmail account to the phone.
6. If you don't yet have a Google account you can set one up for free by tapping Create a new account and completing the onscreen form.
7. If you already have a Google account, enter it in the space provided then tap Next.
8. To finish signing in, enter the password for your Google account into the space provided and tap Next.

9. In order to add your Google account you will have to agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Tap a link to look at the relevant agreements, and when you are ready to move on tap Accept.
10. Google will offer to back up information from your phone, such as Wi-Fi passwords, apps and their data, amongst other things. If you don't want this to happen, untick the box, and when you are ready to proceed tap the arrow, then tap Next.
11. You may be asked to set up some payment details in order to purchase apps and other media from the Play Store. Tap your chosen payment method, or skip this by selecting No, thanks, then tap Next.

You should now see the Google account listed on the Accounts and sync page of the settings. Continue adding more accounts, or return to the home screen and then check the GMail app for your messages!

Email Setup

Email from most providers should set up automatically, in much the same way as adding the Google account:

1. From the home screen, tap Settings.
2. In the settings menu, tap the General tab at the top right, then tap Accounts & sync.
3. You will see a list of the accounts that are already set up on your G5. At the bottom, tap Add account.
4. If you have an Exchange email account (often used by employers and education providers) choose Microsoft Exchange. If you are not certain of your account type, tap Email.

5. If you tapped the Email option, you will then need to tap Other to proceed.
6. Most email accounts can be configured quite quickly. Enter your email address and password for your email account in the space provided and tap Next.
7. Choose a name for your account, then fill in your name in the second box. This will be displayed on any emails you send from your phone so keep it clean! Once you're happy with your details, tap Done to finish the email setup.
8. If all went well you should see an email account showing in the Accounts & sync page.

If your account didn't set up successfully you may need to re-enter your password. If this still doesn't work, you may need to do a manual setup to get your account onto your G5. You will need to know your email address, password, and incoming & outgoing mail servers. The port numbers are usually filled in automatically but in some circumstances may need to be changed.

Check out the Geek Squad guide to email server settings to assist you with manually setting up your account, but if you are still struggling to get your email added to your phone, why don't you check out our support options and give us a call.

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How to add and import contacts to your LG

Need helping moving your contacts across to your new LG G5? Check out our guide to migrating your contacts and data to an LG smartphone, where we've got all the information you need to keep your contacts safe. Whether you're switching from iPhone, Windows or another Android you'll find all the help you need.

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Using the Play Store to find new apps

Downloading new apps and games is one of the more fun things to do on your phone, but it isn't always easy! If you're struggling and want to know more about how to get the apps you want, click the link to read our guide where we've got all the help you need! Find apps and games you'll like as well as re-discovering apps you've enjoyed in the past.

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Securing your LG G5 with a lock screen

To get started, tap the Settings icon on the Home screen.

1. With the settings open, tap the Display tab at the top, then tap Lock Screen.
2. In the screen security section, tap Select screen lock.
3. Select the screen lock you would like to use by tapping the appropriate option onscreen; Knock Code, Pattern, PIN or Password. A Knock code is a series of taps onto the handset's screen, Pattern allows you to draw a pattern over a grid of dots, PIN is a simple 4-8 digit numeric code, and Password is a more complex combination of letters and numbers (it doesn't have to be an actual word, as long as you can remember it!)
4. In our example we're setting a PIN, and this gives you the option to have the G5 require the PIN when the phone starts, giving an extra layer of security. Choose whether to require this or not, then tap Next.

5. You will now enter your chosen unlock method. Enter the PIN you'd like to set, then tap Next.
6. Repeat the PIN you wish to use (to ensure you got it right!) and tap OK. As long as they match, this will be your new unlock code.
7. You can choose what notification information shows on the lock screen. Hide all and Show all are self explanatory, the option to Hide sensitive is probably the most useful - you can see there are notifications, but the detailed content is hidden until you unlock the screen. Choose the option you prefer (you can always change it later) then tap OK.
8. Now that you've added a secure lock method to your G5, you will be asked whether you'd like to use your fingerprint to unlock the screen. Tap Add to set this up, or Cancel to skip this and just use the security method you've added.

9. If you're adding fingerprint unlocking, you will be advised of the need to have an alternative unlock method set up - but you've probably just done that! Tap Next to continue.
10. To get into the fingerprint settings, you'll need to input your current security PIN or password. Enter it, then tap Next.
11. Place your finger onto the sensor (it's contained within the power button on the back of the G5) in order to scan your fingerprint. Remove and replace it several times when prompted until you see advising you that your fingerprint has been added. You can Add more fingerprints if you wish (we cover this below too) or you can move on by tapping Next.
12. You will see that your fingerprint has been added. You can tap the name to change it (perhaps so you know which finger you used) or tap the bin icon to delete that print.

Add More Fingerprints

At any time you can add further fingerprints, up to a maximum of 5.

1. From the home screen, tap the Settings icon then tap the General tab at the top.
2. Tap Fingerprints & security.
3. Tap Fingerprints.
4. Enter your unlock code to allow access to the security settings.
5. Tap Add fingerprint and then follow the onscreen prompts to scan your print as before.

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How to make phone calls on your LG

The first step to making a phone call is to open the Phone icon from the home screen by tapping on it. This is in the bottom-left corner by default.

1. To make a call, dial a number and press the blue button to start the call. If the number is linked to a contact, their name may appear as you type. Tap the correct name to call that person.
2. If you want to call a contact in your phone, you can use the keypad to spell out their name. There are letters beside each number; Tap the numbers to spell the name (in our example we're spelling out "Danny" by tapping "32669") and the LG G5 will find them in your contact list! If you know more than one person with the name you're searching, you'll need to tap the correct contact from the suggestions.
3. If you prefer, you can search your contacts directly from the Contacts screen by tapping into the search box at the top.
4. Whenever you have the contact you'd like to call on screen, tap their name and the G5 will automatically dial them!

To view your call history, open the phone app and tap on the call logs tab found at the top. This will show all incoming and outgoing calls on your G5.

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Send text & picture messages

How to send an SMS text message

Find and tap the Messaging app from your home screen. The icon looks like a yellow and white speech bubble, and if you have unread messages, you will see a badge in the corner showing you have unread items.

1. To compose a new message, tap on the compose button (which is a white cross on a yellow circle) at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Now you're looking at a blank text message. Pick the recipient by tapping in the To box.
3. You can enter a mobile number directly using the numeric keyboard, or you can start to type a contact's name. If you're entering text, matching contacts will appear below as you type. Tap on the contact you're trying to text to select them as the recipient.
4. Now you've chosen who you're messaging, it's time to type out what you want to say. Tap into the Write message box and type your message.
5. If you're just sending a text message, tapping the send button to the right of the text box will send your message.

Add an attachment to send an MMS

6. If you want to add an attachment, such as a picture, video or sound recording, tap the paperclip to the left of the send button.
7. Options will appear in place of the keyboard to allow you to choose what you'd like to attach to your message. You could take a new photo using the camera, attach a picture that's already on your phone or one of many other options, each of which can be selected by tapping on the icon.
8. Navigate through your phone to locate the picture or item you;d like to attach to your message, then tap it to select it.
9. Once you've attached your item, it will display in the body of the message, allowing you to add further text before you send it by tapping the Send button. If you're sending a picture or video, it will be sent as a Multimedia message and you'll see a notice on screen to advise you.

How to delete a message thread

If you'd like to delete a thread of messages from your handset, first open the Messaging app. Tap the bin icon at the top of the screen, and tickboxes will appear beside each message thread.

Tap a box to select that thread for deletion, then tap Delete at the bottom of the screen. You will be asked to confirm the deletion on the next screen.

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Sending emails and attachments on your LG

To send an email, you must have already set up an email account on your LG G5. If you haven't added your account yet, please check our chapter on adding an email account for more information.

1. Find and open the Email app on your smartphone, which can be found in the Google folder on your home screen. When you can see your email inbox, tap the compose button. This is a blue circle with a + on it, and is found in the bottom-right corner of the email inbox screen.
2. Tap into the To line to select the intended recipient. Type their name using the keyboard, and any matching contacts will appear. Tap on the correct contact to add them to the recipient list.
3. You can add further recipients, send copies to yourself or others, and also enter a Subject for your email by tapping into the respective fields and entering the information.
4. Tap into the main section of the blank email, and type your message. If you just want to send a text email, then you can send it once you've finished typing by tapping the right-facing arrow on the title bar.

Adding an attachment to your email

5. To add an attachment, tap the paper clip on the title bar. When the menu opens, you can choose what item you'd like to attach to your email.
6. Locate the item you'd like to add by navigating through your G5. Drive lets you attach an item you have stored online in your Google Drive, as long as you've added your Google account to your handset. Use on screen menu to find the item you want, and tap it to add it to your email.
7. Add further attachments if you wish, and compose your message. To send, tap the right-facing arrow.

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How to set alarms on the LG G5

The Alarm is found in the Clock app of your G5. You can access it by tapping Tools then clock.

1. The buttons across the top of the app allow you to select Alarms, World Clock, Stopwatch and Timer functions. Tap Alarm to set an alarm.
2. You will now see all the alarms that are currently programmed, along with switches to activate them. To edit an existing alarm, tap the time it is set to go off. To set a new alarm, tap the blue circle with the + sign in the bottom of the screen.
3. On the alarm setting screen, you can set the time of the alarm by dragging the blue circle around the clock face to the hour you'd like. The outer ring is for AM hours and the inner ring is for PM. Once you've picked an hour, it's time to repeat the process for the minutes.
4. Tap on the days you'd like the alarm to Repeat on. We've set it for Monday to Friday in our example.

5. You can edit further settings such as the alarm sound, its volume, whether you wish the G5 to vibrate and the snooze duration. You can also set a custom name for your alarm.
6. Tap on Save when you're finished. You can now see your Alarm is set!
7. To stop an alarm from sounding, tap the switch to turn it off. This will also "grey out" the alarm. To enable an alarm, tap its switch.
8. To delete an alarm completely, tap the bin icon at the top of the screen. Select the alarms you'd like to delete by ticking the box next to them, and when you're ready to proceed tap Delete.

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Read our tips to learn more about your phone

Re-arrange the touch buttons

You'll spend a lot of time using the touch buttons at the bottom of the screen, however because they're on-screen and not physical buttons it means they can be easily configured. You can re-arrange them to match what you're used to and also add additional buttons for more functionality.

To access these settings, tap on Settings> Display> Home touch buttons> Button combination.

Once the settings are open, you can rearrange the existing order of the soft buttons by touching an icon on the top diagram and dragging it to the location you'd like it to occupy.

You can add additional icons (up to a maximum of 5) by dragging an icon from beneath the diagram into a new position on the menu bar, and remove one by dragging it off the bar.

You can also change the colour of the menu bar by returning to the previous screen (by tapping the back arrow) and then tapping Colour.

QSlide

QSlide is an innovative multitasking feature of the G5, which allows you to overlay certain apps in a window on the main screen. You can reposition and re-size the window and also make it transparent so it doesn't interfere with what you're doing.

To open a QSlide app simply drag down the notification bar and select it from the list of QSlide apps. The slider adjusts the transparency of the app and if you don't need it open any more you simply tap on the X to close it.

Many apps (such as mail in our example) will allow you to open them as a QSlide app through the menu icon (three dots) in the top right-hand corner of the app.

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