LG smart TV owners who were frustrated by the sudden, unremovable appearance of Microsoft Copilot shortcuts will soon be able to delete them. The company initially pushed the shortcuts onto TVs earlier this month, with no built-in option for removal – users could only hide them, leaving the underlying app installed.
According to LG representatives, the company will implement a feature allowing users to fully delete the Copilot shortcut if desired. The shortcuts were designed to launch Copilot within the TV’s web browser rather than as a native app, but the forced placement proved unpopular.
Why this matters: This situation highlights a growing trend of tech companies pre-installing or forcing unwanted software onto devices, often with limited user control. The backlash from LG TV owners demonstrates that consumers are increasingly resistant to such practices, which can be perceived as bloatware or even unwanted tracking.
The exact timing of the update remains unclear, but LG plans to roll out the removal functionality through a future software update. This move comes after widespread criticism and underscores the importance of user agency over their own devices.
The incident serves as a reminder that even major manufacturers are not immune to public pressure when it comes to respecting user preferences.
