How to Reset Your TV PIN Code: Forgot PIN? Fix It in Minutes

Forgot your TV PIN code? You're not alone — it's a common TV problem. That 4-digit code protects your parental controls, channel blocks, and settings menus. The good news: many brands have a built-in way back in, and many take just a minute.

Table of Contents

• What Is the TV PIN Code?
• Try the Default PIN Codes First
• Samsung TV PIN Reset
• LG TV PIN Reset
• China / Universal Board TV PIN Reset
• Sony, TCL, Philips & Vizio PIN Reset
• Avoid Getting Locked Out Again
• Frequently Asked Questions

Default PIN codes for major brands, plus reset steps for Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Philips, Vizio, and China-board TVs.

What Is the TV PIN Code?

The TV PIN is a 4-digit security code built into your television. It locks the physical key panel, protects parental controls, guards settings from being changed, and approves app installs on smart TVs.

Every new TV ships with a default PIN — usually 0000 or 1234. Most people set a custom PIN when they first enable parental controls, and that's exactly where it gets forgotten.

Try the Default PIN Codes First

Before any reset method, try these:

Brand	Default PIN
Samsung	0000
LG	0000 (master PIN: 0313)
Sony	0000 or 1234
TCL / Hisense / Philips	0000 or 1234
China / Universal boards	0000 or 1234
Vizio	0000

Samsung TV PIN Reset

The Samsung default PIN is 0000. Changed it and forgot it? Use this master reset sequence:

1. Turn the TV off (standby mode).
2. On the remote, press in quick sequence: MUTE > 8 > 2 > 4 > POWER.
3. The TV turns on with the PIN reset to 0000.
4. Set a new code at Settings > General > System Manager > Change PIN.

LG TV PIN Reset

LG ships a master PIN — 0313 — that works even when the custom PIN is forgotten.

Method 1: Master PIN (0313)

1. Go to Home > Settings > All Settings > Safety > Reset PIN Code.
2. When the PIN window appears, do not press OK — instead press: Channel Up > Channel Up > Channel Down > Channel Up.
3. The PIN window reappears — enter 0313, then set your new PIN.

Method 2: Service Menu Reset

If that doesn't work, open the LG TV service menu and look for the PIN/lock reset option — but don't change settings you don't understand.

China / Universal Board TV PIN Reset

For generic China-board TVs (sold under many local brands):

Method 1: Power Drain + Default Code

1. Unplug the TV from the wall socket and wait 10 minutes to drain the backup power.
2. Plug it back in, turn it on, and enter 0000 at the PIN prompt.

Method 2: Change PIN from the Menu

1. Press MENU, go to Features (or Setup) and select Child Lock.
2. Enter 0000 in the PIN pop-up, then choose Change PIN and enter your new code.
3. Press MENU and Exit to save.

Tip: on many China TVs, press and hold STOP for about 10 seconds to toggle the child lock on or off.

Sony, TCL, Philips & Vizio PIN Reset

• Sony (Bravia): Default is 0000. Try Home > Settings > Parental Lock > PIN Code with 0000 or 1234. If both fail, a factory reset (Settings > Storage & Reset > Factory Data Reset) wipes the PIN too.
• TCL (Android / Google TV): Default is 0000. Change it under Settings > System > Parental Controls; a factory reset clears a forgotten one.
• Philips: Try 0000 then 1234. If neither works, reset to factory defaults — the custom PIN goes with it.
• Vizio: Default is 0000. To clear a forgotten PIN: Menu > System > Reset & Admin > Reset TV to Factory Defaults.

Notice the pattern: when default codes fail, a factory reset is a common fallback — it clears the PIN on most brands, but erases channels and settings too. See our factory reset guide for brand-specific methods.

Avoid Getting Locked Out Again

Once you're back in, a minute of prevention saves the whole headache:

1. Write the PIN down. Note it inside the TV cabinet, or inside the remote's battery cover.
2. Use one PIN everywhere. Same 4-digit code on all your TVs instead of a different one per set.
3. Disable locks you don't need. If nobody watches restricted content, turn parental controls off entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common default TV PIN?

See Try the Default PIN Codes First above for the brand-by-brand defaults, including the LG master PIN.

Can I reset the PIN without the remote?

Partly. The power-drain method (unplug for 10 minutes) works without a remote on universal boards. Samsung's and LG's brand-specific sequences need the remote. If yours is lost, see the 3 methods to unlock TV keys without a remote.

Will resetting the PIN erase my channels?

No. Resetting only the PIN does not touch channels, apps, or settings. Only a full factory reset erases everything.

None of the default codes work. What now?

Try the brand-specific methods in the Samsung, LG, and China-board sections above. As a last resort, a factory reset clears the PIN — see for example the Haier TV hard reset guide.

Try the defaults first, then the method for your brand — most forgotten PINs are recovered without wiping anything. Only reach for a full factory reset when the brand methods have all failed, and write the new PIN down before you walk away from the TV.

About the Author — IW Official

IW Official is a TV repair help desk publishing practical, tested do-it-yourself television repair guides. Our guides cover LED and LCD TVs of all major brands, written in plain language so anyone can follow them safely.