LG TV error code 201 (-201, "Unable to load"): how to fix it

Published Sources checked By helps.wiki editorial team

Error 201 (often shown as -201 or "Unable to load") has no explanation in the LG pages we used, and third-party sources disagree about it. One blog links it to a failed security certificate check caused by a wrong date and time, while another calls it a generic network error. Check the date and time first, then the network, DNS, firmware and the app itself.

Applies to:LG webOS Smart TVNo specific model years or webOS versions documented
On this page

What it means

The LG support page used for this article covers apps that freeze, crash or won't load, but it does not describe error 201. The meaning of the code comes from third-party guides, and they do not agree, so treat any explanation as likely rather than certain.

One blog (izoate.com) describes 201 as a failed check of the server's security certificate. In that account, a TV that has the wrong date or time sees a valid certificate as expired or not yet valid and refuses to load the app. This is a single third-party report and is not confirmed by LG. A different blog (usro.net) lists 201 as a generic network connection error. The fixes below cover both readings, starting with the simplest.

You may also find LG air conditioner "error 201" in search results. That is a sensor fault on a different product and has nothing to do with your TV.

Symptoms and causes

You are likely dealing with this problem if:

  • A pop-up saying "Unable to load" or "Error code -201" when you open a streaming app or other online content (HBO was one reported case).
  • A message that the server cannot be trusted or that its certificate is invalid.
  • The TV still shows as connected to Wi-Fi, but apps and online content will not load.

The usual causes, most common first:

Wrong date and time on the TV (third-party report, not confirmed)
izoate.com says an incorrect clock makes the server's certificate look expired or not yet valid, so the TV rejects the connection. LG does not document this link, and another source describes 201 as a plain network error, so treat it as the most commonly reported suspect rather than a proven cause.
Outdated webOS firmware
izoate.com also suggests updating the firmware. It is a secondary suggestion from that blog, not something LG ties to this code.
DNS, router or unstable network
usro.net treats 201 as a network connection error. A flaky connection or bad DNS could produce it even though the TV appears connected.
Faulty app install or app-side server problem
If only one app fails, the app may be corrupted or its provider may have a problem. The sources do not confirm this for 201, but LG advises contacting the app provider when only one app fails.

How to fix it

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and move to deeper repairs; stop as soon as the problem is gone.

1.Correct the date and time

Easy

A wrong clock is the most frequently reported trigger, and checking takes a minute.

  1. Press the settings button on the remote and open Settings > General > Time & Date. Menu names and locations differ between webOS versions, so if you do not see it there, look for Time & Date elsewhere under General.
  2. If the date or time is wrong, turn off the automatic option and set them manually.
  3. Open the affected app again.

2.Update the TV firmware

Easy

izoate.com lists a firmware update as a fix. It is quick and safe to try.

  1. Open Settings > General > About This TV > Check for Updates.
  2. If an update is found, install it and let the TV restart.

3.Check the network connection on the TV

Easy

The TV's own network status screen shows where the connection breaks.

  1. Open the network status screen. On webOS 6.0 and later (2021+): Settings > All Settings > General > Network > Wi-Fi Connection or Wired Connection. On webOS 5.0 (2020): All Settings > Connection > Network Connection Settings. On webOS 4.5 (2019): All Settings > Connection > Wired or Wi-Fi Connection. On webOS 4.0 and earlier: All Settings > Network.
  2. Read the status icons from left to right: TV, Gateway, DNS, Internet. If all are green, the TV sees no network problem.
  3. If any are not green, unplug the modem and router, wait a short while, plug them back in, then restart the TV and set up the network connection again.

4.Set DNS manually

Moderate

If the DNS icon was not green, or the network looks fine but the error remains, a bad DNS server may be the cause. This advice comes from a blog, not LG.

  1. Go back to the Wi-Fi or wired connection settings you opened in the previous step. The exact menu names for editing DNS differ between webOS versions, so look for an option to edit the connection and turn off automatic DNS.
  2. Enter 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1 as the DNS server and save.
  3. Power-cycle the router, then try the app again.

5.Test on a phone hotspot

Easy

This tells you whether your home router or internet provider is the problem. It is a step LG itself suggests.

  1. Turn on the hotspot on your phone and connect the TV to it.
  2. Open the app. If it works, the fault is in your router or with your provider. If it still fails, contact LG Support.

6.Update or reinstall the app

EasyChanges settings

If only one app shows the error, its install may be faulty.

Before you start: Deleting an app removes its local data, so you will need to sign in again afterwards.

  1. Press the Home button, select the app and update it if an update is offered.
  2. If that fails, press and hold the Wheel (OK) button on the app to delete it, then reinstall it from the LG Content Store.
  3. If the problem is limited to one app and persists, contact the app provider.

7.Reset the TV to initial settings (last resort)

ModerateBack up first

Use this only after everything else has failed.

Before you start: This deletes your accounts and installed apps. Note down any sign-in details and settings you need before you start.

  1. On 2021 and later models: Settings > All Settings > General > System > Reset to Initial Settings. On 2020 models: All Settings > Support > Reset to Initial Settings. On 2019 and earlier: All Settings > General > Reset to Initial Settings. On 2025 models (webOS 25): General > System > Reset to Initial Settings > Reset All.
  2. After the TV restarts, set the date, time and network first, then reinstall your apps.

Check that it worked

  • The app opens and loads content without the -201 or "Unable to load" pop-up.
  • The TV's Time & Date shows the correct local time after a restart.

If it still fails

  • Contact LG Support, especially if the app also fails on a phone hotspot.
  • If only one app fails on every network, contact that app's provider, since the server may be the problem.
  • Describe the exact message and the app to support, since the meaning of 201 is not confirmed.

Sources

  1. LG TV: How to fix apps that keep freezing, crashing or won't loadOfficial · LG Electronics US
  2. How to Fix LG TV Error Code 201 · izoate.com
  3. When Your LG TV Speaks in Numbers Instead of Netflix (LG TV error codes list) · usro.net (Ultimate Systems Blog)

Browse