An uninvited guest showing up at your home can leave you feeling frustrated—especially when they refuse to leave. In this case, it was not a person. Rather, it was a software icon that hung out on the home screen of LG televisions, and much to the annoyance of many users, appeared to be all but unremovable.
This uninvited guest was no other than the Microsoft Copilot app. It was included in a recent LG TV software update, and quickly became the subject of much furor among users. This ire wasn’t just because of the sudden appearance of the app, but also because there was simply no way to remove the app’s shortcut from the TV’s home screen.
Last week, a disgruntled LG TV user took to the popular online community, Reddit. There, they shared an image on the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit of an LG TV screen showcasing the lineup of apps, one of which was the unwanted Microsoft Copilot. The post was accompanied by a caption that conveyed the user’s annoyance: “My LG TV’s new software update installed Microsoft Copilot, which cannot be deleted.” In no time, this post found resonance among others and racked up over 36,000 upvotes, underlining the widespread annoyance this unremovable icon has caused.
Many times, sudden, unannounced changes not in favor of user preference culminate in an uproar among consumers. This time was no different. After the user discontent came to light, LG, realizing the gravity of the situation, decided to take action. The question that persisted was—what should be done about Microsoft Copilot?
Coming clean to tackle the issue, LG has announced that it will take measures to allow the deletion of this previously unremovable Microsoft Copilot shortcut. The statement was communicated to The Verge through Chris De Maria, a spokesperson for LG. He reassured that the company respects consumer choice, and as such, it will take necessary steps allowing users to delete the shortcut icon if they wish.
This response is a significant move, signaling LG’s commitment to respect user preferences and take swift action when necessary. By addressing the issue promptly, LG has managed to cool down the heated discussions surrounding the sudden appearance and persistence of the Microsoft Copilot shortcut on their TV interfaces.
This swift course correction demonstrates an important lesson in tech—no matter how forward the tech, giving consumers the power to choose what happens on their devices is key. The permanent etching of software updates or apps on users’ devices can rub them the wrong way, triggering a backlash that nobody wants.
By taking note of this and making changes accordingly, companies can ensure they respect their user’s autonomy and offer them a more comfortable, custom-tailored technology experience. In the end, the ability to manage software and apps with flexibility should not be an unreasonable ask for users—it should be a right.
This article contains material from The Verge.
