Why Your LG V40 ThinQ Radio Presets Won’t Save (And How to Fix It)
Why Your Radio Presets Keep Disappearing
The most common reason radio presets don’t stick on your LG V40 ThinQ is that the radio app doesn’t have storage permission. Without this permission, the app can’t write your preset data to the phone’s storage, so each time you close it and reopen the app, you’re starting from scratch.
This catches people off guard because the V40 came with a built-in FM radio app that runs without explicit prompts. You might never have granted it permission, and on Android, permission denial is silent—the app doesn’t tell you why your presets vanished.
Storage Permissions on Android Radio Apps
FM radio apps need storage access for one reason: saving preset data. Android divides permissions into categories, and storage falls into what’s called a “dangerous permission”—something that requires your explicit approval rather than being automatic.
The V40 ThinQ, released in 2018, shipped with Android 8 or 9, depending on the carrier. Those versions introduced runtime permissions, meaning your phone asks when an app first tries to use a protected feature. If you tapped “Deny” or let the prompt timeout, the radio app couldn’t save anything.
How to Fix It on Your V40
First, verify you’re using the stock FM radio app that came with the phone. Open Settings, go to Apps, search for “FM Radio” or “Radio,” and check the app name and publisher. If it’s not from LG or your carrier, you might want to try the official one instead.
Next, grant the storage permission:
- Open Settings and go to Apps or App Permissions
- Find the radio app
- Tap Permissions
- Toggle on Storage access
- Reopen the radio app and try saving a preset
On some V40 variants, the permission path varies slightly by carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile). If you can’t find Permissions under Apps, try Settings > Apps & Notifications > App Permissions > Storage instead.
Why the Stock App Matters
Third-party radio apps from the Google Play Store often ask for permission upfront during installation, making permission issues visible. The V40’s bundled radio app doesn’t prompt—it just silently fails to save if you never granted access. That’s why it’s worth checking whether you’re using the original app.
If you’ve disabled the stock app at some point, you can re-enable it in the same Apps menu. Look for a “Show system apps” toggle if the radio app doesn’t appear in your main list.
Still Not Saving? Try This
If presets still aren’t sticking after granting permission, the app data might be corrupted. Go back to Settings > Apps, find the radio app, and tap Storage > Clear Cache (don’t clear data—that will erase your existing presets). Restart the app and try again.
Very rarely, you might need to clear the app’s full data and start fresh. Do this only if clearing cache didn’t help—you’ll lose all saved presets. Tap Storage > Clear Data instead of Cache.
For older V40s still on Android 8 or 9, make sure the phone’s system software is up to date. Carrier updates sometimes fix app permission bugs. Check Settings > About Phone > Software Update.
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