Vizio TV How to and Troubleshooting Guide

Vizio TVs are owned by Vizio Inc, a privately held American company that designs and sell televisions and sound bars. Their products include SmartCast TVs that allow users to control the screen from a tablet or mobile app, smart TVs, Quantum Dot LED 4K TVs, and OLED TVs.

While Vizio TVs are generally good quality, like other electronics, they can have some issues. Some users may also have challenges with settings or using some features. In this guide, we look at common Vizio TV issues and how to troubleshoot them to help users enjoy and make the most of their televisions.

How Do You Soft Reset a Vizio Smart TV?

You can soft reset your Vizio TV by performing a power cycle. Follow the steps below to power cycle your TV:

Unplug the power cord from the back of the TV or the electrical outlet.
Hold down the power button on the side of the TV for 3-5 seconds.
Reconnect the power cord and turn the TV on.

How Do You Factory Reset a Vizio Smart TV?

You can use the TV’s Reset & Admin menu to restore the TV to its factory default settings. A factory reset will delete all changes you have made to the settings.

To restore your TV to its factory default settings:

Press the MENU button to display the on-screen menu.
Use the Arrow buttons on the remote to highlight System and press OK. The System menu is displayed.
Highlight Reset & Admin and press OK. The Reset & Admin menu is displayed.
Enter your parental control passcode. If you have yet set up a parental passcode, enter the default, 0000. The TV displays, “Select Reset to restore all TV settings to factory defaults and clear all account information.”
Highlight Reset and press OK.
Wait for the TV to turn off. The TV will turn back on shortly afterward and the Setup App will begin.

Why is My Vizio TV Not Showing Picture?

If power is on but there is no image on your TV screen, try these troubleshooting tips to see if the problem resolves:

Ensure all cables are securely attached to the TV.
Confirm that all devices are connected correctly.
Try adjusting Brightness, Contrast, or Backlight.
If the issue persists, try pressing the INPUT button on the remote to select a different input source.

Troubleshooting Vizio TV Black Screen

There are several causes for a TV screen suddenly going black, but in most cases, it has to do with a failure in one of the power supply boards. But before you rush to buy the necessary parts, you should first establish where the problem lies.

Start by carrying out a sound test:

Turn on the TV.
Listen if you will hear any sound. Stream something that you know will make noise.
Make sure you have turned up the volume.

If you have sound but no image, the component responsible for producing lighting for the TV is likely the culprit. You can narrow the issue further down by performing a flashlight test as follows:

Get a bright flashlight.
Position yourself about 2 inches from the TV screen and shine the light on the TV.
If you are able to see an image on the screen using the flashlight, it means the inverter board in the TV has failed.

Sometimes the problem is not that complicated, and it could be that some connections are loose. So before you panic, check to ensure everything is working properly and there are no loose connections. Then perform a hard reset on the TV using the following steps:

Turn off the TV and unplug it.
Press and hold the power button on the TV for 30 seconds.
Release the power button and plug the TV back in.
If you are trying to test the picture from a cable box or other device, swap it out with a different device. If this does not work, try to access the setting men on the TV.

If the above steps don’t resolve the black screen problem, then you may need to replace the power board or other failed components.

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Vizio TV Won’t Turn On

Check to ensure the TV is plugged into a working electrical outlet.
Ensure the power cable is securely attached to the TV.
Press the Power/Standby button on the remote or on the side of the TV to turn the TV on.

Vizio TV Menu Not Working

If your Vizio TV menu is not working, it could be because of a problem with the remote. Try resetting your Vizio remote’s connection by power cycling the remote or resetting its memory. Follow the steps below to power cycle the remote:

Remove your remote’s batteries.
Press and hold the power button for five seconds. This will drain any residual power from the remote.
Press each individual button on the remote at least once to loosen any stuck buttons.
Insert back your remote batteries. Replace them with new ones if using old ones.
Try using the remote to see if it works.

If power cycling the remote doesn’t work, try power cycling your TV as well. To do so:

Unplug the power cord from the back of the TV or the electrical outlet.
Hold down the power button on the side of the TV for 3-5 seconds.
Reconnect the power cord and turn the TV on.

Vizio TV Troubleshooting Wifi

If your Vizio smart TV does not connect to Wi-Fi, it could be due to several reasons:

Communication issues between your router and TV.
Internet connection problems.
TV Wi-Fi adapter issues.
Conflicts with the router’s security settings.

To fix your TV if it won’t connect to Wi-Fi, try these troubleshooting steps:

Check the Wi-Fi connection. Use another device connected to your network to access the web. If it connects, then the problems lie with the TV. If you can’t connect on any device, you need to troubleshoot the Wi-Fi network.
Toggle the DHCP settings. Press the Menu button on the Vizio remote, then highlight Network> Manual Setup> DHCP. If DHCP is set to OFF, press the right arrow to turn it on. If it is set to ON, press the right arrow once to turn it off, and then again to turn it on.
Power cycle the router, modem, and TV. Turn the TV off and unplug it, then reset the router and modem. Once done, plug the TV back and see if it connects.
Change the router security settings to enable WPA-PSK (TKIP). Enter the router’s default gateway IP address into the URL bar of any web browser to access the router settings.
Use a wired Ethernet connection. If this fixes the problem, then the TV’s wireless adapter could be broken.
If the problem still persists after the above instructions, reset the TV to its factory default settings.

Where is My Vizio TV MAC Address?

The security settings on your router may require you to enter the TV’s MAC address in the router’s settings. To find the TV’s MAC address, follow these steps:

From the NETWORK menu, select Manual Setup and press OK.
Find the MAC address for the TV at the bottom of the list. The MAC addresses for the connection in use are displayed:

RJ45 MAC- The Ethernet or RJ45 MAC address may be required to set up your network when you have connected the TV to your network with an Ethernet cable.
Wireless MAC- The wireless (Wi-Fi) MAC address may be required to connect your TV to your network with Wi-Fi.

Troubleshooting No Sound on Vizio TV

If there is no sound on your Vizio TV, try these troubleshooting instructions to resolve the problem:

Press Volume Up on the remote control.
Press the MUTE button on the remote to ensure mute is off.
Check the audio settings. Ensure that the speakers are set to On.
Check the audio connections of external devices that are connected to the TV.
Ensure no headphones are connected to the TV.
If you are using antenna, the signal strength of the channel may be low. Ensure your antenna is connected securely to the TV and move the antenna around the room or close to a window for the best signal.

Vizio TV Says No Signal

Press the INPUT button on the remote control to select a different input source.
If you are using cable TV, Satellite, or an antenna connected directly to the TV, scan for channels.

To perform an Auto Channel Scan:

From the CHANNELS menu, highlight Find Channels, and press OK. The channel scan begins.
Wait until the channel scan is 100% complete. Highlight “Done” and press OK.
Press the EXIT button on the remote.

Vizio TV Remote Buttons Not Working

Try these troubleshooting instructions if your Vizio remote buttons don’t seem to work:

Ensure you are only pressing one button at a time.
Point the remote directly at the TV when pressing a button.
Replace the remote batteries with new ones.

How to Connect Vizio Smart TV to the Internet

You can connect your Vizio smart TV to the internet using a wired or wireless connection.

To connect to a wired network follow these instructions:

Connect an Ethernet cable to your router and to the Ethernet port on the back of the TV.
Use the Guided Network Setup to configure the TV. Press the MENU button on the remote. The on-screen menu is displayed.
Highlight Guided Setup and press OK. The Guided Setup menu is displayed.
Highlight Network Setup to connect the TV to the internet using your network.
Follow the on-screen instructions. When finished, press the EXIT button on the remote.

To connect to a wireless network:

Ensure you have a router or modem broadcasting a high-speed wireless signal (802.11n recommended).
Press the MENU button on the remote to display the on-screen menu.
Use the Arrow button on the remote to highlight Network and press OK. The Network Menu is displayed.
If you do not see your wireless network displayed, highlight More Access Points and press OK. The wireless Access Points menu, which is a list of available wireless network, is displayed.
Highlight the name of your wireless network (this is the network SSID) and press OK.
Using the on-screen keyboard, enter your network’s password then highlight Connect and press OK.
Press the BACK button to adjust additional settings or Exit.

Why is My Vizio TV screen Flickering?

There are several causes for a flickering TV screen. It could be due to backlight failure or issues to do with the inverter. If this is the case, these problems are complex and may require for the failed part to be replaced or to be fixed by a repairman.

Improper connections and signal issues can also cause the TV screen to flicker.

To resolve a flickering Vizio TV screen, try these troubleshooting tips:

Check the connection to the power cord and cable outputs on your TV. Ensure they are securely connected and the cables are not damaged or crimped.
Check for signal and ensure the TV is receiving a strong signal.
If the screen still flickers, try adjusting your settings. Using your remote, access the Advanced Video settings menu and select “Backlight Control”. Try increasing or decreasing the brightness to see if this resolves the flickering.
If your TV has an ambient lighting sensor, try turning off the sensor from the Advanced Video settings menu.
If your TV has an Advanced Adaptive Luma setting, which automatically adjusts onscreen picture brightness and contrast, turn the feature off to reduce flickering.

Vizio TV Colors Don’t Look Right

If the colors on the TV do not look right, try these instructions:

Adjust the color and tint settings in the Picture menu.
Select a pre-set picture mode. Vizio recommends selecting the calibrated mode.
Check all cables to make sure they are securely attached.

Vizio TV Image Quality is Not Good

If the image on your Vizio TV is of poor quality, try these instructions to resolve the issue:

For the best image quality, view high-definition programs using digital sources. Connect your devices with HDMI cables.
If you are using an antenna, the signal strength of the channel may be low. Make sure the antenna is connected securely to the TV and move the antenna around the room or close to the window for the best signal.

Vizion TV Volume Changes When I Change Input Source

The TV remembers the volume level on each input source. If the volume level on the new input source is higher or lower than the level on the source you switched from, the difference may be noticeable.

Use the Volume up/down buttons on the remote to adjust the volume.

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How to Use USB Media Player on Vizion Smart TV

The USB media player allows you to connect a USB thumb drive to your TV and view photos.

To display your USB Media:

Connect your USB thumb drive to the USB port on the side of the TV.
Use the Arrow buttons to highlight “Yes” and press OK.
Use the Arrow buttons to highlight your USB device in the list and press OK.
Use the Arrow buttons to highlight “Photo” and press OK.
Use the Arrow buttons to highlight the photo you want to display. Press OK. The photo displays.

To safely remove your USB drive from the TV:

Turn off the TV.
Disconnect your USB thumb drive from the USB port on the side of the TV.