Problems With VIZIO TVs: Reasons And How To Troubleshoot?

VIZIO TV is probably the best option if you do not want to spend a tidy sum of the money on your television. It is usually less expensive than its rivals, but it has all the latest features.

But like all the smart TV brands, there are some problems with VIZIO TVs as well.

While VIZIO TV offers modern features like Smartcast seldom it can give you some headaches too. For instance, you might face internet or flickering issues.

Here we will tell you about all about those issues and complaints and how to solve them.

Common VIZIO TV Problems

So far, customers have complaints about these issues:

• VIZIO TV Won’t Turn On
• Screen is Flickering Issue
• Smartcast Not Working
• VIZIO TV Won’t Stay Off
• Won’t Turn On With Remote
• TV Shows Pictures But No Sound
• Black Screen With Sound
• TV Turns On But Doesn’t Show Pictures
• TV Won’t Connect to WiFi
• TV Menu Not Working

It’s time to have a thorough look at those problems and relevant troubleshooting.

The company provides a user manual with VIZIO TVs. It could be handy for some issues. But most of the users face problems that they could not solve from the manual.

Below you can find all the common problems and solutions for VIZIO smart TV troubleshooting.

VIZIO TV Won’t Turn On

A variety of reasons could be accountable for this problem. It’s impossible to simply determine what went wrong in the first place.

And this is not something that only happens to VIZIO TV. Even Samsung Smart TVs have problems of similar kind as well.

Before reaching a conclusion, you must check a list of things. To find out what went wrong and how to fix it, follow the instructions below.

How To Fix This Issue?

As you are aware, you must examine a variety of factors in order to determine the problem and potential solutions. First, see if you have any issues with the power button.

Your VIZIO TV has two power buttons. One is featured on the television’s body, while the other is placed on the remote control.

So, if your VIZIO TV remote is not working, you can use the power button on the TV’s body to turn it on.

So, if the problem is the TV won’t turn on with the remote then you can change its batteries. Or you can just buy a new remote for your VIZIO TV.

On the other hand, if your remote is okay, however, still your VIZIO TV has a black screen and no sound then you should check the power cable.

Your TV will not turn on if the power cable or cord is damaged. Check to see that the television is properly connected to the power source.

Finally, if your TV’s remote control is working and has an active power supply then most probably it is a hardware issue.

In that scenario, we urge that you seek expert assistance. If you have a warranty, you can get free service.

VIZIO TV Screen is Flickering

With smart TVs, you may experience screen flickering at any time. You should contact the manufacturers if the problem is caused by internal damage.

Follow the instructions below before asking for their help.

How To Fix This Issue?

Externally connected wires or devices might cause VIZIO TV Screen problems.

So, before you do anything else, unplug all of your other cables and devices for a minute. Restart your television to see if everything is working properly now.

Here is another method you can try. You can go through the advanced video settings from the main menu to make some changes.

You should turn off the following settings below to stop screen flickering. 

• Advanced Adaptive Luma
• Backlight Control
• Ambient Lighting

If the screen is still flicking you should conduct a power cycle by following steps:

• Turn off your television.
• Unplug the power cable.
• Press and hold the power button for half a minute and then release it.
• Plug back the power cable.
• Turn on the power again.

If it is not still working before asking assistance from the manufacturer you should perform a factory reset.

Follow the instruction below to learn how to reset VIZIO TV:

• Go to the Menu option.
• Now select System from there.
• Then select Reset & Admin.
• Select Reset TV to Factory Defaults.
• If required enter the system PIN which is 0000.
• Select Reset

Resetting any smart TVs are intuitive. Just follow the steps displaying on the screen and you should be able to do that.

VIZIO Smartcast Not Working

VIZIO Smartcast is an awesome feature that allows you to browse and discover TV shows, music, and live streams.

However, often you might face trouble accessing the Smartcast. If the Smartcast is not loading or shows unavailable, you can follow the instructions below.

How To Fix This Issue?

There could be several reasons behind the SmartCast not loading in your VIZIO TV. You should try the following steps to solve the issue.

• Ensure that you have a stable internet connection
• Switch your TV to HDMI 1 and wait for a while
• Now press the Menu button
• Then go to System > Reset & Admin > Soft Power Cycle > Yes.
• Your TV will restart now.
• Wait till the Information Bar disappears.
• Now, wait half a minute before changing the TV from HDMI 1 to SmartCast.

If this process does not resolve the issue you should perform the factory reset and have a stable internet connection.

VIZIO TV Won’t Stay Off

Yes, it’s frustrating but I have seen this same problem with Hisense TVs and other TV brands as well.

If your TV turns itself on after turning off, you can solve this issue on your own. Follow the instructions below to learn how to resolve the issue. 

How To Fix This Issue?

If your remote button has a stuck power button, then try to fix or buy a new remote.

If after replacing the remote still having the same issue, follow the instruction below.

• Press the Menu button
• Then go to System
• Now Select the CEC and turn it off
• Disconnect the power source
• Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds then release.
• Now turn your TV on again

If it still doesn’t work, try a factory reset. In the previous section, we described how to perform a factory reset. 

VIZIO TV Won’t Turn On With Remote

If your remote works well but you can’t turn on your TV with it, follow the steps below.

Before you do that, make sure the remote control has new batteries and that there are no obstacles between the TV and the remote.

How To Fix This Issue?

This is not a major problem. If your remote is outdated or is not working after replacing the batteries for whatever reason, you should get a new one first.

If your new remote isn’t working, try the following: 

• Unplug the power cord.
• Hold the power button down for ten seconds.
• Plug the power cord back.
• Now turn on the TV again.

Hopefully, your remote will work again now. Now, watch this video if your TV still is not turning on.

VIZIO TV Shows Pictures But No Sound

There are three reasons that could be causing sound problems on your VIZIO TV. You won’t be able to hear anything if your TV’s cables are damaged or the volume is reduced to zero.

On the other hand, if you have a faulty speaker, your TV will show pictures without sound.

How To Fix This Issue?

If you are using the built-in speaker of your VIZIO TV, then follow the instructions below:

• Make sure your TV’s volume is not set to zero.
• Check to see whether the television is muted.
• Ensure you have attached the right cables in the right place.
• Disconnect and reconnect all the connected devices and cables

If you have the same problem again then try the following instruction:

• Press the Menu button
• Go to Audio settings.
• Now TV Speaker setting option should be ON.
• If it is OFF then press OK to turn it ON.

If these two methods do not solve sound issues with VIZIO TV, then you need to replace the built-in speaker.

Alternatively, you can connect your TV to an external speaker.

VIZIO TV Black Screen With Sound

If your VIZIO TV showing black screen but has sound, then you are in great trouble.

You might have to change the inverter board or power board for troubleshooting VIZIO TV black screen problem.

Before contacting the manufacturer try the following method. It may save you from further hassle.

How To Fix This Issue?

If your VIZIO TV goes black for a few seconds, then it is called the black screen of death. You may try this method to fix the VIZIO smart TV black screen issue.

• See if you have a stable power connection
• Turn off the TV
• Now remove the power source
• Press and hold the TV’s power button.
• Hold for 30 seconds then release
• Now Turn on your TV again

If this does not solve the VIZIO TV power on but black screen issue, then perform a flashlight test to make sure it has a faulty inverter board. 

You should shine a flashlight on the TV from a close distance. If can see any image, then it has a faulty inverter board.

Now, you should contact a professional to replace the hardware. 

VIZIO TV Turns On But Doesn’t Show Pictures

This is quite different from the VIZIO TV all-black screen issue. In this case, you can see the Menu, however, not any pictures. Though rare, this is also another common issue with TCL TVs too.

This problem may occur for faulty cables or external devices. 

How To Fix This Issue?

To solve this problem, try the following method:

• Turn on your TV and for a while
• Check if the LED indicator light on.
• Press the menu button.
• If the menu appears then remove all the external devices.
• Now attach the external devices to the right channel.
• Replace any faulty connection cable.

If this method does not work perform a VIZIO TV reset that we mentioned above. We hope the problem will be gone. If not, you should contact a professional.

VIZIO TV Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi

If you have VIZIO TV internet connection problems, you are not alone. Most often people face VIZIO TV Wi-Fi connection issues.

This problem may cause by a slow internet connection. Let’s find out how you can solve the VIZIO TV internet connection issues below.

How To Fix This Issue?

While troubleshooting VIZIO TV Wi-Fi connection issues, you need to make sure a stable internet connection. Now follow the instruction below:

• Connect a different device to the internet for checking the network stability.
• Press the Menu button.
• Go to Network.
• Then select DHCP from Manual Setup.
• Now turn DHCP to ON.
• Now turn off and remove the power cable from the socket of your TV, Router, and Modem
• Hold the power button of these devices then release it after 10 seconds
• Now turn them on and connect your TV

If you still have the same problem, do a factory reset. We have mentioned above how to do so.

Now, connect your TV again to the Wi-Fi from the settings. You can also try a wired Ethernet connection if the problem stays.

VIZIO TV Menu Not Working

There are several methods you can try if your Menu is not working. This problem generally caused by the TV remote.

You can power cycle the remote and the TV to resolve the issue. Follow the instruction below to proceed.

How To Fix This Issue?

First of all, you should power cycle the remote to reset its memory. Follow the steps below:

• Remove the batteries.
• Now press the power button for 10 seconds.
• Press all the remaining buttons.
• Insert the batteries again.

Now you should power cycle your VIZIO TV as well.

• Turn off your TV
• Remove the power cable from the socket
• Hold the power button for 10 seconds then release
• Put the power cable on
• Now turn on the TV again

If the problem stays you should perform a manual factory reset now.

• Press the Volume Down and Input buttons and hold them for a while
• When you get a message on the screen release the volume button and press the Input button for 10 seconds.
• Now the memory will be cleared
• Then your TV will reset itself and you will see a welcome screen after a while.

Now can access your Menu again. 

5 Tips To Maintain Your VIZIO TV

Even though VIZIO TVs sometimes cause issues, one can’t deny it is a great investment too. It comes with award-winning technologies with a minimum price rate.

In this section, we will discuss 5 tips on how to maintain your TV. If you keep them in mind while using VIZIO smart TV, you can avoid different issues and the cost of repairing them.

So, here are the five tips below:

• Switch Off Your TV Regularly

If you want to get a long-term service from your TV, you should turn them off regularly.

There is no reason to keep it kept on and if you’re not watching it. This habit will increase the lifespan of your television.

• Provide Some Space For Ventilation

Every electrical equipment requires a certain amount of free space.

As the VIZIO TV generates heat, you will need to make sure there is adequate room and ventilation to keep it cool.

• Keep It Clean

You need to keep your VIZIO TV clean for getting a smooth service from it. If you let the dust settle on your screen and going inside your TV will respond slowly.

It will not be able to transfer commands like before.

• Save Your TV From Low Temperature

You should always keep your TV at the normal temperature. The cold temperature could be harmful to the vital parts of your TV.

Thus, never turn your TV on if the room temperature is freezing.

• Keep Sharp Objects Away From Your TV

Keeping the sharp object away from the television may help to prevent permanent damage.

Any sharp object that comes into contact with your TV by accident could cause serious damage to the screen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here we are going to answer some frequently asked questions. You can ask us your question in the comment section below.

Closing Remarks

We have discussed the most common VIZIO TV problems and their solutions here. If you face them instead of hiring a professional, we hope, you can fix it by yourself now.

But if you have any hardware issues you should contact the company to get free service upon your warranty.

We hope you do not have to go through any hassle. Please, tell us if you have anything else to know regarding problems with VIZIO TVs in the comment section.

About Author

Den Hicks

Traveler, food lover, interior designer, and blogger. I love gardening a lot! I designed my home myself with the help of my beloved wife. You are welcome!

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