Vizio TV Flickering: Turn Off This Setting

I’ve got a Vizio M Series QLED TV and it has worked great for over a year.

Last evening, I noticed that the display had started flickering at random areas of the TV screen.

The flickering didn’t stop even after I tried restarting the TV. To find an effective solution, I read some solution articles on the official Vizio website.

Folks on the relevant discussion threads suspected it to be a faulty backlight and suggested going for a repair service.

I found a way to stop the display flickering on Vizio TVs in no time and also learned about some advanced video settings to prevent it from happening again.

To stop Vizio TV from flickering, turn off the Clear Action feature. Go to Menu > Picture > More Picture > Clear Action.

Disable the Clear Action Feature To Avoid Flickering

The clear action feature increases the backlight and contrast of the image displayed on the screen.

This highly enhances the clarity of fast-moving images appearing on TV. However, this feature may lead to flickering if the brightness levels are too low.

To disable the Clear Action feature:

Go to the TV Menu on your Vizio TV via remote
Select the Picture option and go to More Picture
Find the clear action feature and turn it off

Once the feature is disabled, check if the flickering has stopped completely.

Unplug Your Vizio TV to Perform a Power Cycle

A simple power cycle can also solve frequent flickering or blinking issues on your Vizio TV.

The process drains all the residual power left in the TV and deletes corrupt cache files as well.

To power cycle your Vizio TV:

Power off the TV
Unplug the TV from the power socket or wall outlet
While the TV is unplugged, press and hold the physical power button for at least 30 seconds
Plug the TV back in and check if the flickering issue is fixed

Note: You can also try using a different power outlet while plugging the TV back in.

Reseat and Inspect All the Cables Connected to the TV

You may have an external device connected to the TV such as a streaming device, DVD player, cable box, or soundbar.

Try unplugging all the cables connected to the back of your TV. These may include HDMI cables, ethernet cables, power cords, coax cables, etc.

Leave all the cables unplugged for at least 60 seconds and inspect them for any physical damage.

As damaged cables are likely to cause signal problems on the TV, consider replacing them with new ones.

Plug all the cables back into their respective ports on the TV and turn it back on.

Ensure that each cable is firmly inserted and there’s no loose connection to avoid unstable signals.

Turn the TV back on and the flickering issue should be fixed now.

Disable Advanced Video Features to Resolve Flickering

Selected high-end Vizio TV models offer advanced video features to improve the viewing and gaming experience.

However, when enabled, these features may also cause flickering issues.

Vizio recommends turning them off from the Advanced Video Settings to resolve the display flickering issues.

Some of these features include Ambient Lighting, Backlight Control, Advanced Adaptive Luma, etc.

Follow these steps to turn them off:

Press the MENU button on your TV remote.
Navigate to Picture and press OK.
Use the Right or Left Arrow button on the remote to change the Picture Mode to Custom.
Go to More and open the menu
Select Advanced Picture and press the Right Arrow button to open the menu
Select Adaptive Luma and change the setting to Off using the Left and Right Arrow buttons on the remote
Follow the same procedure to turn off Ambient Light Sensor as well.
Turn the Brightness Control level down between 5-10%.
Restart your TV after applying these settings.
The display flickering should be resolved now.

Perform a Flashlight Test to Check Backlight Damage

If disabling any settings or power cycling didn’t help fix the flickering issue, it’s possible that your TV backlight may be faulty.

The best way to confirm any backlight damage is by performing a flashlight test on your Vizio TV.

Follow these instructions:

Turn on your Vizio TV
Make sure that all lights in the room are turned off
Now closely point a flashlight at your TV screen
If you notice dull images or flickering spots appearing on the screen, it is a sign that your TV backlight is faulty

In that case, you should opt for an authorized repair service to replace the backlight and solve the flickering issue.

Ensure that Your Vizio TV Software is Up to Date

Vizio releases regular software updates to fix software issues or user-reported bugs.

If the display flickering is related to a software issue, it may be fixed by a software update.

Follow these steps to update your Vizio TV software:

Press the Menu button on your VIZIO Remote.
Select the System Option.
Choose Check for Updates
If any new update is available, download and install it on the TV
The flickering issue should be fixed after the update is installed

Factory Reset Your Vizio TV If The Flickering Persists

If your Vizio TV display is still flickering, you might want to try factory resetting it.

Prefer going for this option only after you’ve tried all the above methods as a factory reset deletes all apps and resets the TV settings to factory defaults.

Based on your TV model, the factory reset procedure may vary.

For VIA TVs:

Press the MENU button on your TV remote.
For VIA TV models. Go to HELP > Clear Memory or HELP > Reset and Admin option and press OK.
Navigate to Clear Memory/Factory Defaults or Reset the TV to Factory Defaults and press the OK button.
Enter the parental control PIN (if you have never changed it, the default value is 0000) and press OK on the remote.
Once the reset process starts, your TV may restart several times.

For VIA Plus TVs:

Press the MENU button on the TV remote.
Go to System > Reset & Admin and select Clear Memory.
Using the Arrow buttons, navigate to CLEAR MEMORY/FACTORY DEFAULTS or Reset the TV to Factory Defaults and press the OK button.
Enter the parental control PIN (the default value is 0000) and press OK on the remote.
The TV may restart several times during the factory reset process.

After the factory reset process is complete, the display flickering should stop completely.

Get In Touch With Vizio Support For Professional Help

You may also seek professional assistance by getting in touch with Vizio Support. You can contact their support team via text message or call.

Describe the flickering issue in detail and prefer attaching a video or photo for a better diagnosis.

The authorized Vizio agent may suggest that you try certain troubleshooting methods or go for a repair service if it is suspected to be a hardware issue.

You can also claim the TV warranty for no extra repair charges in case you opt for an authorized repair service.

Get the Crystal Clear Picture Back On Your Vizio TV

Similar to the action feature, some Vizio TV models offer the Active Full Array feature to improve the visual quality of your TV.

While the Active Full Array helps maintain an ideal balance between brightness and contrast, it may be a possible cause for flickering on your TV.

Try adjusting the Active Full Array from low to high levels or disabling it and check if that helps eliminate screen flickering completely.

You can also keep the TV running for a while and wait out to check if the flickering goes away after some time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Vizio TV keep restarting?

A Vizio TV may keep restarting due to various reasons such as software issues, hardware problems, or network connectivity problems. Some common solutions include checking for software updates, resetting the TV, disconnecting and reconnecting power, and checking the network connection.

How do I fix a black screen issue on my Vizio TV?

To fix a black screen on a Vizio TV, start by unplugging the TV from the power outlet for at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on. If this does not work, try a different power outlet or power source. Make sure all cables are properly connected and try switching inputs to see if the problem is with a specific input. If the problem persists, try resetting the TV to its factory settings. If none of these steps work, it may be a hardware issue and it’s recommended to contact Vizio customer support or professional repair service.

What are the common problems with VIZIO TVs?

Vizio TVs are generally known for their affordability and solid performance, but like any electronic device, they may experience certain issues. Some of the common problems include a flickering screen, no picture, no sound, frozen apps, slow performance, and power issues. Another issue that some Vizio TV owners have reported is the appearance of horizontal or vertical lines on the screen, which may be caused by a faulty panel or poor connection.

Do all Vizio TV models keep flickering?

No, not all Vizio TV models experience flickering. Flickering can occur in any TV, regardless of the brand or model, due to various reasons such as faulty hardware, outdated firmware, or issues with the power supply. However, if you are experiencing flickering on your Vizio TV, it is important to troubleshoot the issue to determine the root cause and resolve it. It’s recommended to consult the Vizio support page or reach out to their customer service for further assistance.