If your Vizio TV won’t turn ON, no matter what you do, you are not alone.
A few days ago, I was all set to watch TV on the only day of the week I don’t have work.
But my darn TV won’t turn ON.
Before writing this article, I found thousands of reports online regarding this issue by Vizio TV owners.
It sent me into a rabbit hole of trying the numerous “solutions” offered by the troubleshooting websites on Google.
Rectifying this wasn’t too much of a hastle for me because I have had issues with my LG TV not turning on in the past, and to my surprise, a lot of the solutions to fix my Vizio TV were similar.
And the good news is that it’s quite easy. You don’t have to get rid of your TV or buy a new one.
If your Vizio TV won’t turn on, a soft reset fixes the problem. To soft reset a Vizio TV, unplug it from the power socket and wait for at least 60 seconds to let the power drain completely. Now, plug the power cable back into the socket and press the TV’s Power button.
Find Out Why Your Vizio TV Won’t Turn On
To find out why your Vizio TV won’t turn on, check your TV’s standby light to determine whether it has a display or power-related issue.
Since display issues and power issues have to be dealt with differently, it’s the first check you need to do.
Examine the Power Indicator Light
The power indicator light for Vizio TVs is located within the Vizio logo in the center or on the left side of your TV.
But before you can check the power indicator light, you need to find your Vizio TV’s Power button and press it.
Based on your TV model, the power button on your TV may be located on the bottom of the television’s power indicator light or the back panel.
Once you have pressed the power button, watch the TV’s power indicator light closely.
- If the power light on the Vizio logo flashes and turns itself from amber to white, wait for about two minutes. If it is still flashing, it means that your TV is unable to power ON. This may be due to an underlying hardware issue.
- The latest Vizio TVs have LED standby lights that fade out when the TV turns on. But if it doesn’t fade out and turns off instantaneously, it is an indicator that the TV is unable to draw power.
- If the power light turns ON and is not flashing anymore, your TV is receiving power and is powering ON. In this case, it is an indicator that there is something wrong with your TV’s display.
Here’s what I did to fix my Vizio TV that was not turning ON.
Power Cycle Your Vizio TV
Power cycling predominantly resolves any power-related issue that won’t let your TV turn on.
First, turn your Vizio TV off and disconnect the power cable from the wall.
Once you have disconnected your TV’s power cable from the power board, press and hold the power button on the TV for at least 15 seconds.
This discharges the capacitors and drains all the reserve power from your Vizio TV.
After that, wait for another 60 seconds before plugging the power cable into the power supply outlet and checking if the TV powers on.
While power cycling is known to solve the problem for most Vizio TV users, sometimes it takes a little more than that.
Time to Check Your Vizio TV Remote
Your second step should be to test the TV’s remote control.
Before we come to that, ensure that your TV’s remote sensor is not blocked.
The remote sensor is usually located on your Vizio TV’s bottom right or bottom left corner.
For good measure, remove any obstacle that prevents the sensor from receiving signals from your remote.
Does Your Vizio TV Remote Need New Batteries?
Sometimes your remote batteries are on the verge of exhaustion or are likely dead.
Replace the old remote control batteries with new ones and make sure the batteries are positioned in the right direction.
And check the remote to see if it functions correctly.
Power Cycle Your TV’s Remote
- Remove the remote control batteries altogether.
- Press the buttons on your Vizio TV’s remote control at least once.
- Put the batteries back in and see if the remote control is now functioning properly.
Use a Different Vizio Remote
If you have one more Vizio TV at your disposal, you can try using that to check if the issue is with your particular Vizio remote.
If you don’t have another Vizio remote, getting one on Amazon costs only a couple of bucks.
Another workaround is to try turning on your TV without a remote. This is done with your smartphone and it has worked for me in the past.
Connecting Vizio TV to Wi-Fi without a remote is also worth trying out.
Check if the System Menu is Visible on Your Vizio TV
Grab your Vizio remote and hit the power button.
Then, find the ‘Menu’ button on the Vizio remote.
Now, press this ‘Menu’ button and see if the system menu pops up on the screen.
If it does appear, the problem is not with your Vizio TV.
It is time to check if an external device is connected to the TV.
If it is, ensure that the external device is in the correct input source (TV, Comp, HDMI port).
It Could Be a Power Outlet Issue
If you have power cycled your TV, and your remote is working fine, it is time to check for issues outside your TV.
This is a long shot but sometimes the breaker box trips and cuts the power supply to the power board.
It might be worth checking to ensure that has not happened in your case.
If you are using a power strip or surge protector, make sure that the power strip or surge protector is ON and working.
I would also recommend removing the power cable from the surge protector and plugging it directly into the power source.
Try plugging another portable device (like a cellphone charger or lamp) into the same power outlet and check if it is working.
If it is, then it’s time to move on to the next step.
Check For a Damaged Power Cord
It might sound insignificant, but a damaged or loose power cord is a common cause of TVs not powering ON.
Inspect your Vizio TV’s power cable, and if it appears damaged or worn out, you can swap the power cord to check if your TV turns ON.
I would also ensure that the power cord is securely plugged in at both ends, i.e., the power outlet and the TV’s input source.
Even if it appears like the power cord is correctly plugged at both ends, it’s always better to unplug the power cord and then plug it back in to have a secure connection.
Check if the “Mute Screen” Feature is ON
Some Vizio smart TVs have an in-built “Mute Screen” feature loaded in their operating systems.
This feature turns your TV screen off while streaming audio applications (Spotify, iHeart, Pandora, etc.).
It is designed to display a blank screen on your TV for as long as the audio application runs in the background.
Now, press the mute button on the remote and hold it for about 4 seconds to turn this feature off.
If this was preventing your TV from turning the screen ON, pressing the mute button should fix it.
Factory Reset Your Vizio TV
The ultimate solution for Vizio TV not turning on is to factory reset it.
A Factory reset will get rid of all software glitches and restore the TV to its default settings.
However, this also means that all your account data, apps, and downloads will be wiped, and you will have to set up the TV from scratch.
To factory reset a Vizio TV:
- Make sure your TV is connected to a working power socket and press its Power button.
- Disconnect all the gadgets connected to your TV. This includes speakers, routers, streaming devices, etc.
- Locate the Input and Volume down buttons on the TV. You can find them on the back or bottom panel. If you can’t locate them, refer to your TV’s manual for their exact position.
- Hold the two buttons simultaneously for 10-15 seconds.
- Now, release them and long-press the Input button for 10 seconds. This will trigger the factory reset process, and your Vizio TV will restart.
Contact Vizio Customer Support
While the steps detailed above were enough to fix my Vizio TV, I understand that it won’t work for everyone.
The issue with your TV may warrant a technician’s visit on the off-chance that the solutions above did not work for you.
This is usually due to some internal components failing, and it does happen from time to time.
Calling Vizio Support is the only option left for restoring your TV to normal condition.
Their tech support personnel will guide you through the steps to resolve this problem.
My Final Two Cents
According to my extensive research, there are multiple reasons why a Vizio TV won’t turn on.
For instance, faulty remote, dead batteries, worn-out power cord, bad power supply board, residual power trapped in the TV’s circuit, and so on.
Nevertheless, having tried all these steps, you should consider checking your product warranty and requesting service if your Vizio TV won’t turn on.
Try to request a replacement or get your Vizio TV repaired if it is under warranty.
In case your TV’s warranty has expired, you may want to call a third-party service expert or technician.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix my Vizio TV if it turns on, but its screen is black?
If your Vizio TV turns on but shows a black screen, there might be an issue with its backlight or T-Con board. You should get your TV checked by a certified technician.
Do Vizio TVs have a physical ‘Reset’ button?
There is no hardware ‘Reset’ button on Vizio TVs.
How long do Vizio TVs last?
Vizio TVs have an average lifespan of seven years, but it may vary depending on the usage.
