Vizio TV Won’t Turn On – Fixes You Should Try FIRST [2023]

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Vizio TVs occasionally refuse to turn on, which can be very frustrating in the age of smart TVs. The good news is that most problems have simple solutions.

Fixing a Vizio TV is most often as simple as unplugging it and reseating the power cable. Sometimes you just have to wait for an update to take effect, but unfortunately, there are times when a complete reset is required.

The following short guide should answer the vast majority of your questions about getting your Vizio TV to turn on without having to call Vizio customer service first.

ℹ Vizio Won’t Turn On? Try this quick fix first

If your Vizio TV will not turn on, you must reset it. Unplug your television from the wall and wait exactly 60 seconds. Next, reconnect your TV to the power source. This will perform a safe soft reset on your TV, allowing it to start right up again without any issues.

The above method is called a “soft reset” and will most likely cure the issue, but if it doesn’t don’t worry….because we have compiled a list of alternative ways to fix your Vizio TV that won’t turn on.

How to Troubleshoot when a Vizio TV Won’t Turn On

Check the Power Indicator Light (Is the TV actually off?)

To begin with, we’ll check to see if your TV is indeed turned off before attempting to fix the problem with a different solution.

First, you need to find where the Power Indicator Light resides on your particular TV.

You may see a rectangle at the bottom of the screen, or you may see Vizio’s name at the bottom of the screen, depending on your TV model.

One of these areas is where the Power Indicator Light is located.

Find and hit the power button on your television. That button will be used instead of your remote in the event that your remote is responsible for the issue.

As soon as you push the power button, you’ll see a light appear on the screen.

No light? Well, then there is most definitely an issue. Let’s try some alternative solutions.

Make Sure the Power Outlet Works

Ensure the outlet works properly by plugging in another gadget you know will function like a phone charger.

It’s easy to tell if the outlet is to blame if you plug the other end of the charger into your phone or tablet and it doesn’t charge.

If this is the case your power outlet may be the root of the problem.

Reconnect the TV once we’ve verified the outlet works.

It’s important to make sure the cord is securely attached to both the wall and the television.

Still not working. Time to move on to the next step.

Make Sure Your Surge Protector Works (Optional)

It’s important to check the status of a surge protector if you use one.

Unplug your TV from the surge protector and plug a known working device in its place.

Make sure the surge protector is properly plugged into the power source and try powering the device on.

If your device doesn’t power on, replace your current surge protector and see if the TV will power itself on.

Is the Power Cable Loose? (Or Damaged)

The first step you should take when evaluating the power cable of your Vizio TV is to visually inspect the cord for any physical damage.

Is there any tearing, fraying, or exposed wires? If so you may have a damaged power cable.

Order a replacement and see if that solves the problem of your TV not turning on.

Incorrectly or loosely connecting your TV power cord to a power source can impair the TV’s connectivity.

Next, verify that the TV and power outlet connections are both properly and completely plugged in.

Keep in mind that if the power cord is connected to the power source a little bit loosely, the electricity can’t flow to the TV and it won’t turn on.

Unplug the power cord from the back of the TV, then re-plug it in correctly.

Check the Remote Control (Have you Replaced the Batteries Recently?)

If you are unable to use the remote to turn on your Vizio television, there may not be anything wrong with the television at all. Instead, the remote may be the source of the problem.

The remote control may have a problem.

It could be that the batteries have run out, or that the remote isn’t working properly.

Change the batteries in the remote control to fix this problem.

If the TV still won’t switch on after changing every battery, try this.

Power up the television by pressing the Power button on the TV itself. Depending on the model of your Vizio TV, you’ll find the Power button on either the bottom left or bottom right side.

If the TV won’t turn on manually then you may have a bigger problem.

But fret not there are a few more tricks you can try to get your Vizio TV to turn on.

How to Factory Reset a Vizio TV

The factory reset option is recommended if either of the two steps above fixes your Vizio TV power problem, but the problem returns at a later date.

If your Vizio TV doesn’t have any sound or won’t turn on, it could be because of a software error. A factory reset of your television can resolve this issue.

  1. If you have access to a functioning remote control then try this method first (It’s the easiest):
  2. To access the menu, press the Menu button once the TV has been turned on (you may have briefly powered it up by disconnecting it or removing the remote batteries).
  3. Click the System option that should be present in the menu.
  4. Find Reset & Admin and Reset TV to Factory Defaults and then press Reset 

Before performing a factory reset, the TV may request a code from the user. If it does, the default code is 0000, which is four zeros.

If you can’t find your remote or it doesn’t work then try performing a factory reset by using the buttons located on the Vizio TV itself.

  1. Find the Power (which is normally located on the side of the screen) and press it to turn the TV on
  2. Hold down the Volume and Source buttons
  3. A few seconds later, the TV will display a message that says “Press and hold the input button for a few seconds.”
  4. About 10 seconds after pressing the Input button, let go of the button
  5. The TV will immediately reboot and enter factory reset mode. Rebooting and resetting your TV takes a few minutes.

Once the process is finished, your Vizio TV will return to the settings it had when it was purchased.

Still, having issues? It might be time to call in the professionals…

Contact Vizio Customer Support

Contacting customer support may be necessary if none of the above solutions work for you. 

Vizio customer support is available via text message, internet live chat, and phone.

You can contact customer support at 1(844) 254-8087 if you want to speak with someone directly. Customer service hours are 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday.

On the weekend the hours are 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. CST

You can also try out the Text Support or Live Agent Chat options if you prefer to communicate via typing.

While contacting support may resolve the issue, there may be other problems with your TV that you are unable to resolve on your own.

They can help you by working with you over the phone or by providing instructions on how to send in your TV for repair, if necessary.

Before contacting Vizio, verify that you have a warranty.

When you purchase a TV from Vizo, it comes with a standard one-year warranty.

If you purchased an extended warranty from a retailer like Walmart or Best Buy, verify what the terms and length of that third-party warranty entail.

Other Options (Nothing Has Fixed the Problem)

If you can’t find a solution to your Vizio TV not turning on, and your TV is out of the warranty window then you really have two choices:

Purchase a New Vizio TV

If your Vizio TV is out of the warranty window, it may make more sense just to purchase a new television set altogether.

Smart TVs have never been so inexpensive, so you may be able to get a brand new TV that’s larger and has upgraded features for the same price (or less) as repairing your current model.

Repair your Vizio TV

You have the option to send your TV back to Vizio for repair, even if it isn’t covered under the initial warranty.

But a certified repair specialist in your area is most likely the best option.

In order to dismantle something, you must be extremely careful. There are a lot of fragile wire connections and high-powered circuits in the TV that might cause damage (or even electrocution) if you make the wrong move.

This is why we suggest sending your TV back to the factory for repair (even if the warranty has lapsed) or finding a certified TV repair specialist on your own to do the required repairs.

Unless you are highly skilled at electronics repair, we never recommend trying to replace internal parts yourself!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about troubleshooting your Vizio TV that won’t turn on 👇

Is there a reset button on a Vizio TV?

Yes, you can hard reset your Vizio TV from the Menu button on the remote or the unit itself.

How do I force restart on my Vizio TV?

You have to perform a force restart on your TV’s memory to restore the default settings:

  1. Press the Menu button on the remote
  2. Use the remote’s arrow keys to select System, then press OK
  3. Select Reset & Admin and hit OK
  4. Select Reset TV to Factory Defaults and press the OK button
  5. If you haven’t reset the parental code yourself, type 0000 when it asks for the password
  6. Select Reset, then press OK
  7. Wait until the TV goes off

In Conclusion…

As mentioned previously, your Vizio television may not be turning on for a variety of reasons.

Here is a summary of the ways to fix your Vizio TV when it won’t turn on:

  • Perform a soft reset
  • Check the power indicator light
  • Make sure the power outlet works
  • Make sure your surge protector is functioning
  • Observe the power cable to see if it is loose or damaged
  • Check the remote control
  • Perform a factory reset
  • Contact Vizio customer support
  • Purchase a new TV or hire a certified repairman to fix the current unit

Let me know if this managed to help you fix your Vizio television. Leave a comment if you have a different tip or method that helped you get your TV to turn on!

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