Vizio TV Blinking On and Off [2023]
One of the most common issues that can go wrong with Vizio TVs is that they occasionally have a habit of blinking on and off.
Numerous Vizio TV owners claim to have had this issue while others claim to have been dealing with it for several years!
Fortunately, there are a few simple remedies that will fix your Vizio TV if it is blinking on and off.
ℹ Vizio display blinking on and off? Try this quick fix first…
If your Vizio TV is blinking on and off, 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 and have a non-blinking display 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 blinking on and off problem.
How to Troubleshoot Vizio TV Blinking On and Off
Check for Power Problems
It is possible that a malfunctioning backlight is the primary cause of a blinking display. You can’t rule out the possibility of a power problem, either.
To ensure that your power source is functioning properly try this:
- Unplug your TV from the wall outlet
- Plug a lamp into the same wall outlet
If the light bulb flickers or blows out you have a problem with the power source itself. NOT the TV.
You can also repeat the previous steps substituting your power strip for the power outlet to see if the culprit is a faulty power strip
Check the Remote Control (Have you Replaced the Batteries Recently?)
If your Vizio television, is blinking off and on, 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 are dying out, or that the remote isn’t working properly.
When the batteries in a remote control are bad, it can send out random signals causing unexpected issues like a blinking screen.
Change the batteries in the remote control to fix this problem.
If the TV isn’t functioning properly on after changing every battery, try this.
One possibility is that your remote’s power button became jammed. Trapped dust or other tiny particles are most likely to blame for this.
Begin by cleaning the power button. This is to prevent it from being jammed.
But fret not there are a few more tricks you can try to get your Vizio TV to turn on.
Disconnect External Devices
If nothing has fixed your tv blinking on and off problem yet, then disconnect all other devices from your Vizio TV to see if they are contributing to the problem.
Some devices you want to disconnect include:
- Streaming sticks/boxes
- Gaming Consoles
- DVD Players
Disconnect each of them one by one to diagnose if any of your devices is causing the issue.
While it’s a long shot, there are users that have reported external devices as the culprit for their TV randomly blinking on and off.
No luck yet? It’s time to check your cables and connections👇
Check for Faulty Cables and Connections
A faulty cable is another possible cause of a blinking screen.
An issue with HDMI cables in particular is that they can fail unexpectedly.
For this reason, make sure to inspect your HDMI cable if you’re currently using one.
Try to remove any dust or debris that may have accumulated with a soft brush or cotton swab.
Make sure you’re using an up-to-date HDMI version 2.0 or 2.1 cable as well.
Blinking of the screen could also be the result of a faulty port.
At least four HDMI ports are standard on new Vizio TV models. Plug your external device or video source into one of those instead.
If you are still having blinking problems, then it may be time to adjust some of your TV’s settings…
Adjust Picture Settings on Vizio TV (Disable Advanced Settings)
Your TV’s Picture settings may be to blame for your TV’s blinking on and off.
Resetting the image mode should be your first line of defense.
To reset image mode using your remote control follow these steps:
- Press the Menu button
- Select Picture
- Select More
- Choose Reset Picture Mode
If this doesn’t fix your problem, don’t despair…there are still other options you can explore.
Turn Off Ambient Light Sensor
Alternatively, you can disable the Ambient Light Sensor and see if that helps.
A device’s brightness can be automatically adjusted by using the Ambient Light Sensor function.
It automatically brightens the screen if the surrounding lighting is inadequate. If a location is already well-lit, the opposite occurs.
On many modern smart TVs including most newer Vizio models, this feature is available.
How to switch off Ambient Light Sensor:
- Click your Vizio TV Menu button.
- Go to Picture and select it.
- Toggle the Picture Mode to Custom.
- Select More.
- Navigate to Advanced Picture and click it.
- Scroll down to Ambient Light Sensor.
- Switch it off by clicking the arrow button
If this doesn’t fix your problem, repeat the instructions above and when you get to step #6 choose Adaptive Luma and turn it off. This may be the solution you are looking for.
Update Your Vizio TV’s Software
If the software on your Vizio TV is out-of-of-date, you may encounter a variety of problems like blinking on and off, not connecting to WiFi, and even the dreaded Vizio Black Screen of Death.
Checking for and installing new Vizio TV OS updates can often be the solution to your problem.
It’s as simple as checking to see if your TV model has a firmware update available. Sometimes these updates are missed, but they are usually done automatically.
First, turn on your Vizio TV and press the Menu button on the remote. After that, select System from the drop-down menu.
Click on Check for Updates if it appears.
The Vizio TV Firmware Upgrade is now available for download.
Now, your TV will automatically start looking for updates.
If there are any software updates available for installation, they will be done automatically by your TV.
Make sure to keep your Vizio TV up-to-date with the latest software by performing regular updates.
How to Factory Reset a Vizio TV
The factory reset option is recommended if either of the two steps above fixes your Vizio TV blinking on and off problem, but the problem returns at a later date.
If your Vizio TV has a blinking display, it could be because of a software error. A factory reset of your television can resolve this issue.
- If you have access to a functioning remote control, then try this method first (It’s the easiest):
- 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).
- Click the System option that should be present in the menu.
- 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.
- Find the Power (which is normally located on the side of the screen) and press it to turn the TV on
- Hold down the Volume and Source buttons
- A few seconds later, the TV will display a message that says Press and hold the input button for a few seconds
- About 10 seconds after pressing the Input button, let go of the button
- 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 fixing your blinking display.
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 blinking, 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 (like a bad controller card or backlight) yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about troubleshooting your Vizio TV that keeps blinking 👇
What does it mean when a Vizio TV is blinking?
When the Vizio logo blinks, it means that there is a problem with the firmware or a power surge. This will cause the TV’s picture to stop working in the long run.
Why does my Vizio TV keep blinking on and off?
What’s going on? If your cable connections are loose, if your cables are broken, or if your connection ports are broken, your TV screen will flicker. Your TV screen can also flicker if there is electrical interference or if the lighting in the room is too bright.
In Conclusion…
As mentioned previously, your Vizio television may be blinking for a variety of reasons.
Here is a summary of the ways to fix your Vizio TV when it is blinking:
- Perform a soft reset
- Check for power problems
- Check the remote control
- Disconnect external devices
- Identify faulty cables and connections
- Adjust picture settings
- Update software
- Factory reset TV
- 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 stop blinking on and off!