Vizio TV remote not working: problems & solutions

It happens that a device intended to simplify our life suddenly starts malfunctioning or ceases to work at all, and Vizio remote issues are especially annoying. Indeed, it’s not only about convenience but also about the overall TV experience since you lose access to a variety of features if your remote functions improperly. Hence, you may want to fix your problem as soon as possible, and Howly is here to make troubleshooting easy and smooth. This guide covers the best solutions to all kinds of Vizio control not working issues, so make yourself comfortable, and let’s deal with it!

Reasons why Vizio remote not working for TV

The issue of Vizio remote control not working is very popular, it’s hard to even imagine how many users have already asked Howly experts to help them with troubleshooting. After analyzing customer reports, our techs managed to identify the principal causes of such issues. Keep them in mind to fix your Vizio remote problem and prevent malfunctions in the future.

• blocked/obstructed TV sensor;
• dying batteries;
• non-working IR sensor;
• electronic interference;
• faulty source of power;
• improper Vizio remote setup;
• faulty TV software;
• physical damage.

How to resolve Vizio smart TV remote not working issues

Even though you comprehend what triggers Vizio TV remote problems, it might be difficult to determine the actual cause of your issue if you know little about such devices and the principles of their functionality. Thus, leave this task to Howly, and our experts will provide you with a suitable solution right away, or try out the following troubleshooting options one by one.

Replace the batteries

This quick and uncomplicated solution often proves to be helpful. After all, if the batteries are low or discharged, the remote will have insufficient power to function and send signals to your TV. So to troubleshoot the problem, lift the back cover of your Vizio remote and carefully place fresh batteries, matching the negative and positive terminals. If your Vizio TV won’t work with the remote anyway, move on to other solutions.

Check if IR emitter is working

Normal functioning of the IR (infrared) sensor is critical for proper communication between your Vizio TV and remote. And you can check whether the emitter is working with a quick camera test:

1. Launch your phone camera and point its focus on the top of your remote (on the small IR LED).
2. Start pressing different buttons – if the emitter is working, you’ll spot a red flashing light on the display of your phone.
3. Make sure to check every button. If none of them is working, chances are you’ll need to repair or replace your TV remote. If just one or two buttons refuse to function, a simple cleaning may work well for you.

Ensure TV sensor is working

Your Vizio television possesses an IR sensor to get and process signals from the remote. You’ll find the sensor at the left bottom corner of your TV – ensure it’s not blocked or dirty. Otherwise, you’ll face a Vizio TV not responding to remote problem as the device will simply fail to receive signals. Moreover, point your remote control right at the sensor and stay within 10 feet from the TV since the radius of action is rather small.

Try another source of power

A dirty source of power may affect the quality of electricity the Vizio TV receives. Such abnormalities include poor power factor, power surges, frequency changes, and voltage fluctuations. This all makes your Vizio TV not responding to the remote or buttons, but it’s easy to handle the issue. Simply put, find another, good-working source of power and replug your TV.

Reset Vizio remote

In fact, Vizio remote resetting is a great solution to fix memory issues and eliminate various firmware bugs that may prevent your device from normal operation. Thus, you’ll need to reprogram Vizio remote using special codes, and it takes a few minutes:

1. Long-press the remote’s Power button and release it when the LED light flashes two times.
2. Take advantage of the number pad to enter the code matching your device model (check out the remote’s manual for a suitable code, it’s often 977 or 981).
3. You’ll notice the light blinking two times if the system recognizes the code – direct your Vizio remote at the TV and check it out by clicking a button or two.

Power cycle your television

It might happen that some system glitches or bugs cause Vizio TV remote control not working. Power cycling will help you reset the faulty settings and eliminate possible faults.

1. Pull the power supply cord of your Vizio television from the outlet.
2. Find the Power button and hold it for some time (30 seconds will be enough) to get rid of the residual power.
3. Leave the TV for 1-2 minutes.
4. Replug the power cord and turn on your Vizio TV.
5. Wait for another minute and check whether the remote control is now operating well.