Many homes use Vizio smart TVs and usually face a common problem. Although the TVs are efficient, they might encounter performance issues like the Wi-Fi not connecting. The problem might seem mild, but it can be nerve-racking when binging on your favorite shows or catching up on the latest episodes.
If your Vizio TV is misbehaving this way, this article is precisely for you. Keep reading as we address the possible causes and how you can reconnect to the Wi-Fi.
Why is My VIZIO Smart TV not Connecting to Wi-Fi?
There are various reasons why your TV might not connect to Wi-Fi. It could be that your TV’s Wi-Fi adapter has some issues and needs an experienced technician to fix it. It could also be a configuration problem either on the TV or router. In such instances, adjusting the settings or restarting the router/TV usually does the trick.
Also, there could be a network outage or slow internet speeds making the TV behave as if it is not connected to Wi-Fi. Below are more reasons and possible solutions.
1. Check Your Wi-Fi
The first thing you should do is ensure your Wi-Fi connection is working. Therefore, try connecting another device to your Wi-Fi to narrow down the source of the connectivity problem.
If other devices can connect to the Wi-Fi, then the problem is probably from the TV; hence try other solutions discussed here.
If all devices at home have Wi-Fi issues, check your router or contact your ISP to help you troubleshoot your network. You can also restart the router or even reset it to factory default settings.
If your router has 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, give them different SSIDs and connect your TV to the 2.4GHz band. Most TVs have problems connecting to the 5GHz, which can cause problems when the router switches between bands to provide reliable connections.
If the Wi-Fi issues are with the TV alone, ensure you are using the correct Wi-Fi password and are connecting to the right network.
Also, check your network speeds to ensure they are at optimum levels. Fortunately, Vizio TVs come with a speed test tool that is handy in such instances.
To test the connection speed:
- Press the Menu button on your TV remote
- Scroll to Network>Test Connection
- The test connection screen will display information about your connection, including the type, name, and download speeds.
You can also test your connection on any device that can access the internet. Simply connect a computer/smartphone to your Wi-Fi network and visit fast.com, speedtest.net, or some other speed test app for a detailed summary of your internet strength.
The recommended speeds for streaming different quality videos vary slightly for streaming services, i.e., Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube.
Ideally, the speeds should be above 1Mbps to stream Standard Definition quality videos, and weaker signals tend to drop or refuse to connect. If this is the case, move the router closer to the TV. Then, try to eliminate Wi-Fi interference coming from Bluetooth devices, microwaves, and baby monitors.
Also, confirm that the TV is not using an Ethernet connection since that would cause the Wi-Fi menu to be unavailable on the screen of some TV models.
VIZIO TV Support – Basic Internet Connection Troubleshooting
2. Restart Your Devices
Sometimes the connectivity problem can be caused by a software glitch. These are common for electronic devices, and restarting them usually works.
Therefore, power cycle the router and TV and reconnect to the Wi-Fi. To do this:
- Power off the router and unplug it from the wall outlet. Wait for at least 15 seconds before restarting it.
- Next, restart the TV. You can use the power button or the soft power cycle feature to restart Vizio TVs.
- Power cycle the TV by pressing Menu on the remote.
- Then navigate System>Reset & Admin>Soft Power Cycle>Yes
- Wait for the TV to restart, and you can reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.
If a soft power cycle fails, do it the traditional way by switching off the TV and unplugging it from the power source for 15 seconds before restarting it.
3. Adjust the DHCP Settings
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is responsible for your TV’s IP address assignment. An IP address facilitates communication between your TV and router. Problems can arise if the DHCP settings are incompatible with the router’s settings.
Every device requires a unique IP address for easy data routing to the appropriate destinations. If the router receives matching IP addresses from different devices on your network, it will result in a connection malfunction.
Therefore, if the TV’s DHCP settings are off, it might result in IP address collisions within your network. Switch DHCP settings on by:
- Press the Menu key on the remote.
- Navigate Network>Manual Setup>DHCP
- Change it to ON to allow the TV to use the available IP addresses instead of sticking to a particular one that might already be in use.
If the DHCP settings were already enabled, disable them for a few seconds, then re-enable them.
Advanced users can switch DHCP settings off on the TV and use a reserved IP instead. By reserving an IP, you ensure it will only be used by the TV and not any other device on your network. Or, you could try setting up the IP address and DNS servers manually on your TV.
How to Assign an IP Address and DNS Server Manually on Your VIZIO TV
4. Check for Firmware Updates
Even though Vizio TVs perform automatic software updates, there are instances where the update can be delayed.
These updates solve various issues, including wireless connectivity. If you neglect a firmware update, you may experience compatibility issues between multiple devices and the TV, including the router.
Follow the steps below to conduct a firmware update:
- Press the Menu key on the remote.
- Go to System>Check for Updates and press OK.
- The TV will ask you to confirm the system update if there is an available update. Also, check if your router has a new system update.
How to Update a VIZIO TV
5. Reset the TV
You could also reset the TV to its factory settings. That way, you erase any new settings that might interfere with the Wi-Fi and restore all the settings you’ve made on the TV.
To restore the settings:
- Press the Menu key on the remote.
- Use the arrow keys to go to System, then OK to show the system menu
- Next, navigate Reset & Admin> Reset to Factory defaults and press OK.
- Enter the administrator pin if prompted
- Select Reset and press OK.
- The TV will restart, and you can set it up afresh.
The resetting procedure varies depending on the TV’s model, but the option is usually under Admin settings. Some models can also be reset by pressing and holding the power button on the remote for about five seconds.
How to Reset a VIZIO TV
6. Try an Ethernet Connection
You can resort to using a wired connection if all the solutions fail. Vizio Smart TVs come with an Ethernet port usually situated at the back of the TV, facilitating wired connections.
Ethernet connections are more efficient than Wi-Fi connections and are easy to set up.
To connect the TV via Ethernet, hook up the cable to the router’s/access point’s LAN port and the other point to the TV’s Ethernet port.
Your TV should access the internet once it is on and there’s internet access on your network.
How to Connect a VIZIO TV to the Internet (Wireless and Wired Connection)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question: Why can’t My TV find my Wi-Fi network?
Answer: There are two main reasons your TV might not find your Wi-Fi network. One is that the router is too far from the TV. In this case, you should move the router and the TV closer to each other for swift connections.
You could alternatively extend your Wi-Fi’s reach by using a Wi-Fi extender or an additional access point.
The Wi-Fi network could also be a hidden network. You can connect to hidden networks on Vizio TVs by navigating; Menu > Network > Hidden Network.
Then enter the Wi-Fi name and highlight Connect, then enter the Wi-Fi password.
Question: How to access my Vizio TVs MAC address?
Address: The MAC address can become handy in various scenarios like preserving IP addresses for your TV.
Navigate: Menu > Network > Manual Setup. Here, you will find the Ethernet and Wi-Fi MAC addresses.
Conclusion
At this point, you have tried all the solutions that could remedy the situation. If the problem persists, contact Vizio’s customer support for further assistance and notify them of the fixes you have already tried. Alternatively, request a service visit from Vizio for your TV; however, it might take time, and it is not a guarantee that you will be served. You can also contact a trustworthy technician to look at the television’s hardware.
Note that the procedures above apply to Vizio TVs that use the Smartcast platform. If your TV uses an older platform or requires a different procedure, refer to the user manual for more detailed instructions. User manuals for other Vizio TV models are available here.
