So, you lost your Vizio remote.
Now how are you supposed to connect your TV to your WiFi network?
Sounds like a struggle…
But no, finding a way around that is easy.
Let me tell you the many different ways you can try to make that happen.
Read on to find out:
- Substitute accessories available for WiFi-TV connectivity.
- 5 easy ways to connect your Vizio TV to WiFi without a remote.
- Whether you need to spend a lot to connect a TV to your WiFi with no remote.
- And so much more…
How to connect Vizio TV to WiFi without a remote?
Connecting your Vizio TV to your WiFi network without a remote can be done with a USB keyboard and a mouse. You can also download the SmartCast app or a Remote app. Finally, you can get a universal remote.
5 ways to connect Vizio TV to WiFi without a remote
#1: USB keyboard
A USB keyboard is a good substitute accessory for your remote.
But a keyboard can do the same thing.
Before we get to that, you first need to reset your Vizio TV.
“Why is this necessary?”
Your TV should erase all previous configurations for you to be able to set it up again.
And this time, with the help of a USB keyboard and a mouse.
“Can I reset my TV without a remote?”
Yes, definitely.
The steps vary depending on the specific model, but generally:
- Hold down the Input and Volume Down buttons for at least 10 seconds.
- Wait for the pop-up instructions.
- Press the Input and Volume Down buttons again.
Now…
It’s time to connect a USB keyboard.
To do this, you just need to:
- Make sure the TV and your keyboard are on.
- Plug in the keyboard to the USB port on the back panel of the TV.
- Check to see if it’s working.
“How do I use the keyboard to connect my TV to my WiFi?”
On your keyboard, load the TV’s on-screen menu through the arrows on the keyboard.
From there:
- Go to your TV’s Menu.
- Navigate to “Network”.
- Look for your network under “Wireless Access Points”.
- Enter your password.
Note: If you don’t see your network name, click on “More Access Points”.
#2: Universal remote
Another way that you can try to enable a TV-WiFi connection is through a universal remote.
This device is perfect for conveniently using your smart home systems.
Instead of getting different types of remotes for different products…
You can use 1 universal remote to control all of them.
And this also doubles as a replacement for your lost Vizio remote control.
“Sounds great! How do I choose a remote?”
You can choose from many options, depending on your budget, need for features, etc.
Consider the following when getting a universal remote:
- User-friendly features.
- Activity-based controls.
- Compatibility with other devices.
Some of the best universal remotes that you can buy are:
Now that you have a remote, the next thing to do is use it for your Vizio TV.
To do that:
Step 1: Power on your Internet router.
Step 2: Check if it’s working properly.
Step 3: Enter the code for your universal remote. This varies from case to case.
For 2-digit codes: 19
For 3-digit codes: 004, 011, 113, 502, 505, 627
For 4-digit codes: 0030, 0056, 0117, 0128, 0178, 0205, 1004, 1017, 1078, 1292, 1756, 1758
For 5-digit codes: 01377, 10117, 10120, 10178, 10864, 10885, 11756
Step 4: On your universal remote, go to Menu.
Step 5: Navigate to “Network”.
Step 6: Wait for the list of available WiFi networks that will be displayed on your TV.
Step 7: Choose your network and key in your password.
Note: Using a universal remote for a Vizio TV won’t always work.
“Why is that?”
There could be compatibility issues between the remote and your TV.
Additionally, a manufacturer’s remote will work best with its TV.
In this case, you can try the next method for connecting your Vizio TV to WiFi.
You may also like: 3 Ways To Connect Vizio Soundbar To TV In Seconds
#3: SmartCast app
“What if neither of those options worked?”
Don’t worry, there’s always the SmartCast app for you to download.
“But I don’t have a SmartCast device, can I still use the app?”
Yes, you can.
According to Vizio, the app can work as a remote for all Vizio devices.
“Great! What do I have to do?”
Step 1: First, download the SmartCast mobile app on your Android or iOS phone.
Step 2: Sign up for an account. Or if you want, you can also enable guest sign-in.
Step 3: Check the top section of the app, and tap on “Select Device”.
“What if I can’t see my device on the list of devices?”
If your Vizio TV has been set up and it’s connected to the Internet…
Tap on “Add Device”. This will show you all the Vizio devices on your network.
If your Vizio TV has not been set up, tap on “Add Device”.
Then, navigate to “Setup New Device.”
Follow the instructions on the screen for setting up a Vizio TV.
Step 4: Your SmartCast app is now ready to use.
Note: In some cases, a 4-digit pin will be displayed on your TV.
When this happens, just enter the PIN into your SmartCast app to sync it with your TV.
“But I’m seeing an error message on my SmartCast.”
If your SmartCast app won’t load or work, the 2 most common error messages will be:
- “SmartCast is not available.”
- “SmartCast Home screen is not loading.”
In this case, we’ll need to do some troubleshooting to fix the issue.
Step 1: Check if your TV has successfully connected to your WiFi network.
To do this:
- Go to your SmartCast app’s Menu.
- Find “Network.”
- Navigate to “Test Connection.”
- Check the results of the test.
Step 2: Power cycle your Vizio TV.
If your test results confirm that your TV’s connected to your WiFi…
Next, try a power cycle on your TV.
This is when you unplug your device from its power source for a few seconds.
And this can help in correcting some minor issues, like getting an error message when you use SmartCast.
To power cycle your TV:
- Unplug the power cord from the wall.
- Press and hold the TV’s power button for at least 3 seconds.
- Reconnect the power cord to the wall.
- Power the TV back on.
Step 3: Restart your phone.
If the first two fixes didn’t work, you’ll need to restart the phone where you downloaded SmartCast.
To restart an Android phone, you can use different methods.
First, you can press and hold the Power button until your phone screen goes black.
Or if you don’t have a dedicated power button…
Press the side button until you see the “Restart” option on your screen.
For an iPhone X, 11, 12, and 13, the restart process is as follows:
- Press the Volume Up or Volume Down and the side button.
- Tap on the Power-off slider.
- Wait for the phone to power off.
- Finally, press your phone’s side button again to restart the phone.
If you have an iPhone 6, 7, or 8…
You’ll need to do the same steps above except you’ll only need to use the side button.
And if you have a first-generation iPhone like the iPhone 5 or earlier…
Look for the top button and use that to power off your phone.
Once your phone’s restarted, try loading SmartCast again.
Watch how you can download and set up SmartCast here:
#4: Remote app
Want another option?
You can install a Remote app from Google Play or the Apple store.
What exactly is a remote app, you say?
It’s designed to work like a remote and allows you to control your connected devices.
According to experts, it does this by using infrared, which is a type of light.
Do you ever notice how a red light blinks from your remote at times?
That’s the signal that’s sent by your remote control.
Your TV receives the signal, and bam, your remote can control your TV.
And a remote app works in the same way.
“Cool! How do I choose which app to download?”
When downloading a remote app to connect your Vizio TV to a WiFi network, check:
- Security.
- User ratings.
- Available features.
So when that’s done, the next thing to do is:
- Set up the remote app.
- Make sure your WiFi is on.
- On your remote app, request to connect your Vizio TV to the app.
- Enter the connection code.
- Navigate to the “WiFi” setting on the app.
- Connect to your WiFi network.
#5: Ethernet cable (Optional (Wired)
If none of the above steps for wireless connectivity or WiFi worked for your Vizio TV…
Does that mean that you can’t connect it to the Internet?
Actually, no.
You can opt to wire an Ethernet cable to your TV.
Now, this won’t use a wireless network, because this is a wired connection.
“How does that work?”
It’s pretty simple. One end of the Ethernet cable connects to your TV…
And the other end goes to your router or modem.
“Will that type of connection be good, though?”
Absolutely. Vizio even recommends using an Ethernet cable to fully enjoy your Vizio TV.
There are many reasons for this.
Speed
First off, a wired connection is faster.
A typical WiFi connection can get you as much as 150 Mbps, which is pretty fast.
But a wired connection can support up to 1GB per second.
Mindblowing, right?
And that’s not all.
Latency
Another thing that affects your connection is latency.
In simple terms, latency is the delay that happens for data to move from one device to another.
And WiFi has pretty high latency, compared to a wired connection.
For example, if you want to stream a movie on your Vizio TV…
The data will need to transfer from your Internet router to your TV.
With a WiFi connection, there could be delays in this.
But with an Ethernet cable, you get lower latency cause your Internet is wired to your device.
Interference
Finally, a wired connection has fewer chances for interference than WiFi.
This refers to things that can block the WiFi signal.
Some common examples of interference include:
- Your home’s layout.
- Objects that can block the WiFi signal.
- Interference from either electrical devices.