(9 Fixes) Vizio TV Blinking On And Off [Updated 2023]

Colorful flashing lights are fun.

But a blinking Vizio TV?

Not so much.

It’s impossible to enjoy watching when your screen’s flickering.

And while it does seem like a serious issue…

For the most part, it’s actually not.

In fact, there are plenty of quick fixes you can do.

Continue reading to discover:

9 effective ways to fix your Vizio TV’s blinking screen issue.
Best Picture Mode options to prevent your screen from flickering.
Features that you need to switch off to stop your Vizio from blinking.
And much, much more…

Why does my Vizio TV keep blinking on and off?

Your Vizio TV keeps blinking on and off because of a backlight failure. One or more of the backlight LEDs may be defective. To resolve that, go to your Vizio TV’s Picture Settings. And turn down the backlight level. If it doesn’t fix the issue, you may have to replace your TV’s backlight strips.

Vizio TV blinking on and off: 9 fixes

#1: Perform a power cycle on your Vizio TV

If your Vizio TV’s blinking on and off, it’s usually backlight-related.

But it doesn’t necessarily mean that the LED lights are defective. It’s also likely that some of the lights are simply glitching.

That’s why it’s ideal to do a power cycle on your Vizio TV first.

Basically, you just need to restart the TV.

And it’s usually effective in fixing many of Vizio’s issues. Whether it’s an issue about an app like Hulu not working. Or a flickering screen problem.

It’s also extremely easy to do. It should only take a minute or 2.

The fastest way’s via unplugging.

How to power cycle by unplugging

Disconnect your Vizio TV’s power cord from the outlet.
Press and hold the TV’s power button for around 30 seconds.
Plug your TV back into the power source.
Turn it on again by pressing the power button.

Aside from unplugging, some Vizio TVs also have an option for a soft power cycle. Where you can restart the TV from the system menu.

How to do a soft power cycle

Press the Menu button on your Vizio TV remote.
Scroll down to System and select it.
Click the Reset & Admin option.
Select Soft Power Cycle.

#2: Check for power source issues

Now there’s actually a chance that your Vizio TV’s fine. But it’s the power source that’s causing it to flicker.

For instance, a faulty outlet or surge protector may cause the TV’s power to fluctuate. And it might be why it’s turning on and off.

So try to plug your TV into another power source.

If you’re using a power strip, unplug your TV from there. And connect it to a wall outlet instead.

In addition, check if your Vizio TV’s power cord has any damage. If it has, look for a replacement cord.

Also, ensure that you attach it securely to the TV.

You may also try to disconnect the cord from the TV. And then reconnect. Also, try to wiggle it to ensure that its attachment’s firm.

#3: Check if the remote is defective

With a blinking or flickering screen, you also couldn’t rule out a malfunctioning remote.

There are several possibilities for this.

One is that the power button in your remote got stuck. Likely due to trapped dust or other small particles.

Another is the remote’s battery charge is low.

You see, a remote would sometimes send random signals when its batteries are defective.

So try to remove your remote’s battery. If your TV stops blinking, then it really is a remote issue.

With that, start with cleaning the power button. This is to ensure that it isn’t stuck.

After that, replace the batteries. Vizio TV remotes generally use 2 AAA batteries.

#4: Reset your Vizio TV’s Picture Settings

Since a blinking screen’s usually due to the backlight…

You’ll have to make several adjustments in your Vizio’s Picture Settings.

But in some cases, simply resetting the entire Picture Settings is enough. You won’t need to go to the more advanced menu options.

Now, a Picture Settings reset is essentially a factory reset. But only for picture-related options. So all your other info should remain unchanged.

That said, try doing it first before making any other setting changes.

These are the steps:

Click the Menu button on your remote.
Navigate to Picture and press the remote’s OK button.
Go to More and click the remote’s right arrow.
Select Reset Picture Mode.
Click Reset to confirm your selection.

For many users, doing this was enough to stop their Vizio TV from blinking.

#5: Select a Picture Mode with a low backlight level

Your Vizio TV comes with several Picture Mode options. Including:

Vivid.
Game.
Standard.
Calibrated.
Calibrated Dark.

Each of these varies in backlight level, brightness, and contrast.

If you suspect one or more of your TV’s LED lights are faulty…

Select a Picture Mode with a low backlight level. Ideally at 65 or below. You’ll see it under each mode.

Standard, Calibrated Dark, and Game modes all have low backlight levels. So you may choose from any of those.

Here’s how:

Press the Menu button on your Vizio remote.
Highlight Picture and press OK.
Highlight Picture Mode.
Select Standard, Calibrated Dark, or Game by using the remote’s arrow.

Now, if you’d prefer another mode, that’s fine. As long as you adjust the backlight level.

Just scroll down under the Picture Mode. Then, highlight Backlight. And press your remote’s Down Arrow to decrease its level to 65 or lower.

Here’s a video demonstrating how adjusting the Picture Mode can fix a flickering screen:

#6: Switch off Ambient Light Sensor and Adaptive Luma

Ambient Light Sensor is a feature that automatically adjusts a device’s brightness.

If the environment’s too dark, it automatically brightens the screen. And the opposite if a place is already well-lit.

It’s a feature that’s on many modern smart TVs and smartphones.

Adaptive Luma is similar. It also automatically adjusts the brightness and contrast of your screen.

You can find both of these features on your Vizio TV. And both of them affect your TV’s backlight.

That’s why it’s best to switch them off if your screen’s blinking screen.

How to switch off Ambient Light Sensor and Adaptive Luma

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.
Select Adaptive Luma.
Press the remote’s arrow button to toggle it off.
Scroll down to Ambient Light Sensor.
Switch it off by clicking the arrow button.

#7: Check for external device issues

There are also cases where the external devices are the ones causing the TV to blink.

Nowadays, HDMI is the most used cable for connecting devices to TVs. And it’s mainly because it’s excellent at transmitting both audio and video.

So if it’s old or defective, it’ll likely cause picture or audio problems on your TV.

Vizio recommends using HDMI 2.0 or newer cables to avoid a flickering screen.

And aside from the HDMI cable, the external devices themselves may have issues.

So if you have any of the following connected to your Vizio TV:

Try to disconnect them from the TV. And check if the blinking stops.

#8: Update your Vizio TV’s firmware

While not always the case, there are instances where an OS glitch can cause a blinking screen.

So it’s also important to keep your Vizio’s SmartCast OS up to date.

Updates are usually automatic. All you have to do is connect your Vizio TV to WiFi.

Your TV will download updates in the background if there are available ones. It’ll then install the updates when you power it off.

But you may also manually check for updates. It’s ideal to do this if your TV’s been offline for a while. And you believe you’ve missed out on updates.

You can update your device via these steps:

Click your Vizio remote’s Menu button.
Navigate to System Option and select it.
Select Check for Updates.

#9: Factory reset your Vizio TV

So you’ve reset the Picture Settings. You’ve also switched off various advanced features.

And even installed the latest firmware.

But your Vizio TV screen’s still blinking.

At this point, you may have to do a factory reset.

This is normally one of my last recommendations because it’ll wipe out your entire data. So you’ll basically have to start over again with your Vizio TV.

But it’s also an effective fix.

So here’s how to factory reset your Vizio TV:

Grab your Vizio remote and click Menu.
Go to System and click it.
Scroll down to Reset & Admin and select it.
Select Reset TV to Factory Defaults.
Enter your password. If none, type in 0000.
Click Reset.

Your TV will then begin the factory reset process. This should take several minutes. So just make sure to keep your TV on.

You might also want to know: 5 Ways To Fix A Vizio TV That Won’t Turn On

Bonus: Contact Vizio’s customer support team

If the fixes don’t work, then there’s likely severe damage to the LED backlight.

You may actually try to fix them yourself.

Just remove the back cover of your TV. And then replace the backlight strips with new ones.

However, not everyone may be comfortable doing that. So it’s best to leave it to the hands of an expert.

You may reach out to Vizio for repair options.

This is their toll-free number: 1-844-254-8087.

Their hotline’s open Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM CST.

On Saturdays and Sundays, you may call from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM CST.

In addition, you may also contact them via text or live chat on their website.