When an LED light starts flickering…
It usually means it’s nearing the end of its lifespan.
So when my Vizio TV started behaving similarly…
I panicked.
Then I had a light-bulb moment…
“A few tweaks in the settings should fix this.”
And I was right!
Want to know what I did?
Continue reading to find out:
- What actually causes a Vizio TV’s screen to flicker.
- 11 easy ways to fix your Vizio TV screen’s flickering issue.
- Recommended Picture Mode options to stop your Vizio TV’s screen from flickering.
- And a lot more…
Why is my Vizio TV screen flickering?
Your Vizio TV screen is flickering due to a backlight issue. To fix it, try to adjust your TV’s backlight level. You can do that by going to Picture Mode, highlighting Backlight, and then lowering the level. You may also switch off Backlight Control. You can find it under the Advanced Picture menu.
Vizio TV flickering: 11 fixes
#1: Power cycle your Vizio TV
Power cycling is the act of switching a device off and then on.
And there’s a reason it’s usually the first troubleshooting step…
It’s effective. Especially in resolving temporary malfunctions. Which is what your Vizio TV’s screen’s likely experiencing.
Now with Vizio TV, there are 2 ways to do it:
- Soft power cycle.
- Hard power cycle.
You may choose one or the other. Whichever’s most convenient for you. But both work well in fixing various Vizio TV issues.
How to do a soft power cycle
- Press your Vizio TV remote’s Menu button.
- Scroll down to System and select it.
- Select Reset & Admin.
- Look for Soft Power Cycle and click it.
How to do a hard power cycle
- Unplug your Vizio TV from its power source.
- Press the TV’s power button for 5 seconds.
- Wait for a minute or 2.
- Plug the TV back into the outlet.
- Press the TV’s power button to turn it back on.
#2: Adjust your Vizio TV’s backlight level
Do you know the main difference between an LCD TV and an LED TV?
Backlight.
LED TVs like Vizio also actually use an LCD screen.
It’s just that they have strips of LEDs inside. Responsible for illuminating the LCD screen. And creating a brighter, more vivid picture.
So when a few of those LED lights start malfunctioning…
You get a flickering or blinking Vizio TV screen.
And how exactly do you fix that?
By lowering your TV’s backlight level.
Now there are a couple of ways to do that.
One way is by choosing a Picture Mode that already has a low backlight level. Such as:
- Game.
- Standard.
- Calibrated Dark.
Another is by selecting any Picture Mode. But manually adjusting the backlight level.
Don’t worry. I’ll be giving you the steps for both.
How to change the Picture Mode
- Click Menu on your remote.
- Select Picture.
- Highlight Picture Mode.
- Use your remote’s arrow button to toggle between modes.
If you want to know more about the various Picture Mode options, watch this video below:
How to manually lower the backlight level
- Press your remote’s Menu button.
- Click Picture.
- Select Picture Mode and choose your preferred mode.
- Highlight the Backlight option.
- Click your remote’s arrow to turn down the level.
Note: The ideal backlight level may vary. It’ll depend on the extent of the backlight strip’s defect. But try to lower the level to below 60. Keep adjusting until the flickering stops.
After customizing the backlight level, you’d also need to save your modified settings. In addition, you may also lock the settings to prevent accidental changes.
How to save your customized Picture Mode settings
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Select Picture.
- Select Picture Mode Edit.
- Click the Save Picture Mode option.
- Type in a label for your setting.
- Click Save.
Now please stay within the Picture Mode Edit menu. And this time, proceed with the steps for locking your settings.
How to lock a Picture Mode setting
- Select Lock Picture Mode.
- Select On.
- Enter a 4-digit PIN.
- Re-enter your PIN to confirm.
- Click Save.
#3: Disable the Clear Action feature
“What exactly is Clear Action on my Vizio TV?”
Well, it’s a feature that tries to eliminate motion blur. This is great when watching sports. Or those fast-paced action movies with lots of chasing and running.
And it’s a feature present with most modern smart TVs.
However, Clear Action doesn’t always work properly on Vizio TVs. In fact, many users have complained about how buggy this feature can sometimes be.
And when it’s glitching, it can also cause a flickering screen.
So you should turn this feature off as well.
These are the steps:
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Select Picture.
- Scroll all the way down to More Picture and click it.
- Select Clear Action.
- Click Off.
#4: Switch off the Advanced Picture options
Adjusting the Picture Mode and disabling Clear Action should fix your flickering screen.
However, if your TV still has that issue…
Then you’d need to go to Advanced Picture. And switch off 2 settings in particular:
- Black Detail.
- Backlight Control.
Black Detail adjusts the average brightness of your TV.
On the other hand, Backlight Control auto-calibrates the contrast ratio of the TV. So that bright is even brighter. And dark is even darker.
Both features can help enhance the picture quality. But they can also put a lot of strain on the backlight.
So it’s best to switch them off when your backlight’s faulty.
Here’s how:
- Click the remote’s Menu button.
- Select Picture.
- Navigate to Advanced Picture and click it.
- Highlight Backlight Control.
- Press your remote’s arrow to toggle it off.
- Scroll down and highlight Black Detail.
- Click the remote’s arrow button to switch it off.
After doing this, you’d once again need to save your settings. Refer to Fix #2 for a guide on how to do that.
#5: Reset the Picture Settings
If tweaking various picture settings didn’t fix your flickering screen…
You may have to reset the settings entirely.
The great thing with Vizio is that you don’t have to do a complete factory reset.
There’s actually an option to reset just the picture settings.
And when you use this option, the settings will revert to factory default. This will also delete all of your saved picture customizations.
You may follow these steps below:
- Click your Vizio remote’s Menu button.
- Select Picture.
- Highlight the More option.
- Press the right arrow button and highlight Reset Picture Mode.
- Click your remote’s OK button.
- Click Reset to confirm the action.
#6: Check for power issues
A damaged backlight may be the number 1 cause of a flickering screen. But you also can’t rule out a power issue.
For instance, pay attention to your home’s lighting fixtures.
If they’re also flickering, then you’re experiencing a power fluctuation. So you should switch off your power supply temporarily.
But if the TV’s the only one flickering, then it can be due to a faulty outlet.
A quick fix would be to plug your TV into another power source. One that you know is working properly.
Moreover, you should also check your TV’s power cord. Ensure that you attach it securely to the TV and the outlet. And if it’s damaged, look for a replacement.
#7: Check for faulty ports and cables
Another likely cause of a flickering screen is a faulty cable.
HDMI cables, in particular, can be problematic at times.
So if you’re using one, check for any defects.
And try to clean it by removing dust or debris buildup. You may use a cleaning brush for that.
Also, see to it that you’re using a newer version of HDMI cable.
Vizio recommends versions 2.0 and 2.1.
It’s also possible that the screen flicker is due to a defective port.
Vizio TVs have at least 4 ports for HDMI. So try to plug your external device into another one of those. Just make sure that you also switch to the correct input setting on your TV.
#8: Temporarily disconnect all external devices
In some cases, the flickering screen isn’t due to the TV. Or the cables and ports.
Rather, an external device is causing it.
So an easy way to find out is by disconnecting all of your TV’s external devices.
Afterward, perform a power cycle on the TV.
Did the flickering stop?
If so, then it really is a problem with the gadget you’ve connected to it.
So whether the device is a gaming console or a media player…
Check for any settings that may cause picture issues. Also, ensure that it has no damage or defect.
You can also easily reset it by unplugging it from the outlet.
#9: Update your Vizio TV’s firmware
There’ve been reports that a bug in the SmartCast OS had caused flickering screens in the past.
That’s why you need to keep your Vizio TV’s firmware up to date.
Aside from added features, these updates include software patches for bugs.
Now there’s no menu option on Vizio TV to install updates manually.
So you’ll just need to connect your Vizio TV to the internet. And it’ll automatically search and download updates.
The installation will happen when you switch off your TV.
#10: Restore your Vizio TV to factory default settings
Still having a flickering screen?
Then consider performing a factory reset.
Doing this will remove all of your info on the Vizio TV. But it may very well be what fixes your flickering screen.
The fastest way to do it is by pressing and holding your remote’s Power and Input buttons.
Hold the buttons for at least 20 seconds. Your Vizio TV should then restart.
Another way to do it is via the Menu settings. Here are the steps:
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Select Admin & Privacy.
- Select Reset to Factory Settings.
- Enter your Vizio TV’s PIN code or 000 if you didn’t set one.
- Click Reset to confirm.
#11: Contact Vizio for support
If none of the fixes work, there’s likely severe damage to your Vizio TV’s backlight. Or it could also be a defect on the screen itself.
In such cases, you should call Vizio for support.
You may fill out this form for a callback request.
In addition, you may also file a service request through this form.