
You grab the remote to turn your Vizio TV on, but nothing happens.
Does this mean that your TV is automatically broken?
The answer is no.
And don’t worry. There’s a lot more you can do to fix the problem.
Let me help you…
Read on to know:
- 5 simple ways to fix a TV that won’t turn on.
- The different methods you can use to reset Vizio TV settings.
- Easy guide on how to replace capacitors on a broken Vizio TV.
- And so much more…
Why won’t my Vizio TV turn on?
Your Vizio TV won’t turn on because it doesn’t have power or it has broken parts. Issues with the power source and electrical components can cause your TV to stop working. However, software problems can also be a reason why your TV doesn’t work properly.
Vizio TV won’t turn on: 5 ways to fix it
#1: Check if your remote control is working
If you try to power your TV using the remote and it won’t respond…
There’s no reason to panic.
Sometimes, issues like this have nothing to do with TV.
A possible reason why a TV won’t turn on is the remote control is broken or dead.
And the easiest way to check this is to use the power button on the TV.
If the device turns on then you have a relatively smaller issue in your hands.
So how do you check if your remote control is working or not?
You can start by making sure that nothing’s blocking the remote’s infrared (IR) blaster.
What’s that?
It’s a sensor used to communicate with the TV.
Given that the remote uses infrared technology, it won’t work if there’s something physically blocking the sensor’s path.
Clear everything and try to use the remote to power your TV.
If it still won’t work, the next step is to change the batteries.
Maybe the device is simply out of power.
Therefore, a quick battery change can bring it back to life.
Insert a new set of batteries and use the remote control on your TV again.
If new batteries still can’t make your remote work, you can try to power cycle the device.
How?
Simply take out the batteries and press the power button for 5 seconds.
Note: Vizio support also encourages its users to press every single button on the remote.
According to them, it can also help check for possibly stuck buttons.
After that, place the batteries back on and see if the remote would work properly.
If it still can turn the TV back on, the remote might be completely broken.
But don’t worry. You can find a replacement universal remote control that would work perfectly with your Vizio TV.
#2: Inspect the TV’s power source

If the remote control isn’t the problem, turn your attention to the TV’s power source.
Although unlikely, the device may be simply not getting any power.
First, check if the power cord is connected properly.
Also, inspect if the cable has any damage.
General wear and tear can stop the cord from working properly.
It’s also possible that a pest chewed on the cord, cutting its connection.
If that’s the case, then you have no other choice than to buy a replacement power cord.
However, if the power cord is in perfect condition, you need to inspect the power source.
Check if the outlet is functioning properly.
Plug a lamp or charge your phone to see if it works.
You can also try to plug your TV into a different outlet to see if it would turn on.
Warning: If you’re not an expert, don’t attempt to fix electrical outlets on your own. It’s extremely dangerous. You can get electrocuted or, worse, cause a fire. Choose to contact an electrician instead.
#3: Choose the right input source
Before you think that your Vizio TV is broken because it won’t turn on…
Check if you’re using the right input source first.
What’s that?
It’s the cable that allows video and audio to get into your device.
Without it, your TV wouldn’t be showing anything.
Thus, making it look like it’s broken or won’t turn on.
With that, the first step is to make sure that the cables on your TV are connected properly.
If the problem is only caused by a poor cable connection, your TV should turn on by now.
However, it’s also possible that your TV is set on a different input source.
Luckily, you can change your TV’s input source with and without the remote.
If you’re using the remote, simply press the Source button. Then, choose the proper input source.
But, if you don’t have a remote, you can use the navigation panel on the TV itself:
- Press the Menu button on the TV.
- Use the volume up and volume down buttons to navigate through the input source options.
- See if a certain input source would get video and audio to your device.
#4: Reset your Vizio TV to settings
Still not having any luck?
Don’t worry. There’s still a lot more you can do to fix your Vizio TV that won’t turn on.
If external components aren’t the problem, your TV likely has hardware or software issues.
If that’s the case, the simplest fix is to reset your TV.
You can either perform a soft reset or a hard reset.
The former would allow all electrical components of your TV to restart.
All you need to do is to unplug the device. Then, wait for a couple of minutes before plugging it back on.
This can help deal with small electrical problems on your TV.
On the other hand, a hard reset restores the device to factory settings.
Thus, it can fix possible software issues with the device.
But, it’s important to understand that hard resetting would delete everything on your TV.
And with it, your Vizio TV would work as if it’s fresh out of the box.
Want to know more? Check out this video:
#5: Replace broken electrical components
Are you confident enough to tinker with your Vizio TV?
When an LCD TV doesn’t turn on, one of the worst-case scenarios is that it has damaged electrical components. This includes:
If that’s the case, no amount of resetting will make your device turn on.
However, don’t lose hope.
Not only are bad capacitors pretty common, but replacing these parts is pretty simple.
While you can opt to bring your TV in for repair…
You can do it yourself, even with minimal experience.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to change bad capacitors on your TV:
- Remove your TV from its mount.
- Lay the TV on a flat surface. Place a towel or cloth to prevent scratches on the screen.
- Open the case to get access to the TV’s electrical components.
- Look at the power board and identify bulging or leaking capacitors.
- Using a soldering iron and some plies, gently remove all the bad capacitors from the power board.
- Solder the replacement capacitors.
- Screw everything back into place.
- Test if the TV would turn back on.
Note: Make sure that you carefully follow these steps. Not doing so can result in your device getting damaged.
Recommended article: (5 Fixes) TCL TV Won’t Turn On
Vizio TV won’t turn on – FAQ
Is there a power reset button on a Vizio TV?
There’s a power reset button in Vizio TVs.
However, its location on the device depends on the TV model.
Generally, you can find the power reset button on either side of the TV or at the bottom.
And you can use it to manually reset the device back to its factory settings.
How do I reset my Vizio TV when the screen is black?
You can reset your Vizio TV when the screen is black by power cycling the device.
Power recycling removes all the electricity in the TV’s components. This allows the parts to restart and reset.
This process is also referred to as a soft reset.
This is because only the TV’s hardware resets. It still keeps all cache, data, and information of the user.
And without further ado…
Here’s how to power cycle your Vizio TV with a black screen:
Step 1: Unplug the device from its power source.
Step 2: Press and hold the power button on the TV for 5 to 10 seconds. You can find the button on either side or at the bottom of the device.
Step 3: Plug the device back on.
Step 4: Wait to see if power cycling was successful in bringing your device back to life.
How do I force restart my Vizio TV?
You can force restart your Vizio TV using the remote control. You can also use the control panel on the device.
Note: Force restarting or resetting your device deletes all of its memory.
This means that all your preferences, history, and settings would be gone.
Now, moving on to the step-by-step guide. There are 2 ways for you to restart your TV.
Option 1: Using the remote
- If you have a responsive TV, access System through the Menu tab.
- Find the Reset and Admin option.
- Choose to Reset TV to Factory Defaults.
- If it asks for a parental code, simply enter 0000.
- Finish process.
- The TV will automatically shut off and perform the force restart.
Option 2: Using the navigation panel.
- Locate the navigation panel on your device.
- Turn the TV off but don’t take it off the power source.
- Press and hold the volume up and volume down buttons at the same time.
- Tap the power button to turn the TV back on.
- Let go of the volume up and volume down buttons.
- Open the Menu tab using the remote.
- There will be a small ‘F’ icon on the bottom right corner of the screen. This indicates that the device is in the factory setup.
- Wait until the Service menu pops out.
- Follow the steps to force restart your device as guided by the prompt on the screen.