With an update dating back to 2021, Vizio had mandated SmartCast as the input of choice when users switch on their TVs.
And as expected, this very decision has made considerable noise in the community.
Vizio, though very keen on bettering the user experience with each successive move, did make quite a few questionable decisions in the past, and as it stands, in the present too.
To get back to Cable services on your Vizio TV, press the input button on your Remote and choose the appropriate source. If you have the cable connected to an HDMI port, choose the port-appropriate HDMI source. With coaxial inputs, select the TV option. For component/composite sources, choose COMP.
Here's a detailed guide on the necessary steps and procedures pertinent to changing inputs on a Vizio TV:

How to Change Input Sources on Vizio TV
The television industry may perhaps be the most revolutionized industry in the modern world.
From technology to signal transmission, TVs have come a long way.
Vizio has been at the helm of the budget TV market for quite some time now, and their TVs have captured the hearts of millions of users.
Vizio TVs have undergone a lot of changes in their two-decade-long life.
The panels have changed, the form factor has become as compact as a laptop screen, and the inputs have increased multifold.
Coming to the inputs, Vizio has been very generous with the port selection on their TVs.
And as with most modern television sets, Vizio TVs feature north of three ports per TV.
Regardless of the vast number of HDMI ports, Vizio TVs feature traditional TV inputs like composite and Coaxial ports, save for a few TV models released between 2016-17.
In short - you won't have a hard time connecting the Cable input into a Vizio TV.
But that's the easy part. What about changing input sources?
Well, let's look at them, shall we?
Depending on the input port the Cable service is connected to, here's how you can navigate to and choose the appropriate input source on a Vizio TV:
When the Cable is Connected to an HDMI port
If you happen to have a uber ultra-modern Cable TV subscription that makes use of digital transmission via HDMI port to transmit HD content, by all means, plug the input into one of the many HDMI ports on Vizio TV.
Only remember to take note of the HDMI port to which you've connected the input. (Better connect to the 1st HDMI port)
Once done connecting the input to the TV, follow these steps to select the input source on your Vizio TV:

1. Press the input button on your Vizio TV remote.

2. Navigate to and highlight the appropriate HDMI source from the input list. (press OK to open the source)
Then, switch on the Cable service using the Cable TV Remote and enjoy your favorite channels and shows.
When the Cable is Connected to Composite/Component Ports

Composite (and Coaxial) inputs have been the preferred source for signal transmission with Cable TV services before the digital boom.
To establish a proper transmission channel between the Cable TV set-top box and the TV, connect the RCA outputs from the box to the Vizio TV's composite ports.
After doing so, follow these steps to change the source on your Vizio TV:
1. Press the Input button on your Vizio TV Remote.
2. Choose the COMP/COMPONENT source option from the input list.
Turn ON your Cable service to start your television endeavor.
With Vizio TVs, you could also program Remotes from other manufacturers to work with the TV. Dish Remote paired to work with Vizio TV is a damn good example.
When the Cable is Connected to the Coaxial Input

Coaxial inputs have been the go-to input for Cable and Antenna TV services ever since Coaxial inputs became a thing.
To do so, first, connect the output from your Cable TV box to the Vizio TV's coaxial input.
Make sure that the connection is taut and snug.
Then, follow these steps to switch to the coaxial source on your Vizio TV:
1. Open the Input Menu on your Vizio TV.
2. Select the TV source from the list.
Turn ON the cable service to begin the transmission.
With Coaxial and Composite inputs, you may have to scan for channels on your Vizio TV through the inbuilt tuner.
Even though several Vizio TVs released back in 2016 and 2017 did lack a tuner, Vizio TVs, nowadays, do feature a built-in tuner.
Follow these steps to scan for channels on your Vizio TV:
1. Open the Menu tab on your Vizio TV.
2. Select the Channels/Tuner option.
3. Click on the Find Channels or Auto-Scan Channels option.
The TV will now scan and fetch channels automatically.
How to Make Cable the Default Input on Vizio TV
Ever since the introduction of SmartCast, Vizio has been trying to coerce its user base to explore the fascinating world of cord-cutting and everything that comes with it.
Vizio pretty much doubled down on this notion with an update dating back to 2021, making SmartCast the default source on start-up.
And the reception was every bit as expected as anyone with a sane mind would see fit - outright lambasts!
Fortunately, Vizio does offer its customers a chance to veto this implementation.
Embedded within its repertoire of settings and options is a provision to choose your preferred input source on start-up.
Follow these steps to access the said setting option:
1. Open the Menu tab on your Vizio TV.
2. Click open the System option.

3. Select the Input at Power ON option.
4. Highlight the Cable source input and press OK to confirm.
Exit the menu tab and restart the TV. Upon powering ON the Vizio TV, the Cable input source will now be your default source on power-up.
You can also make your Vizio TV stick to the input you've been using before powering down.
To do so, select the Previous Input option from the list of inputs within the Input at Power Up tab.
How to Fix Vizio TV Getting Stuck on an App/Channel Issue
So, Vizio TV does this weird thing by getting stuck on a channel or an app after making use of the app. And once this glitch hits you, you pop back into the app every time to start up the TV.
Obviously, you can pop out of the app by pressing the V button or changing the input with the Remote, but that's not a definite solution for this issue.
This bug became rampant on Vizio TV after a recent update, and ever since then, users have been venting their grief on various Vizio forums and other social media outlets.
And so, how can you take care of this issue once and for all? Let's check out the fixes, shall we?
Update Vizio TV
Ironically enough, the best way to tackle the getting stuck issue on your Vizio TV is to check and update the firmware.
Updates ensure the security integrity of your TV and patch up the ever-growing number of bugs and issues that pop up on your Vizio TV by the minute.
They can infest the system and cause severe issues like Black screens to arise on the TV.
Vizio does come out with security patches and firmware upgrades in a timely fashion.
Usually, Vizio TVs update automatically. But you can carry out a manual check and update on your TV.
Follow these steps to do so:
1. Open the Menu tab and navigate to the System option.
2. Click on the Check for Updates option.

Restart the TV after executing the update. Check for the issue now.
Factory Reset Vizio TV
If you can't get rid of the issue even after updating the Vizio TV, try factory resetting it.
A factory reset resets the TV preferences and settings to their factory defaults.
Resetting the TV also removes all user preferences and downloaded data.
You can reset your Vizio TV in a couple of different ways.
If you prefer the traditional way of resetting the TV, a.k.a with the buttons, hold down the Input and the Volume Down buttons together until a pop-up message appears on the TV.
The message advises you to press and hold the Input button to initiate a factory reset.
Hold down the Input button to reset your TV.
Do note that the above-mentioned method works only with SmartCast-enabled Vizio TVs.
To initiate a reset on your Vizio TV through the system interface, follow these steps:
1. Open the Menu tab and click open the System option.

2. Select the Reset TV to Factory Settings option. Now enter the Parental Control Code if prompted (default: 0000).

3. Choose Reset TV to initiate the reset.
Proceed to reconfigure the TV. Check for the issue now.
Final Thoughts
Vizio has had a pretty clean and spiffy track record as a TV manufacturer. But some decisions and provisions that they have made during this run have marred their integrity and reliability.
Nevertheless, Vizio always makes up for its shortcomings in some way or another, through timely updates or through public redressal protocols.
But an average customer like you and I can't vegetate around with tied hands until things return back to normal, especially with issues like the one at hand or sound delay issues on Vizio TV.
For them, this article may come about as a helping hand.
If you have any further comments or doubts regarding this topic, feel free to contact the customer services of Vizio.
Happy Streaming!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is my VIZIO TV not finding cable channels?
If your Vizio TV has a hard time finding cable channels, first, check if you chose the correct input source. Once you figure out the input source, you'll have to run a channel scan on your Vizio TV to fetch the channels. Follow these steps on your Vizio TV to run a scan for channels:
1. Open the Menu tab and select the Tuner/Channels option.
2. Click on the Find Channels or the Auto scan for channels option.
Why can't I change the input on my Vizio TV?
If you can't change the input on your Vizio TV, check whether your TV remote is functioning as intended. Busted internals and drained-out batteries are the most probable causes for the Remote to get busted.
You can also change the input by pressing the Input button on your TV.
How do I switch my Vizio TV from antenna to cable?
Antenna services make use of coaxial connections for signal transmission.
That leaves either the Composite or HDMI ports for Cable TV. Open the Input menu on your Vizio TV and select the source to which the cable is connected to.
If you have connected the Cable input to an HDMI port, select HDMI. In the case of Composite connection, select COMP or COMPONENT.
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