Vizio SmartCast Not Working: How To Fix [2023]

SmartCast has always been my go-to source on my Vizio Smart TVs for catching up on my favorite shows and movies through the various streaming platforms it offers.

But, not so long ago, on a fine Wednesday evening, I was denied access to SmartCast. The reason for such a predicament seemed to elude me for a while. Eventually, I fixed it.

If your Vizio SmartCast is not working, power cycle the Vizio TV and refresh the SmartCast Home. Next, check for network issues and update the firmware version of your TV. If these don't work, factory reset the Vizio TV.

Here's a brief account of why SmartCast stops working on Vizio TVs:

Scenario	Causes and Fixes
SmartCast not opening on Vizio TV	Software glitch; check the remote and power cycle the TV
SmartCast not loading	Network issue; check for network issues and power cycle the router/modem
Vizio TV stuck on SmartCast	Can arise out of outdated firmware; routinely check and update the TV
Other scenarios	Factory Reset the TV; contact Vizio support

Let's now look at these troubleshooting solutions in detail to resolve issues with SmartCast on your Vizio TV:

Power Cycle the Vizio TV

The most obvious yet often ignored cause for most software-related issues on modern-day gadgets are bugs and errors.

Whether from long hours of running or an ill-optimized update, bugs and errors can sweep into your system internals inconspicuously.

Fortunately, a simple system refresh may be all it takes to clear them off the device.

Power Cycling the TV may be your best bet under such circumstances.

An apt fix for various issues on Vizio devices, such as Vizio Remote blinking red and Vizio TV getting stuck on downloading updates, a power cycle test may prove to be the best fix for this issue.

Here's how to power cycle your Vizio SmartCast TV:

1. Unplug the TV from the power source.

2. Leave it to rest for a couple of seconds.

3. Press and hold the Power button on the TV for a good second or two. Repeat this step a few times.

4. Plug the TV back into the power source, and turn it ON after a minute or so.

Check for the issue now.

Here's a video walkthrough from us that'll help you troubleshoot Smartcast not working on your Vizio TV:

Refresh SmartCast Home on your Vizio TV

Sometimes, issues with SmartCast may not reside with a simple system refresh. Although, rebooting the SmartCast home might do the trick.

But how do you refresh the SmartCast home?

Well, you can't deploy any conventional methods of refreshing an associated feature in this case.

To refresh the SmartCast home, you'll have to rely on a rather uncanny method.

Here's how it goes:

1. Switch your TV to the SmartCast input by pressing the V button on your Vizio TV's Remote Control (which is a great way to confirm whether your Vizio TV supports SmartCast or not).

2. Open the Menu tab.

3. Navigate to the System menu tab.

4. Switch the Language to either Spanish or French.

5. Without closing this tab, wait for SmartCast home to load.

6. Once SmartCast home loads, revert the menu language to English.

Check for the issue now.

Check for Network Issues

A proper internet connection is a must for SmartCast to work on your Vizio TV.

Since SmartCast is all about Smart features, wireless casting, and streaming, a stable network connection forms the foundational block of everything SmartCast.

And so, when experiencing issues with SmartCast on your Vizio TV, you better check for internet issues. here's how to do so:

Test the Network on your Vizio SmartCast TV

You can test your Wi-Fi network connection right from the Vizio SmartCast TV itself.

Follow these steps to do so:

1. Open the Menu tab.

2. Navigate to the Settings menu.

3. Select Test Connection.

If the test gives out an unfavorable result, like an unstable network download speed, it's time to re-evaluate the network connection.

Power Cycle the Router/Modem

As with refreshing the Vizio TV, a power cycle test may be the way to go with refreshing the Router/Modem.

Networking peripherals, like Routers and Modems, too, can contract bugs and errors with time.

An occasional refresh or a reboot of the Router settings can and will resolve such inconsistencies.

If your network seems to operate waywardly as of late, you better power cycle the Router/Modem.

Follow these steps to do so:

1. Unplug the power supply from the Router/Modem.

2. Leave it idle for a few seconds.

3. Press and hold the various buttons on your Router for a second or two. Repeat this step a few times.

4. Plug back in the power supply and power ON the Router/Modem.

Check for the issue now.

Refresh the DHCP Settings on Vizio TV

Next, you may want to check and refresh the DHCP settings on your Vizio TV.

DHCP, or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, facilitates all communication between your TV and the Router.

If, for some odd reason, this setting happens to be disabled on your Vizio TV, you won't be able to access the internet.

Also, refreshing DHCP in times of adversity is known to be an effective fix.

Here's how to check and refresh DHCP on your Vizio TV:

1. Open the Menu tab on your Vizio TV.

2. Navigate to the Network settings menu.

3. Click open the Manual Setup tile.

4. Select DHCP.

5. If it is disabled, ensure to enable it. To refresh DHCP, toggle it OFF and then ON again.

Exit out of the tab and refresh the TV. Check for the issue now.

Check and Update your Vizio TV

Software Updates help uphold the security integrity of your Smart devices. They also bring forward a bevy of new features and aspects the manufacturer has deemed appropriate for your device.

And it is through updates the developers address various issues on your Vizio SmartCast TV.

In short, if you have issues with SmartCast on your Vizio TV, most probably, a fix may have been rolled out to resolve it via a patch update.

Even for common issues like Vizio satellite speakers not working and Vizio TV being stuck on wide mode, updating the firmware has yielded favorable results.

Follow these steps to check and update the firmware version on your Vizio SmartCast TV:

1. Open the Menu tab of your TV.

2. Navigate to the System menu.

3. Select Check for Updates.

Execute the update (if any), and wait for your TV to complete the procedure. Check for the issue now.

Manually Update Vizio TV

If for some odd reason, like a simple software glitch or whatnot, you cannot update your Vizio TV through the conventional method, you could always rely on a manual procedure.

All you need is to download your device-appropriate firmware on a browser and a USB stick to transfer it to your TV.

Let's look at the procedure in detail:

1. Search and download the current firmware for your Vizio TV from Vizio.com.

2. Extract the .zip file.

3. Connect a FAT-formatted USB drive to the PV, and copy the extracted content onto the drive.

4. Eject the USB drive and plug it into the Vizio TV while powered ON.

5. A pop-up alert will appear, informing you of the ongoing installation of the new software.

6. Then, the TV will reboot. A progress bar will appear on-screen after it reboots.

7. Once the process is complete, the TV will reboot again.

Check for the issue now.

Factory Reset Vizio TV

The ultimate fx for most issues on a Vizio TV is to factory reset it.

Proven to be an effective fix for several other issues like Black screens on Vizio TV and Vizio TV flashing different colors, factory resetting happens to also be a good resolution for the issue at hand.

Keep in mind that factory resetting your Vizio TV will wipe its memory clean and revert all the system, user-defined settings to the factory settings.

With that said, here's how to factory Reset your Vizio TV:

1. Open the Menu tab and select the System option.

2. Navigate to the Reset & Admin option.

3. Select Reset TV to Factory Defaults.

4. Then enter the Parental control code if prompted (default code: 0000).

5. Click on OK to initiate the reset.

Once the process is complete, reconfigure your TV and check for the issue.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, a comprehensive guide on how to fix SmartCast not working issue on your Vizio TV.

A faulty hardware issue can also render several aspects of your Vizio TV unusable, even SmartCast.

If that's the case, you better get in touch with the customer services of Vuzio for further assistance.

If you're within the warranty period, you might even be able to RMA your TV for a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is my Vizio SmartCast device not found?

If you can't find your Vizio SmartCast device on the SmartCast mobile app, make sure both devices are connected to the same network first. If you can't connect the devices, ensure to update both the mobile app and the TV to the most recent firmware version.

Can all Vizio TVs have SmartCast?

No, Vizio TVs released before 2018 did not feature SmartCast. Instead, VIA and VIA+ were implemented on select Vizio TV models that came with Smart functions.

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