My son has been complaining for a while now that his Vizio Soundbar turns off by itself.
The Vizio Soundbar would just randomly turn off and cut off the audio it was playing.
After spending a few days with the device myself, as well as contacting Vizio support I decided to conclude my findings with his one-stop troubleshooting article.
If your Vizio Soundbar keeps turning off, turn off Eco Mode and the Vizio Remote Setting. Check the Vizio Soundbar hardware and update its firmware to its latest available version. If these don't work, power cycle and reset the Vizio Soundbar to factory default for best results.
Turn Off Eco Mode
The Eco Mode on Vizio Soundbars is a fantastic feature on paper, as it aids in saving power when the Vizio Soundbar and connected devices are not in use.
But its implementation has left a lot to be desired, as it is one of the main culprits behind the widespread issue of involuntary switching off of the Vizio Soundbar.
Eco mode is a feature notorious amongst Vizio Soundbar users for randomly turning off the device even when it is being used.
The issue has existed for quite a while as of now, so the hopes of Vizio patching things up have diminished for plenty of users.
Fortunately, the feature is not mandatory and can be easily disabled by following the steps below:
- From the Vizio Soundbar's remote controller, click on the Menu button.
- Navigate to the option that says EcoPwr.
- If the text beside the option says On, press the forward or rewind button on the remote to toggle it off.
Turn off the Vizio Remote Setting
This step is applicable if you are using a Vizio TV along with the Vizio Soundbar.
The remote controller of the Vizio Soundbar has this fantastic option termed Vizio Remote, or VZtv Rmt as shown on the rather tiny screen of the remote.
It is basically a mode that allows you to control the Vizio Soundbar directly from your Vizio TV remote.
This allows for a seamless operation in turning on your Vizio devices. You will no longer need to have both remote controllers to turn on each device.
Your Vizio Soundbar would be up and running when you turn on your Vizio TV and will turn off when you turn off your Vizio TV.
Unfortunately, plenty of users have had issues with their Vizio Soundbars randomly turning off when this feature is enabled.
So barring convenience, it is best to turn this setting off and check if the issues persist. You can do the same by following the steps below:
- From the Vizio Soundbar's remote controller, click on the Menu button.
- Navigate to the option that says VZtv Rmt.
- If the text beside the option says On, press the forward or rewind button on the remote to toggle it off.
Check the Vizio Sound Bar hardware and connections
It is best to perform a thorough hardware check on your Vizio Soundbar.
Even a deformity in the body of the Vizio TV caused due to accidental reasons can be the cause of your device malfunctioning.
So check your Vizio Soundbar hardware and contact a certified Vizio technician if you notice any red flags.
While you're at it, it is also best to check the conditions of the cables as well.
If the cables, especially the power cable seems shoddy, it is best to swap it with a replacement.
Update Vizio Soundbar to the Latest Firmware
Firmware updates are essential for any smart electronic device, as it is an aftersales service provided by the brand to enhance the user experience.
Vizio is no different and provides essential bug fixes with its firmware updates.
So it is always best to stay on the latest firmware update, and the same can be said not only with the Soundbar but also for issues with Vizio TV such as Vizio Chromecast not working.
To check if your Vizio Soundbar has a firmware update available and install the same, follow the steps below:
- Visit the support page of Vizio.
- Enter the model number of your Vizio sound bar in the search field.
- Select the most relevant result leading to the firmware update page of your specific model.
- The support article should list both the firmware, as well as a guide to proceed with the installation
- Download the firmware and transfer the bin file to a thumb drive. It is best to use a formatted thumb drive with no other files for this purpose.
- Turn on the Vizio Soundbar .
- Once the device is turned on successfully, remove the power cord from the back of the Vizio Sound Bar.
- Now plug the thumb drive into the USB port on the Vizio Soundbar.
- Connect the power cord back into the Vizio Soundbar.
- Once the device is turned on successfully, the 2 LED lights on the front will illuminate after which the 1st, 3rd, and 4th indicators will illuminate indicating the firmware update process has been initiated.
The lights will turn off after the update is complete. Do not remove the thumb drive or the power plug during the update process.
Power Cycle the Vizio Soundbar
Since Vizio Soundbars are plugged in for long periods of time, there can be power delivery-related issues cropping up from time to time.
There can be misbehaving and unbalanced charges within the system that can wreak havoc.
This might not be obvious at first glance, but it can result in temporary malfunctions such as the device turning off randomly.
Power cycles can get rid of the issue, by ensuring that all charges are depleted successfully before filling the device with a fresh and even batch of charge.
To perform a power cycle on your Vizio TV, follow the steps below:
- Unplug the Vizio Soundbar from its power source.
- Let the Vizio Soundbar sit idle in its powered-off state for about a minute.
- Plug the Vizio Soundbar back into its power source.
- Let the Vizio Soundbar sit idle in its powered-on state for about a minute.
It is best to perform power cycles multiple times in order to get the best results out of your Vizio Soundbar.
Reset Vizio Soundbar to Factory Defaults
If the above steps fail to generate any meaningful results, then it might be best to perform a proper reset of your Vizio Soundbar to its factory defaults.
This helps in solving plenty of commonly faced gripes with the Vizio Soundbar, such as its subwoofer not pairing.
This wipes out all saved settings and profiles from your Vizio Soundbar.
To perform a reset on your Vizio Soundbar, follow the steps below:
- Turn on the Vizio Soundbar.
- Press and hold the Bluetooth and Volume Down (-) buttons at the same time till the status indication lights flash three times.
If the above step doesn't invoke the status indication lights, try pressing both the Power and Volume Up (+) buttons.
Final Thoughts
If you have further queries regarding your Vizio Soundbar, feel free to contact Vizio support.
I hope my troubleshooting article on how you can fix your Vizio Soundbar turning on and off by itself has been a helpful read and has aided you with the same.
Have a good day!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do Vizio Soundbars have a Google Assistant?
Vizio Soundbars don't have Google Assistant truly built-in, but a Google Home device can be hooked up to the soundbar for Google Assistant.
Do Vizio Soundbars support HDMI ARC?
All Vizio Soundbars support HDMI ARC for connectivity.
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