Vizio TV Flashing Different Colors: How to Fix [2023]

written by

Doug Stevenson

updated October 03, 2023

When my Vizio TV started flashing various colors on the screen, I went online and read through Reddit and VIZIO forums to seek some internet wisdom

So with some deep knowledge about the topic in my arsenal, I decided to write this one-stop troubleshooting article on how to fix the issue.

If your VIZIO TV is flashing different colors on a periodic basis, turn off the service mode. If you still face issues, check the cables and the hardware for wear and tear and perform a power cycle. If all else fails, do a system reset and contact VIZIO support.

Turn Off Purity Check or Service Mode

The service mode or Purity check is a mode that exists on almost all TVs of reputable brands that are usually sold in offline stores.

Such a mode exists to gauge the various colors the VIZIO TV's display panel can produce and acts as a feature to entice customers.

The service mode also defaults to flashing colors on a periodic basis in order to check how each color is rendered, helping VIZIO technicians to rectify color issues.

That being said, only select models of VIZIO TV have access to this option right from the user-viewable menu, and other models rely on using key codes for access.

There are various ways to trigger this Purity check mode, and each method requires a VIZIO remote to be paired to the TV in order to input codes.

Service Mode Method 1 (For D and P VIZIO TV series)

In order to trigger the service mode using the first method, you can simply follow the steps below:

Using the paired VIZIO TV remote, press the following buttons: Menu, 1, 9, 9, 9, Return.
To exit the mode, press the EXIT button.

Service Mode Method 2

In order to trigger the service mode using the second method, you can simply follow the steps below:

Using the paired VIZIO TV remote, press the following buttons: Menu, 1, 2, 3.
To exit the mode, press the EXIT button.

Service Mode Method 3

In order to trigger the service mode using the third method, you can simply follow the steps below:

Using the paired VIZIO TV remote, press the following buttons: Menu, 2, 4, 8, 9.
To exit the mode, press the EXIT button.

Service Mode Method 4

In order to trigger the service mode using the fourth method, you can simply follow the steps below:

Using the paired VIZIO TV remote, press and hold the EXIT button for about 3 seconds.
Press the following buttons: 1, 2, 3.
To exit the mode, press the EXIT button.

Service Mode Method 5

In order to trigger the service mode using the fifth method, you can simply follow the steps below:

Turn off the VIZIO TV using the remote.
Using the controls on the body of the VIZIO TV, press and hold the CH+ and CH- buttons.
Using the controls on the body of the VIZIO TV, now press and hold the POWER button.
Keep the buttons pressed for about 5 seconds.
Using the paired VIZIO TV remote, press the MENU button.
Once the menu pops up on the VIZIO TV screen, make sure there is an F symbol at the bottom signifying factory mode.
Using the paired VIZIO TV remote, press and hold the MENU button till the service mode pops up.
To exit the mode, press the EXIT button.

Service Mode Method 6

In order to trigger the service mode using the sixth method, you can simply follow the steps below:

Turn off the VIZIO TV using the remote.
Using the controls on the body of the VIZIO TV, press and hold the CH+ and CH- buttons.
Using the controls on the body of the VIZIO TV, now press and hold the POWER button.
Using the controls on the body of the VIZIO TV, now release the CH+ and CH- buttons.
Using the paired VIZIO TV remote, press the MENU button.
Once the menu pops up on the VIZIO TV screen, make sure there is an F symbol at the bottom signifying factory mode.
Using the paired VIZIO TV remote, press and hold the MENU button till the service mode pops up.
To exit the mode, press the EXIT button.

Check Cables and Specifications

The condition of the cables connecting to your VIZIO TV can impact the digital signals and in turn affect your viewing experience drastically.

Cables act like lifelines to the whole Television multimedia experience, and a slight rupture or block in its communication channel can break the flow of operations.

This is most commonly noticed on VIZIO TVs that have withstood quite the test of time and environmental conditions.

If there are any ruptures in the cable or the body of the VIZIO TV, the chances of dust settling inside the systems get higher over time.

If such a crack exists on your VIZIO TV, best to get it checked with VIZIO technicians as soon as possible and find a way to patch it up if possible.

Check all the cables connecting to the VIZIO TV for any significant cases of wear and tear that can cause issues with the communication of signals.

If you notice any red flags, change the cables immediately, preferably from VIZIO itself.

If you prefer to buy cables from a third-party provider, always check the specifications of the cable and whether the VIZIO TV can support them.

If the cables, especially HDMI, don't match the specifications you require to watch media on your VIZIO TV, the media simply won't play or play at a degraded quality.

It is always recommended to get cables from a reputed seller like Amazon and from a trusted well-known brand with good customer ratings.

Power Cycle the Vizio TV

A power cycle can do wonders for the internal electronics of any device, including your VIZIO TV.

In fact, it is one of the most recommended troubleshooting steps by VIZIO technicians when it comes to fixing bugs such as VIZIO TVs restarting and Vizio TV tuners not working.

A power cycle, quite contrary to its rather intimidating name is something that most of us have performed to an extent, being a reboot of sorts.

But a proper power cycle acts as a reboot for the hardware components, instead of just the software.

Once performed correctly, it can help in rectifying any misbehaving charges within the system and instead charge the system as even as required for best performance.

To perform a hardware reboot or power cycle on your VIZIO TV, you can simply follow the steps below:

Unplug your VIZIO TV from the power socket.
Let the TV sit idle powered off for about a minute.
During the minute-long wait, long-press the buttons on the TV for about 10 seconds.
Plug your VIZIO TV back into the power socket.
Let the TV sit idle powered on for about a minute.

This safe power cycles your VIZIO TV.

System Reset the Vizio TV

As a last resort step, a system reset can help in restoring all the settings of your VIZIO TV, thus making sure the system stays clean from any software mishaps.

A system reset or a factory reset also cleans out any software bugs that might have latched onto the system from any of its daily functioning processes.

Do note that this will definitely wipe out all existing data on your VIZIO TV, and will reset your system to just like when you first bought the device.

To perform a system reset on your VIZIO TV, you can simply follow the steps below:

1. Using your VIZIO TV remote controller, press the menu button to open the menu on your VIZIO TV.

2. Navigate to the System option on the VIZIO TV using the remote controller.

3. Select the Reset TV to Factory Settings option. If your VIZIO TV asks for a code, enter 0000 or the parental code that you have manually set.

4. Select Reset TV and confirm your selection.

This will safely reset your VIZIO TV back to its factory defaults.

Final Thoughts

If you still face issues with your VIZIO TV after following the above-mentioned troubleshooting steps, then it is best to call VIZIO support.

I hope my article on how to fix your VIZIO TV flashing different colors on screen has been a helpful read and has aided you with the same.

Have a good day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can VIZIO TV remote controllers be used across all VIZIO TV models?

VIZIO TV remote controllers are programmed with universal remote control codes and therefore can be used across all VIZIO TV models.

Can VIZIO TV service mode help check issues with the display panel?

Aside from the intention of enticing new customers to buy VIZIO TVs, the service mode can also help decode any glaring issues with color science and ultimately the quality of a particular unit of VIZIO TV.

Are the VIZIO service reset and service mode the same?

Service reset is similar to a system reset in that it resets all settings and data of the VIZIO TV back to its factory defaults.

The service mode is a completely different affair in that it displays high-quality images and flashes colors on the screen to attract potential customers and check for any quality issues with the display panel.

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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