Vizio TV Stuck on Smartcast: How to Fix [2023]

My son's Vizio TV has been stuck on the SmartCast app, with an error message that states SmartCast is not available.

Only when I did a bit of research I got to know that this issue is a bit more widespread than I initially thought.

So with this article, I intend to answer your questions on how to fix a Vizio TV that is stuck on the SmartCast boot screen.

If your Vizio TV is stuck on Smartcast boot screen, check the Vizio TV hardware and internet connection. Reload the SmartCast Home service and update the firmware of the Vizio TV. If these don't work, perform multiple power cycles and try contacting Vizio support.

Check Your Vizio TV Hardware

The state of your Vizio TV hardware is partially responsible for the proper functioning of your Vizio TV.

Wear and tear over time can lead to a situation where the performance or functioning of the Vizio TV gets impacted.

This can potentially lead to a situation where services such as the Vizio SmartCast can fail to function as intended.

Check your Vizio TV for any potential wear and tear that can be a culprit of such a predicament.

This can include any physical damage, such as ruptures on the surface of the TV to any indication of a burnt component inside the TV.

A rupture on the surface can seem like an insignificant cause, but over time it can lead to dust settling inside the TV, leading to further complications.

If your Vizio remote controller is not working properly, you can actually program a DirecTV, DishTV, or an Xfinity remote to your Vizio TV.

If you notice any red flags, address them by contacting a certified Vizio technician.

Check Your Internet Connection

The primary culprit regarding such an issue with the Vizio TV stuck on the SmartCast boot screen should be an unstable internet connection.

Being the communication channel that exists between the SmartCast servers and your Vizio TV, it is imperative that this channel stays up in a stable fashion.

Check your internet connection by connecting to another service that requires accessing the internet from your Vizio TV.

Alternatively, you can also connect your smartphone or laptop to the same WiFi connection, and then check if the internet works as intended.

If you see some red flags with your internet connection, pay a visit to your internet router and check if it shows any error indications via its status indicator lights.

Reboot your internet router and check if the error indications persist.

Solve the issue with your internet service provider before trying SmartCast on your Vizio TV again.

Reload the Smartcast Home Service

Vizio recommends a hack that essentially refreshes the SmartCast Home service and reboots it from scratch, without rebooting the Vizio TV.

This can help in clearing the initial boot hurdle that can be caused due to a variety of temporary issues.

To reload the SmartCast Home service, you can simply follow the steps given below:

1. Open SmartCast on your Vizio TV.
2. Open the TV Menu.
3. Navigate to the System Menu.
4. Change the system language to any other temporarily.
5. Ensure that you don't close the menu, or you will have a tough time navigating back to the system in a different language.
6. Let the SmartCast Home reload in the background.
7. After it reloads, switch back to the English language.

Of course, this depends on whether you can actually boot into SmartCast in the first place. But for those who can, this is a very viable method to refresh the UI.

Power Cycle the Vizio TV

A power cycle can help solve almost all temporary hardware-related issues on any electronic device, let alone Vizio TV.

After prolonged use, any electronic system is bound to face minor issues relating to how it charges and discharges the internal components.

At times, it can result in misbehaving charges inside the system which ultimately results in an imbalance of charges.

This can wreak havoc in the functioning of the device, causing temporary malfunctions in the general workings of the Vizio TV.

A power cycle helps in basically resetting all the charges from inside the Vizio TV.

In fact, it helps in solving common issues with Vizio TVs such as screen flickering, flashing different colors, black screen, color issues, sound delays, etc amongst many others.

To perform a power cycle on your Vizio TV, follow the steps given below:

1. Unplug the Vizio TV from its power source.
2. Let the Vizio TV sit idle for about a minute, fully powered off.
3. Long press the buttons on the Vizio TV during this minute-long wait, to ensure no charges remain within the system.
4. Plug the Vizio TV back into its power source.
5. Let the Vizio TV sit idle for about a minute, fully powered on.

This power cycles your Vizio TV.

It is recommended to perform multiple power cycles to yield the best experience.

Update the Firmware of Vizio TV

The SmartCast stuck on boot issue is an issue that Vizio themselves have acknowledged.

So it is not farfetched to think that they can include patches to this bug with their firmware updates to the Vizio TVs.

So it is only in your best interests to update your Vizio TV to its latest firmware.

Usually, firmware updates are automatic and happen in the background.

But if you want to check if your Vizio TV is on the latest version or missed confirming a previous update, you can follow the steps below:

• Open the TV menu by pressing the menu button on your Vizio remote.
• Select System.
• Select Check for Updates.

Factory Reset the Vizio TV

If the above steps fail to generate any meaningful result in getting your SmartCast issue fixed, then it might be time to do a factory reset on your Vizio TV.

A factory reset will wipe out all the custom settings on your Vizio TV, as well as any software bugs that crept into your Vizio TV.

To perform a factory reset on your Vizio TV, follow the steps given below:

1. Open the system menu on the Vizio TV by pressing the menu button on your Vizio remote.

2. Select Reset TV to factory Settings.

3. Then select Reset TV.

4. Enter the parental control pin if enabled. If no such pin exists, enter 0000 to begin the reset process.

Final Thoughts

I hope my article on how you can fix a Vizio TV that is stuck on the SmartCast screen has been worth your time and has aided you with the same.

Have a good day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Vizio's SmartCast a paid subscription service?

Vizio SmartCast is not a paid subscription service and incurs no login credentials or fees.

Is Vizio's WatchFree+ a paid subscription service?

Vizio's WatchFree+ is not a paid subscription service and incurs no login credentials or fees.

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