Vizio TV Stuck On Wide Mode: How To Fix [2023]

Widescreen aspect ratios are the thing of the current HiFi entertainment culture. But issues with Aspect ratio mismatch are becoming abnormally usual with modern-day TVs, like Vizio.

Vizio has always stood toe to toe with the ever-evolving world of television technology by introducing newer technologies with their TVs every now and then.

But they also have had their fair bit of run-ins with problems, getting stuck on the Wide mode being one of these issues.

If your Vizio TV is stuck on wide mode, try switching the aspect ratios by going to Menu> System> Aspect Ratio. You could also try turning off Zoom mode from the Accessibility menu. If none of these works, factory reset your Vizio TV to steer clear of any bugs and errors.

Below mentioned is compiled list of troubleshooting steps and fixes from the depths of the internet to fix this issue on your Vizio TV.

Vizio TV in use

Power Cycle Vizio TV

Before getting into the thick of things, let's execute something a bit more palatable and quick than factory resetting the Vizio TV.

A system refresh is necessary to keep the ship afloat even when there are no issues troubling the device.

Refreshing the Vizio TV kills most incumbent bugs, errors, and stale files and helps restore balance in the system.

Bugs and errors may be the sole reason for errors, such as sound delay issues on your Vizio TV. And so, fending them in their formative stages may prove to be significant.

Based on the current circumstances, a power cycle test should do the job.

Power cycling the Vizio TV will not only reboot the system but also deplete any pent-up static charges from the system internals.

Here's how it goes:

Vizio TV unplugged
  1. Start the process by unplugging all the cables from the TV, including the power supply.
  2. After a few seconds, press and hold the Power button on your TV for a couple of seconds. Doing so will bleed the static charges from the system.
  3. Then, plug back the power supply and power ON the TV. Check for the issue now.

You could also perform a system refresh through the system interface on your Vizio TV. Follow these steps to do so:

  1. Open the Menu tab and select the System option.
  2. Click open the Reset and Admin tile.
  3. Scroll and select the Soft Reset option.

Switch the Aspect Ratio Manually on Vizio TV

Now, let's look at how to modify the aspect ratio.

Vizio has endowed its TVs with four basic Aspect Ratio modes. Namely - Normal, Wide, Zoom, and Panoramic. Some of these modes make up for a great format for gaming on Vizio TV too.

Obviously, the issue is with the Wide mode.

And switching the aspect ratio would technically fix the issue.

But which one? The answer - Normal mode!

All the other modes, may it be Zoom or Panoramic, would only exasperate the issue. Zoom mode makes the picture more focused and zoomed in, while Panoramic is basically Wide on steroids.

And hence we come to the conclusion of choosing the Normal Mode.

Also, some media formats automatically set the Aspect Ratio to the Wide Mode. This may invariably cut off edges on Vizio TV.

The best example would be 4K content. Even if you try to change the Aspect Ratio, you won't be able to do so with 4K content.

Now, to change the Aspect Ratio on your Vizio TV, follow these steps:

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

2. Navigate to and highlight the Aspect Ratio tile. Press OK to access other modes.

Vizio TV Aspect Ratio

3. Select Normal and exit the menu.

Restart the TV and check for the issue now.

You could also change the aspect ratio settings of your Vizio TV on the go while playing content.

To do so, press the button with a film strip logo towards the bottom half of the Vizio remote.

Check the Aspect Ratio Settings on the External Device

Aspect Ratio Settings on the External Device

External devices tend to have their own aspect ratio settings. And these settings also need tending to when met with the issue at hand.

Usually, devices connected via the HDMI port modify the Aspect ratio of the TV to match that of the content being outputted.

Since we have taken care of the Vizio TV aspect ratio settings, let's look at the external device ones.

To access the Aspect Ratio setting of your external device, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings/Menu tab of your device.

2. Click open the Picture/System settings option.

3. Look for the Aspect Ratio/Wide/Picture aspect settings.

4. Select Auto or Normal mode. (choose 16:9 or 4:3 for HD or SD content)

Exit the menu and reboot the device. Check for the issue now.

With certain manufacturers, you can program their remotes to work with the Vizio TV. For instance, you can easily program DirecTV remotes to Vizio TV.

Turn OFF Zoom Mode on Vizio TV

And yet another setting option to check when met with the Wide mode issue on Vizio TVs is the Zoom mode option.

Vizio has implemented a convenient little option within the accessibility menu of their TVs that makes blows up the display output a fair amount.

But this feature can at times be disorienting and absurd, especially when it obscures the contours of the picture frame.

In such cases, better disable the Zoom mode from the Vizio TV settings.

Follow these steps to turn OFF Zoom mode on Vizio TVs:

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

2. Click open the Accessibility tile.

3. Highlight Zoom Mode and press OK.

Vizio TV Zoom Mode

4. Toggle OFF Zoom mode and exit the menu.

Restart the TV and check for the issue now.

Check and Update Vizio TV

Outdated firmware can disrupt the proper working of a device and can prove to be the cause of most issues and glitches in them.

Vizio TVs, since its transition into the Smart TV world, have become susceptible to software issues stemming from outdated firmware.

And the Wide mode issue may be just another byproduct of a bug attack.

Bugs and errors can take root in your Vizio TV, especially in the presence of outdated firmware versions.

Vizio does come out with regular updates and security patches to strengthen the security measures of your TVs.

Even if Vizio TVs automatically update themselves when an update is made available, you can also run a manual check for updates. Updating the TV is also one of the best fixes for fixing tuner issues on Vizio.

To manually check and update your Vizio TV, follow these steps:

1. Open the Menu tab and select System.

2. Scroll and select the Check for Updates option.

Vizio TV check for updates tile

After the TV checks for updates, perform them, if any. Restart the TV and check for the issue now.

Factory Reset Vizio TV

A factory reset may be the ultimate fix for most software-related issues on a modern-day gadget.

With a factory reset, all your system preferences and settings get reverted to their factory defaults, even the ones that you may not be able to modify on your own.

Gone, too, are all user preferences and downloaded data. With this mass overhaul, all the residing residual files, errors, and bugs, too, get kicked out.

In all fairness, with a factory reset, you get a clean slate to start over with the Vizio TV.

Be that as it may, there are a couple of different ways through which you can reset a Vizio TV.

Let's look at the system interface method first.

Follow these steps to do so:

1. Open the Menu tab and click open the System menu.

Vizio TV factory reset todefaults

2. Click on the Reset TV to Factory Settings option. Enter the Parental code to initiate the reset. (Default code: 0000)

Vizio TV reset tile

3. Select Reset TV to initiate the reset.

Proceed to reconfigure the TV and check for the issue now.

Vizio SmartCast TVs can be reset in yet another way, albeit the traditional way - through the onboard buttons!

Hold Down the Input and the Volume Down together until a pop-up message appears on the TV.

As seen from the onscreen message, press and hold the Input button to initiate the reset.

Final Thoughts

Aspect ratio issues have been one of the most pressing issues affecting modern televisions.

But, as serious as it may sound, the fixes involved in rectifying the issue often prove to be carefree and easy.

With this article, you get to know the various troubleshooting step involved in solving the Wide mode issue on your Vizio TV.

Some of these fixes could also help you with other issues like Vizio TV flashing different colors issue and Vizio TV screen flickering.

If the issue persists even after performing every step mentioned here, better contact the customer services of Vizio for further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where is the wide button on VIZIO remote?

To change the aspect ratio on the go on your Vizio TV, press the Aspect Ratio button (Film strip logo) towards the bottom half of the remote. Doing so will cause a popup menu to appear onscreen. You can now change from Wide to Normal/Zoom/Panoramic mode.

Can't change the resolution on VIZIO?

Vizio TVs automatically adjust the screen resolution according to the content being played. You can check the active resolution of your TV at any point in time by pressing the Info button on your remote. If you want to tinker with the resolution settings of your TV, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Menu tab and select Picture.
  2. Click open Picture Mode to try out different resolutions and settings.

How do you soft reset a VIZIO TV?

To soft reset your Vizio TV, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Menu tab and select System.
  2. Click on the Reset and Admin option.
  3. Select Soft Reset Vizio TV to initiate a reboot.

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About 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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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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