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How to Reset a Vizio TV Without a Remote

I will show you how to reboot your Vizio smart TV without or with a remote control. To reset your Vizio TV without a remote, follow these simple steps.

Vizio TVs may encounter glitches or performance issues over time. A factory reset can resolve these problems by restoring the TV to its original settings.

Why Reset Your Television

Here’s a quick answer to the question of how to reset a Vizio TV without a remote:

With the TV turned on, press the Volume Down button and Enter button on the TV at the same time and hold them down for 15 seconds. A tooltip on the screen asks if you want to reset the TV. Press the Enter button to reset it. Your TV is now reset to factory default settings.

This method will help with program freezes, but we must call a repair shop for hardware failures.

Examples of malfunctions that can be solved by resetting your TV:

• It does not play sound
• Applications stop working all of a sudden or work with errors
• Hangs or does not respond
• A black screen is displayed
• Image distortion
• Firmware problem
• TV randomly turns on and off
• Can’t remember your device password
• Can’t connect to Wi-Fi or online services
• It won’t turn on after pressing the power button a few times
• It doesn’t turn on or flashes in different colors
• Smart features stop working

When an electronic device under program control fails, a reset is the first way to restore all functions.

The easiest way to reset a TV is with a proprietary remote control. But if there is no remote or it does not work, the TV does not respond to its commands. We’ll show you how to reset your TV without the native remote.

Here are ways to get your Vizio TV back up and running, from simply turning it on to increasingly difficult methods:

• Resetting with a proprietary remote.
• Soft Reset. This is the initial step, and it is always done first.
• Hard Reset. You can reset the TV without a remote using the buttons on the back.
• Using a keyboard and mouse, you can control your Vizio TV to navigate the menus.
• In addition, using VIZIO Mobile and your smartphone, you can navigate the menus of your Vizio TV to reset without remote control.
• You can install the remote app on your smartphone. Once set up, you can easily control your TV. The app will work just like a regular Vizio TV remote.

Also read: Samsung considers its displays defect-free and does not have a clear policy on faulty color dots on the screen.

Branded Remote Control

You can use the remote to do either a software or factory reset.

Press in turn:

Menu ⇒ Go to System ⇒ Ok ⇒ Reset and Administration ⇒ Factory Reset ⇒ Ok

How to Soft Reset a Vizio TV Without Remote

First of all, try a soft reset.

Power cycling the TV is an excellent first step when your Vizio TV is not responding. This process restarts the TV without deleting any data, and a software reset does not destroy your settings and data.

The TV can be restarted or rebooted faster than the remote control through various methods.

Before you start, locate the power cord and unplug it from the power source. If your power source has a switch, you can also use that.

Always be careful and take the necessary precautions when working with electricity.

A software reset clears the memory and restarts the device, quickly solving most hanging program issues. By turning off the power, your Vizio TV will restart all services and perform a clean boot.

How to do a program reset on your Vizio TV:

1. All you need to do is unplug your TV for 60 seconds;
2. Then press and hold the power button for 3 to 5 seconds, s, though some advise holding the button for 30 seconds;
3. Finally, you will need to plug in the power cord.

Repeat this process twice or thrice to see if it solves the problem. When you turn the TV on, you should see the Vizio TV logo, which may take a minute to reboot.

The power button on the back of the TV can also be used to turn it on and off as needed.

Also read: CEC allows a single remote control to control the functions of 15 HDMI-connected devices.

How to Hard Reset

A hard reset is a more serious matter. It does everything a soft reset does but also resets the device’s firmware or configuration to factory defaults, clears memory, and completely resets the device.

If power cycling the TV doesn’t work, a complete reset is probably your best bet.

A hard reset makes your Vizio Smart TV a brand-new device, just like when you bought it, without any settings or registrations.

A soft reset usually fixes a device that isn’t working correctly or is displaying errors. If the problem persists, a hardware reset may be required, requiring reconfiguring the TV.

You must use the control buttons on the back of the TV.

Hardware reset steps:

1. Make sure your TV is turned on.
2. Press and hold the volume down and the input buttons simultaneously.
3. After 5-6 seconds, a message will appear on your Vizio TV. “To reset to default settings, on the back panel, press the input button for 10 seconds.”
4. As the message suggests, you can now release both buttons and press and hold the input button for 10 seconds.
5. If the reset is done correctly, a new message should appear. “The memory is being cleared. The display will be reset soon.”

The Vizio TV will shut down and boot up again after a minute or two. Once it starts up, it will be reset to factory default settings and proceed to the initial setup wizard.

The time interval between steps 3 and 4 should be small. Otherwise, there may be a reset error. If such an error occurs, try going through the whole algorithm again until you have a successful result. You may have to go through this process several times.

The process should take a few minutes to clear all your settings and reset everything to factory defaults. In most cases, this will solve your problem.

A factory reset will erase all of your apps and user data. Before you do any of these steps, ensure you have the login information for all your favorite TV apps.

A hard reset of your Vizio Smart TV deletes all configurations and settings. It also deletes account information for any smart apps, resets network data, and runs a firmware update if one is available.

If your Vizio TV does not have functioning navigation buttons or the remote control is missing, completing the setup wizard will be challenging (although you can try connecting a USB keyboard as a workaround). For this reason, it is still recommended that you buy a replacement remote.

Also read: Unlike Crystal UHD, QLED TVs are part of Samsung’s premium lineup.

If you are still having trouble rebooting the TV without the remote, connect a mouse and keyboard to the TV to set it up again.

Keyboard and Mouse

You can reset the TV’s buttons, but what should you do to complete the initial setup process?

During the initial setup process, you must select the brand of your TV, set up Wi-Fi, and change other settings.

Without a TV remote, this cannot be easy.

You can control your Vizio TV and navigate the menus using a keyboard and mouse.

It would help to have a USB mouse and keyboard for this method.

Plug the mouse and keyboard into the USB port on the back of the TV.

Select the desired menu item from the left and right mouse buttons.

Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move the cursor.

You can now navigate through the menus and reset without the remote.

After the reset, you can use the USB keyboard to set up the TV from scratch.

In the Wi-Fi configuration screen, you can select the Wi-Fi network and enter the password using the keypad, and this should work without problems.

Also read: Samsung’s new QD-OLEDs are some of the brightest OLED panels currently available.

Hard Reset Using the VIZIO Mobile App

If your TV has no physical buttons or is faulty and can’t help you do a hard reset, you can use the proprietary VIZIO Mobile app to simulate remote control operation from a smartphone. You can download this application from Google Play or the App Store.

Previously, this application was called VIZIO SmartCast Mobile.

Using this app, you can navigate through the TV menu and control the TV as if you were using a regular remote control.

This app allows you to control your TV using your smartphone or tablet.

To test the app, download it, register an account, and see if it finds your Vizio TV in the list of nearby devices.

The app is useful when your remote has lost or malfunctioned. However, it does not work with all Vizio TV models. Nevertheless, it’s worth a try. It’s also a simple solution when waiting for a replacement remote.

First, download and install the VIZIO Mobile app on your Android or iOS device.

Open the VIZIO Mobile app and log in with your Vizio credentials. You will be prompted to log in to your account, create a new one, or continue as a guest. Once logged in, click “Select Device” to add new VIZIO devices in the room to the app. Then, select your TV from the list. Once you choose it, a numeric code will appear on the TV screen. Enter the numeric code in the SmartCast app.

The app is now connected to your TV and will work as a virtual remote.

Perform the following commands:

Settings ⇒ System ⇒ Reset and Administration ⇒ Factory Reset

If the TV asks for a code, enter “0000”.

Your Vizio TV will reboot, and all your data will be deleted.

The TV is now reset to factory default settings without the remote control or buttons on its back.

Remote Apps to Reset

In addition to the official VIZIO Mobile app, many other apps allow you to use your smartphone as a remote control for your TV.

Here are a few remote apps to control a Vizio TV. They work on Android or iOS, and you can install them on your smartphone.

• TV remote for Vizio SmartCast

• Smart Remote For Vizio TV

• VIZIO | WatchFree+

• Remote for Vizio Smart TV

These are just a few examples of apps that allow you to control your Vizio TV through your smartphone. Many others are available on Google Play or the App Store.

You can connect and use a remote app to control your Vizio TV.

If your phone has an IR Blaster (IR Emitter), you can use it to control your Vizio TV through the remote app. You must set up the remote app and point the phone’s infrared emitter at the TV to do this.

If your phone doesn’t have an infrared emitter, don’t worry. You can still use the remote app to control the TV. All you have to do is ensure your smartphone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Find, add, and set up your Vizio TV in the app, and you can start using it to control your TV.

After connecting to your Vizio TV, use the menu button to navigate to the reset option under System Settings.

Buy a Replacement Remote Control

If none of the methods mentioned above work for you, or if your TV has no volume or input button and the VIZIO Mobile app doesn’t work, you’ll have to buy a new remote to reset your TV.

Sometimes, you can buy one directly from Vizio or on Amazon.

If you have a universal remote, try programming your Vizio TV using the appropriate codes.

With the Vizio brand app installed, you can control your TV using a universal remote or a smartphone. However, if neither is handy, a spare TV remote is the cheapest alternative.

Try a Universal Remote to Reset

Universal remotes can be programmed to control various appliances of the same brand.

This remote can control devices like a set-top box, TV, sound bar, etc.

If you have a universal remote at home, you can reset your Vizio TV.

First, you need to connect the universal remote to your Vizio TV so that you can control it.

Universal remotes connect to Vizio TVs using a universal code. It would help if you found the code to pair the universal remote with your Vizio TVs. Here are tips on how to find the code and connect the universal remote control to the TV.

If you can’t find the universal code for Vizio TVs, you can search for it online. The code also differs depending on the TV’s year.

Tip: If you buy a universal remote control, ensure your Vizio TV is supported!

Contacting Official Support

Contact Vizio Support and explain your problem and any solutions you have tried.

They can provide you with a solution to the problem you are having.

If you have noticed that the physical button on the back of your Vizio TV is not working, you can fix it yourself by pushing it hard a few times and dusting it off.

If your TV does not work, you can always check your warranty and use it if available.

Also read: One code will be optimal for the TV. All functions will work — menus, Teletext, and other rarely used settings.

How to Reset a Vizio TV With a Black Screen

The black screen on your Vizio TV can have many reasons, which we will discuss here.

• Sleep timer: This feature can cause a black screen. If you have enabled it, try disabling it.

• Screen mute. Some VIZIO TVs have a “Mute Screen” feature that turns off the screen if you use an audio streaming app (Pandora, Spotify, etc.) and don’t want it on. Hold the mute button for 3-5 seconds to activate or deactivate this feature.

• Faulty and unreliable connection. Sometimes, faulty or loose connectors and connection cables cause a black screen on your Vizio TV, so check all connections and wires connected to the TV.

• Outdated firmware can occasionally cause a black screen on your Vizio TV. When the screen is working, go to the Software Update section and see if any updates are available.

• The TV hardware may malfunction, such as the backlight not working. In this case, you need to contact a repair shop.

How do you fix a black screen?

If there is a problem with the black screen on your Vizio TV, try the following solutions:

1. Check if the power is working. The light on the front of the TV should be on. If it is not, try connecting to a different power outlet.
2. To reboot the TV, unplug the power cord and hold down the power button on the side of the TV for 5 seconds. Then, reconnect the power cord and turn on the TV.
3. Disconnect the external device if there is one. Press the Menu button on the VIZIO remote control to see if the menu appears. If the TV shows a menu, you can tell the TV is working. In this case, the problem is most likely with the device you connected to the TV. If the Menu button does not bring up an image, and you have followed the steps above, you need to consider the TV warranty.
4. Turn on the screen sound. Press and hold the Mute button on the remote control for 5 seconds to ensure the screen is not muted.
5. Check all connected cables and connections.
6. Change the picture mode.
7. Update your Vizio Smart TV software.

Video about resetting the TV

Conclusion

Now you know how to reset your Vizio TV without a remote control.

Resetting your Vizio TV without a remote may seem impossible at first.

You can reset the buttons on your TV or the VIZIO mobile app.

After the reset, you can use the USB keyboard to set up the TV from scratch.

F.A.Q.

VIZIO 50-inch MQX-Series 4K 120Hz QLED HDR10+ Smart TV with Dolby Vision, Active Full Array, 240Hz @ 1080p PC Gaming, WiFi 6E, Apple AirPlay, Chromecast Built-in, M50QXM-K01, 2023 Model

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