Vizio’s motto is:
“Bring every world to life.”
And I respect that…
But, I don’t appreciate that my Vizio TV can’t connect to any Wi-Fi service.
How are they supposed to bring worlds to life without the internet?
Well, I may not be Vizio…
But I’ve brought my Vizio’s Wi-Fi back to life.
Want to know how?
Keep reading to discover:
- 9 quick and easy ways to fix your Vizio that won’t connect to Wi-Fi.
- What’s DHCP, and why you need to turn it on for better network connectivity.
- Which DNS server should your Vizio TV use to avoid losing internet connection.
- And so much more…
Why won’t my Vizio TV connect to WiFi?
Your Vizio TV won’t connect to Wi-Fi because of outdated firmware or a spotty internet connection. Disabled DHCP, DNS servers, and 2.4 GHz frequency can also cause this issue. If not, then you might’ve already hit the connection limit of your Wi-Fi.
Vizio TV won’t connect to Wifi: 9 ways to fix it
#1: Power cycle your Vizio
As a kid, I knew nothing about fixing devices.
But there’s a fix that I always try for all my broken gadgets.
And that’s a restart.
Even back then, I wondered:
“How can something as simple as a restart be this effective?”
Until recently, this question went unanswered and forgotten.
Then, my Vizio TV broke, and it couldn’t connect to the Wi-Fi.
So I scoured the internet for answers, and do you know what I found?
Restarting actually works, only it goes by a different name:
A power cycle. And the method goes a little bit differently, too. You’ll need to:
- Turn your Vizio TV off.
- Unplug it from the socket.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in and power it on.
After that, you should also do the same for your router.
The 30 seconds of wait is key. It gets rid of all charges on your TV, allowing it to shut down entirely.
That shut down is how your TV removes all glitches and stuck processes on its system.
And that’s also how I got my answer as to why a restart works.
#2: Reconnect to the Wi-Fi
Here’s a fact for you:
Wi-Fi signals are weird.
It can work 1 minute, and the next it can’t.
And maybe that’s what’s happening to your Vizio.
The fix for that?
Simply disconnect and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.
There’s also 1 more reason why reconnecting to your network is recommended:
Have you changed your password lately?
If you have, there’s a chance that your Vizio can’t recognize your internet…
Because it can’t verify it due to the wrong password.
In that case, here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Disconnect from your Wi-Fi
- Press the Settings button on your remote.
- Go to Help.
- Under Guided Setup, head to Network Setup.
- Select your Wi-Fi network.
- Tap Exit.
Step 2: Reconnect to your network
- Go back to Settings.
- This time, go to Network.
- Select your Wi-Fi network.
- Type and enter your password.
#3: Update your Vizio
Your TV is never complete.
What do I mean by that?
Manufacturers will still release firmware updates to:
- Upgrade your software.
- Patch out errors and glitches.
How thoughtful of them, right?
Now, this is how you’d often update your Vizio:
- Press the Link button on your remote.
- Open the Vizio SmartCast app on your smartphone. (Available on Android and iOS.)
- Tap the Menu button.
- Connect your TV to the phone using the Setup A New Device option.
- And then select Download An Update.
However, here’s the problem with that method:
You’d need a Wi-Fi connection on your Vizio TV to connect to your smartphone.
Bummer. I know.
But there’s a method that doesn’t require an internet connection…
By using a flash drive. So, this is how you can update your Vizio TV with USB:
- Download the latest firmware from this page.
- Extract and copy the file into the flash drive.
- Open your TV on empty input.
- Insert the flash drive into the black USB port.
- Press Yes when a banner asks if you want to update your Vizio.
- Wait until the setup is finished.
You may also be interested in: YouTube App Not Working On Vizio TV
#4: Restart DHCP
Have you heard of DHCP?
It stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
A mouthful. I agree.
What does it do?
You see, your router assigns each device in your home its IP address.
Sometimes, these addresses might get lost in translation.
And, when it does, your TV won’t be able to connect to your Wi-Fi service.
To fix this, simply follow these 6 easy steps:
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Go to the Network page.
- Head to Manual Setup.
- Select DHCP.
- If it’s already on, toggle it off.
- And then enable it again.
#5: Use ethernet connection
If your TV still can’t connect to any Wi-Fi service…
Why not bring the internet directly to your TV?
You may have an extra ethernet cable lying around your house.
Use that to connect your TV directly to the router.
Or you can always buy an ethernet cable.
And for that, here are all types of ethernet and what you’ll need to consider:
| Cable | Maximum Speed |
| Cat 3 | 10 Mbps |
| Cat 5 | 100 Mbps |
| Cat 5e | 1 Gbps |
| Cat 6 | 10 Gbps |
| Cat 6a | 10 Gbps |
| Cat 7 | 100 Gbps |
| Cat 7a | 100 Gbps |
| Cat 8 | 40 Gbps |
Now, you might ask:
“Is an extra cable really worth it?”
Yes. It is.
After all, ethernet isn’t just reliable. It’s also:
- Less latent than Wi-Fi.
- Less stressful on bandwidth.
- More secure against data breaches.
#6: Change DNS settings
Ah, yes. DNS.
According to Google, it’s the internet’s phonebook.
And it’s an apt analogy if you ask me.
How so?
You see, networks and humans speak different languages.
For us to understand each other, we’ll need a translator.
That’s what DNS servers are for.
Usually, ISPs have their DNS servers.
The trouble?
They’re not well-regulated, and they can sometimes go down.
So, what’s the fix?
Switch to a DNS that won’t ever go down.
“There’s something like that?”
Yep. And it’s developed by none other than Google themselves.
The Google Public DNS was announced and finished in 2009.
Their goal is to:
- Get rid of redirection.
- Speed up web browsing.
- Improve network security.
Sounds great, right?
Now, let’s change the DNS settings of your TV, shall we?
To start:
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Go to the Network tab.
- Head to Manual Setup.
- Under Preferred DNS Server, enter 8.8.8.8.
- Under Alternate DNS Server, enter 8.8.4.4.
#7: Check your connection limit
Ever suspected that some of your neighbors are using your Wi-Fi?
All I’m saying is if you can’t connect to your Wi-Fi…
They might be.
To know for sure, try disconnecting a device connected to your Wi-Fi network.
And then try to connect your Vizio TV now.
Did it work?
If it did, then there are too many people using your internet.
You’ll have to remove your connection limit.
How?
Step 1: Access your Wi-Fi interface
- Get a laptop or a PC.
- Open Command Prompt and type “ipconfig/all.”
- Copy the number next to Default Gateway to any web browser.
- Enter the given username and password of your ISP.
Your router’s username and password should be “admin” and “password” by default.
If you changed it at some point and forgot the new login credentials…
Don’t panic. Contact your ISP for help.
Step 2: Remove the limit
- Press the Wi-Fi tab on the left side of your screen.
- Go to Wi-Fi Options.
- Select Max Wi-Fi.
- Choose the maximum amount of devices that can connect to your network.
Now, check first if this method worked.
If it didn’t, don’t close the interface just yet.
#8: Switch to 2.4 GHz
It might not seem like it, but your Wi-Fi signals travel from the router to your TV and…
The medium they use to travel is called frequency bands.
And they’re not the only ones.
In fact, here are some signals and where they travel along in the frequency spectrum:
| Frequency | Object |
| 3-30 kHz | Maritime and navigation radio |
| 300 kHz to 3 MHz | AM and aviation radio |
| 3 MHz to 30 MHz | Shortwave radio |
| 30 MHz to 300 MHz | Television waves |
| 300 MHz to 10 GHz | Phones, Wi-Fi |
| 10 GHz to 30 GHz | Satellites |
| 300 GHz and above | Radio astronomy, satellite communications |
Wi-Fi signals primarily travel on either 2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz.
2.4 GHz is more reliable but slower, while 5.0 GHz is much faster but is spotty.
Not to mention that 5.0 GHz is a recent development…
Meaning that some Vizio TVs still can’t connect to it.
That’s why it’s essential to switch to 2.4 GHz if you can’t connect to your Wi-Fi.
Now that you know the “why…”
It’s time to learn the “how.”
From your router interface, proceed to:
- Go to Advanced Settings.
- Head to Wireless.
- Select Wireless Signal.
- Untick Channel Optimization.
- Enable 2.4 GHz, then disable 5.0 GHz.
#9: Factory reset your TV
Were you able to use Wi-Fi on your Vizio TV before?
If so, wouldn’t it just be simpler if you could return your TV to that state?
Here’s the secret:
You can.
All you need to do is factory reset your Vizio TV.
This will return your TV to the state when it was error-free.
Sounds tempting, am I right?
However, this will also remove all your TV data, accounts, and preferences.
That’s why it’s only reserved for emergencies.
But, if you really want to do it. You just have to follow these 6 steps carefully:
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Go to System.
- Select Reset & Admin.
- Tap Reset TV to Factory Defaults.
- Type and enter your passcode.
- Choose Reset to confirm.
Now that you have the written instructions…
You might also want to see it in action:
BONUS: Call Vizio for assistance
You may think I hold all the solutions for your problem…
But I don’t.
However, I know someone who does.
And their name is Vizio.
You can contact them here if you want personal consultation for your TV.