It can certainly be a nightmare of enormous proportions when your Vizio TV remote starts acting up and becomes useless. When that happens, you’d have to rely on physical buttons on your smart TV and stand up now and then to keep things going.
To fix a Vizio TV remote that’s not working, power cycle it by removing its batteries and holding its power button. Also, you can press its buttons repeatedly, slam it into your palm, or replace its batteries if necessary.
But that may not be enough. So, in this post, we’re showing nine proven-and-tested hacks to fix a Vizio TV remote that’s not working in complete detail, you will have the confidence to DIY everything, so you better read up.
What causes the Vizio remote not to work?
Dead batteries, physical obstructions, and device interference often cause a Vizio TV remote not to work. Moreover, other common reasons include pairing issues and infrared sensor issues.
Your remote control may also stop working due to minor errors on the Vizio TV or even software-related issues.
How to Fix Your Vizio TV Remote
FIX 1. Power cycle your Vizio remote control
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 1 minute and 10 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio TV remote control 2 AAA batteries (if needed) |
A power cycle is the most straightforward way to troubleshoot a Vizio TV remote that’s not working. This helps reset the Vizio remote control and correct any errors causing all button inputs not to register on your TV.
This solution is essential because your Vizio TV remote’s board has capacitors that can store residual electrical charges during use. These electrical charges can cause the remote control to malfunction or stop it from working completely.
Step 1: Remove the back cover to reveal your Vizio remote’s battery compartment. |
Step 2: Remove the AAA batteries inside your Vizio remote control. |
Step 3: Hold the Vizio remote’s power button for 60 seconds to conduct the power cycle. |
Step 4: Reinsert the AAA batteries into the Vizio remote and reinstall the back cover. Note: There are images inside the battery compartment showing where the battery’s positive and negative terminals should go. |
FIX 2. Check if the Vizio remote control’s IR sensor works
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 1 |
| Time to Perform Fix | < 30 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio TV remote control A digital or phone camera |
An essential part of troubleshooting is determining the problem you’re trying to fix. After all, you can’t start solving the problem with a malfunctioning Vizio TV remote if you’re unaware you have one.
We recommend performing the camera test on your Vizio remote control to confirm whether or not its IR sensor is working. Since it sends a signal to your TV using infrared light, it’s a problem if the sensor becomes faulty.
Unfortunately, while humans can feel infrared light as a heat source, our naked eye cannot see it. As such, we suggest using a digital or phone camera as your looking glass if you want to see the infrared light emitted by your Vizio remote’s IR sensor.
You can do this by pointing your Vizio TV remote’s IR sensor to the camera lens and observing it from the digital display. Once you press a button on the remote control, you should see a light flash from the camera’s digital display if the device works.
Otherwise, the absence of infrared light on the camera’s display means your Vizio TV remote isn’t working. It could be due to its batteries running low or damage to the Vizio TV remote’s board, preventing it from turning on and functioning as intended.
Depending on the result of the camera test, you can choose what solution you want to try next in the following sections. Please observe your Vizio TV remote carefully during the camera test to find some clues as to the reason behind its malfunction.
FIX 3. Change its batteries
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time to Perform Fix | < 20 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio TV remote control 2 replacement AAA batteries |
Dead batteries are the most common cause of the issue with the Vizio TV remote not working. Therefore, check if the current pair of batteries installed on the Vizio TV remote is dead so you can replace them if necessary.
Once you’ve installed a fresh pair of AAA batteries, your Vizio TV remote should work again.
We recommend only using high-quality batteries for more prolonged usage and to avoid issues. Although Vizio TV remotes are low-energy devices, the frequent voltage drops from cheaper batteries can cause problems.
| Step 1: Remove the back cover to reveal your Vizio remote’s battery compartment. |
| Step 2: Remove the old batteries inside your Vizio remote control. |
| Step 3: Install two replacement AAA batteries on your Vizio remote control. Note: You must press each button at least once. |
FIX 4. Clear any physical obstructions
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 1 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 20 to 40 seconds |
| Things Needed | A working Vizio TV remote control |
Physical objects can block the infrared signals emitted by your Vizio TV remote’s IR sensor. When this happens, your button input won’t register, leading you to think there’s an issue due to the Vizio TV remote not working.
Consequently, you might perform unnecessary troubleshooting tricks to fix your Vizio TV remote when it works fine. With this, you’ll only waste time performing pointless solutions that your Vizio TV remote didn’t need.
Therefore, no objects must be in front of your Vizio TV to ensure the infrared signals from its remote control are received. Your TV’s connected devices, such as soundbars, can cause signal interference, so put a good space between them.
FIX 5. Keep pressing your Vizio TV remote’s buttons
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 1 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 20 to 60 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio TV remote control |
Another simple trick to fix a Vizio TV remote that’s not working is to press its buttons repeatedly. Doing so will help dislodge dust and dirt buildup on the gaps of these buttons that can cause them to get stuck.
Since stuck buttons won’t register to your clicks, your Vizio TV won’t respond to your intended inputs. Therefore, you need to unclog the remote’s buttons by removing all dirt and dust particles.
Please note you need to press all the buttons on the Vizio TV remote at least once. The more you click them, the better you can dislodge the dirt or dust buildup and unclog the buttons.
You can also slam your Vizio TV remote into your palm to dislodge any dust buildup inside its components. However, don’t over-exert your force when doing so—you don’t want the impact to break it!
FIX 6. Clean the Vizio remote control
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 1 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 20 to 60 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio TV remote control A cleaning cloth or soft brush A cotton swab A contact cleaner |
Even with a new pair of batteries, your Vizio TV remote may still not work if its battery compartment is full of dirt, blocking the connection between the battery and the terminals.
When the power connections are blocked, the batteries can’t supply electricity to your Vizio TV remote, no matter how many times you click its buttons. Therefore, you must clean your Vizio TV remote’s battery compartment before installing its batteries.
If the metallic parts of the battery compartment have rust, apply a contact cleaner and use a cleaning cloth or soft brush to clean it off.
FIX 7. Power cycle your TV
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 1 minute and 10 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio smart TV A working power cable A working wall outlet |
Sometimes, the cause behind the issue of your Vizio TV remote that’s not working may be the TV software—not the remote itself! In such cases, the TV may be suffering from a minor software bug or error.
To address the issue and discharge residual electricity, you may power cycle your Vizio TV before taking care of the system’s bugs.
And since power cycling only refreshes the system memory, you won’t lose your user data, files, and installed apps.
Step 1: Turn off and unplug your Vizio TV from the wall outlet. Note: You can unplug its power cable without turning the TV off to force the reboot. |
Step 2: Hold the TV’s physical power button on its back panel for 60 seconds to discharge the residual electrical energy. Note: You can keep the device unplugged for at least 30 minutes to achieve similar results without pressing a button. |
Step 3: Plug in and power your Vizio TV. |
| Step 4: Use your Vizio remote control on the TV once it reboots to check if it’s working again |
FIX 8. Factory reset your Vizio TV
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 5 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 3 minutes |
| Things Needed | A Vizio TV |
| WARNING: The factory reset causes you to lose all the user data, files, and installed and returns the TV to the state when you purchased it. Ensure you retain copies of your apps and essential files before starting the process. |
You must resort to a factory reset for software-related issues that power cycling can’t fix. Because of the caveat mentioned above, this method is only advisable as a last resort if you’re out of options for troubleshooting your faulty Vizio TV.
Typically, you must navigate the Vizio TV system menu using its remote control and start the reset process there. Alternatively, you can use the Vizio TV’s physical buttons, which is practical for users with a dead or lost remote control.
Here’s how to go about the process:
Step 1: Press and hold its volume down and input buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds. Note: Depending on your Vizio TV model, you may find these buttons in different locations. |
Step 2: Wait while your Vizio TV clears its memory and its system resets. |
| Step 3: Use your Vizio remote control on the TV once it reboots to check if it’s working again. |
FIX 9. Use a universal Vizio remote control
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 1 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 5 to 10 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio TV universal or replacement remote |
A straightforward solution to your Vizio TV remote woes is a universal or replacement remote.
You can even get an official replacement remote from Vizio, so you don’t have to program it to work on your TV. Vizio has universal remote controls that work on most of their TV models.
To purchase one, you can check out some replacement and universal remote options below. Some universal remote controls require programming before working on your Vizio TV.
If you’re using a universal remote, refer to the table below for the Vizio TV codes required for programming it. You can also use the universal remote’s manual to verify the information for your device.
| 3-Digit Codes | 4-Digit Codes | 5-Digit Codes |
| 004 | 0030 | 01377 |
| 011 | 0117 | 10117 |
| 113 | 0178 | 10120 |
| 502 | 1078 | 10117 |
| 505 | 1292 | 10885 |
| 627 | 1758 | 11756 |
FAQs about Vizio TV Not Working
How do I know if the Vizio remote’s sensor works?
The previous camera test is the best way to tell if your Vizio remote’s sensor works. Since the IR sensor uses infrared light, you should see it using a camera’s lens and confirm if it’s responding to your button clicks on the Vizio remote.
You’ll also know if the remote’s sensor works if your Vizio TV responds to your button inputs without issues.
How do you soft reset a Vizio TV remote?
First, remove the batteries on the Vizio TV remote to shut it down. Second, wait 10 seconds and reinsert the batteries to power the Vizio TV remote.
You must remove the batteries on your Vizio TV remote since it doesn’t have an on or off switch. Therefore, cutting off the power source is the only way to soft reset a TV remote.
How do you reboot your TV remote?
Removing and reinserting the batteries will reboot your TV remote. A reboot sequence is similar to the soft reset process, so the steps are identical.
Why is the TV remote suddenly not working?
Dead batteries are the most common reason a TV remote suddenly stops working. You must ensure the batteries inside your TV remote have enough juice to power it and make its functions work.
