YouTube is such a hit as it can introduce a wide array of entertainment; it’s no surprise you’d be frustrated if the app grinds to a halt in your Vizio TV. It means there’s one family left out of the millions watching YouTube daily.
Before you end up miserable throughout the day, know there’s a way out. In this post, we’ll show you the nuts and bolts of seven workarounds to deal with the Vizio YouTube app not working, so you better read up.
Why is the YouTube app not working on Vizio SmartCast TV?
Server outages and internet connectivity issues are the most common reasons for the YouTube app not working on Vizio SmartCast TVs. You can’t load any YouTube content on your Vizio TV if you can’t communicate with their servers.
You can also experience Vizio YouTube app issues due to minor system software errors and bugs.
How To Fix the YouTube App Not Working on Vizio TV
The device must be power-cycled to fix the YouTube app not working on Vizio TV. Start by unplugging your Vizio TV from the power outlet and then hold its physical power button for a minute to discharge its residual electrical charges.
Refer to the following section for a complete list of all troubleshooting methods for fixing YouTube app issues on Vizio TVs.
FIX 1. 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 power outlet |
Concerning the issue with the Vizio YouTube app not working, power cycling is an excellent countermeasure we can recommend. What makes this solution exceptional is the combination of its effectiveness, efficiency, and sheer simplicity.
Power cycling is also practical because it targets the residual electrical charges that the Vizio TV stores in its components. The electrical charges stored by its capacitors often cause various Vizio TV errors and malfunctions.
It’s advisable to power cycle your Vizio TV frequently to prevent it from storing an unhealthy amount of electrical charges. Not only will this help with recurring software errors, but it will significantly improve your Vizio TV’s speed and overall performance.
Step 1: Power your Vizio TV off and unplug the power cable from the outlet. Note: Unplugging the Vizio TV without turning it off will force it to shut down. We recommend this if your Vizio TV is frozen and unresponsive to the power button input from its remote control. |
Step 2: Hold the physical power button on the Vizio TV for 60 seconds to drain the residual electrical charges stored in its system. Note: It’s required to hold the power button since you can leave the Vizio TV unplugged and achieve similar results. However, holding the power button should help speed up the discharge process. |
Step 3: Plug in your Vizio TV’s power cable to reintroduce electricity to its system. |
| Step 4: Press the physical power button on the Vizio TV to power the device. Note: You can also use the same button on its remote control. Some Vizio TVs may turn on automatically once you connect them to a power source. |
FIX 2. Check the status of YouTube servers
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 1 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 30 to 60 seconds |
| Things Needed | A PC or smartphone A working internet connection |
If you have an issue with YouTube TV not working on your Vizio TV, it may have something to do with an ongoing problem with their servers.
You can’t troubleshoot the issue since fixing it depends on the YouTube internal team that manages their servers.
Your only option is to gather information about YouTube’s server issue so you know when to expect it to run again. We suggest checking their official online channels for any post acknowledging the YouTube servers’ current technical difficulties.
An excellent place to check out is the @TeamYouTube account on X (formerly Twitter), as they post about known issues with all versions of YouTube. YouTube will provide an update once they’ve fixed the server problem and the platform is working.
You can also visit downdetector.com for real-time user reports of worldwide YouTube TV server outages. Reading user reports may help you find valuable tips for fixing your Vizio TV’s faulty YouTube app if the problem isn’t related to server difficulties.
We also suggest posting about your experience here since it will help increase the reported issues, which may prompt YouTube to take quick action. From here, you can only wait until YouTube identifies the problem and its appropriate fix.
FIX 3. Clear your Vizio TV’s cache
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 40 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio smart TV A Vizio TV remote control |
In most smart TVs, you can reset a faulty app to correct the bugs and errors causing it to misbehave. Unfortunately, you can do the same on Vizio TVs due to how the built-in SmartCast platform works.
Your Vizio SmartCast TV doesn’t natively install the apps on its system since they work more like a link to the services you’re using. For instance, launching Netflix on your Vizio TV redirects you to the streaming platform through SmartCast.
It means that your Vizio TV communicates directly with the Netflix servers using your account credentials. Therefore, you must perform a system restart to reset YouTube on your Vizio TV and clear its cached data.
Doing so is the only way to clear cache and temporary data on a Vizio TV, regardless of the app or service you’re using. Keep repeating this method until you fix the minor errors causing apps to misbehave or malfunction on your Vizio TV.
Step 1: Tap the Menu button on the TV remote control to access the Vizio settings menu. |
Step 2: Go to System. |
Step 3: Go to “Reset & Admin.” |
Step 4: Select Reboot TV and wait for the Vizio TV to restart its system. Note: Your Vizio TV will clear its cached memory when the restart is complete. |
FIX 4. Reset your WiFi
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 2 minutes and 20 seconds |
| Things Needed | A WiFi router and modem Working LAN cables Working power cords A working power outlet |
Whether you’re using YouTube or YouTube TV, a reliable internet connection is essential to access these services’ content. Thus, it’s reasonable to think you have an internet connectivity issue when the Vizio YouTube app isn’t working.
In such cases, the solution we recommend the most is restarting your WiFi router and modem. This action will refresh the router or modem’s WiFi network so you can reconnect your Vizio TV.
Your Vizio TV should then regain internet access and use the YouTube app without issues. There shouldn’t be any more problems as long as you haven’t reached the limit of your monthly data plan.
Step 1: Unplug the WiFi modem’s LAN cable and power cord. |
Step 2: Unplug the WiFi router’s LAN cable and power cord. |
| Step 3: Leave both devices unplugged for around 2 minutes so they can shut down completely. |
Step 4: Plug in your WiFi modem’s LAN cable and power cord. |
Step 5: Plug in your WiFi router’s LAN cable and power cord. Note: All cable connections must be secure to prevent further issues. |
Step 6: Wait while both WiFi devices boot up and check their LED lights once they turn on. Note: The globe icons on WiFi routers and modems should glow green or white when connected to the Internet. Also, both devices should have a solid green light on the WiFi icon so your Vizio TV can connect to the network without problems. |
Sometimes, you may need more than restarting your WiFi router or modem to fix the connectivity issue. Therefore, restoring both devices to their factory settings is better so you can connect your Vizio TV to their default WiFi network.
This action is also a fantastic way to deal with software-related issues that cause both WiFi devices to malfunction.
Restore your WiFi router or modem’s factory settings
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 3 minutes |
| Things Needed | A WiFi router or modem A SIM ejector pin A working ethernet cable |
Step 1: Unplug the WiFi modem and router’s LAN cable. Note: Both devices must be on during the factory reset process, so keep their power cord intact. |
Step 2: Use a SIM ejector pin to hold the reset button inside the pinhole on both devices for 10 seconds. Note: You can also use other long and thin tools like paperclips and toothpicks. |
Step 3: Wait for both WiFi devices to shut down and reboot. Note: Most WiFi routers and modems glow orange light to indicate that they’re factory resetting. |
| Step 4: Plug in both WiFi devices’ LAN cables after turning them back on. Note: Reconnect your Vizio TV to your WiFi router or modem and try using the YouTube or YouTube TV app again. |
FIX 5. Test your internet connection
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 1 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 30 to 60 seconds |
| Things Needed | A PC or smartphone A working internet connection |
Even with a working WiFi connection, an issue with the Vizio YouTube app not working may occur if your internet speed is sluggish. After all, video streaming platforms like YouTube require a minimum internet speed to load content.
To use the YouTube TV app, you must have a minimum internet speed of 1 megabit per second to load videos at standard definition. This requirement goes up to 20 megabits per second when watching YouTube videos at 4K Ultra HD resolution.
You can check your WiFi network’s internet speed by visiting websites like speedtest.net or fast.com. These speed-testing websites should give you a general idea of how reliable your internet connection is.
Based on the speed test result, try playing YouTube videos at qualities your internet speed can handle. Knowing the limits of your WiFi connection is essential to loading the content you want to watch without buffering or lag.
Here’s a table that shows the internet speed you must have to load different qualities of YouTube videos. Refer to the data below to adjust the quality of videos you play on your Vizio TV’s YouTube app.
| Video Quality (Resolution) | Recommended Internet Speed |
| 4K UHD | 20 Mbps |
| 1080p HD | 10 Mbps |
| 720p HD | 2.5 Mbps |
| 480p SD | 1 Mbps |
FIX 6. Update your TV
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 10 minutes |
| Things Needed | A Vizio smart TV A Vizio TV remote control A working internet connection |
Updating your TV’s system software is another way to troubleshoot the issue with the Vizio YouTube app not working. If your Vizio SmartCast TV is outdated, you’ll likely experience system bugs and errors during use.
It’s vital to keep your Vizio SmartCast TV updated to continue running YouTube or YouTube TV without issues. A system update is also helpful in maintaining the TV’s optimal condition, preventing compatibility issues with most apps and services.
Furthermore, using an updated Vizio TV allows you to enjoy more features and better performance. With so much gain, performing the software update is worth it regardless of its effectiveness in dealing with your faulty YouTube app.
Step 1: Tap the Menu button on the TV remote control to access the Vizio settings menu. |
Step 2: Go to System. |
Step 3: Select Check for Updates and click Yes to confirm this action on the tiny window that appears. Note: The Vizio TV will automatically connect and search the Internet for the latest software updates. |
| Step 4: Click Yes on the tiny window that appears to download and install the software update your Vizio TV finds. Note: Your Vizio TV’s storage space is essential to download and install the latest software update without issues. Software issues due to a failed installation may cause devastating damage. |
FIX 7. Factory reset TV
By now, the only remaining option is to factory reset your Vizio TV if everything you’ve tried has failed thus far. The good thing is that performing the factory reset last is ideal since you lose your Vizio TV’s essential data and files as a downside.
Thus, we purposely listed this method last so you can consider this your last resort when troubleshooting the issue with the Vizio YouTube app not working. Fortunately, losing your data is worth it due to how effective the factory reset process is.
| WARNING: A factory reset erases all files not included when the Vizio smart TV was sold. So ensure you have a copy of your TV preferences and fave apps before proceeding. |
After all, it’s the only method that can eliminate malware and viruses from your Vizio TV. With software-related issues, no other method comes close to the factory reset regarding reliability and effectiveness.
Moreover, you can perform the factory reset whether or not you have a working Vizio TV remote. This method is a godsend whenever you’re in a pinch and must fix your Vizio TV immediately.
Using the Vizio remote
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 5 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 3 minutes |
| Things Needed | A Vizio TV A Vizio TV remote control |
Accessing the system settings menu on your Vizio TV is the standard way to perform a factory reset. Perform this with a working Vizio TV remote or an alternative control option, such as the SmartCast app, a universal remote, or a USB keyboard.
Step 1: Tap the Menu button on the TV remote control to access the Vizio settings menu. |
Step 2: Go to System. |
Step 3: Go to “Reset & Admin.” |
Step 4: Click “Reset to Factory Settings.” |
| Step 5: Click Reset on the tiny window that appears to reset your Vizio TV. Note: Follow the on-screen setup on your Vizio TV when it reboots. |
Using the TV buttons
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 5 minutes |
| Things Needed | A Vizio TV |
Since the factory reset is the most vital way to troubleshoot a SmartCast TV, Vizio made it so you can perform this action using the device’s physical buttons. This way, you don’t have to worry about losing or breaking your Vizio TV remote control.
Step 1: Hold the TV’s built-in volume down and input keys simultaneously for 10 seconds to trigger the emergency factory reset. Note: Physical button locations vary between Vizio TVs, so check your device’s user manual. Moreover, other Vizio TVs can factory reset using only the input button. |
Step 2: Look for the “Memory is being cleared” message and wait for your Vizio TV to reset. |
| Step 3: Wait for your TV to reboot so you can follow the on-screen setup. |
