Smarttvs

How to Solve Vizio SmartCast Not Working or Not Available

December 2, 2023

Affiliate Disclaimer: SmartTvs is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you!

You might have ended up reading this article because your ‘Vizio SmartCast not working’ or ‘SmartCast TV not available.’

Well, you have landed on the correct guide as it reveals all the possible ways to overcome that issue. So, continue reading and learn how to fix this annoying issue.

Simply put, there can be many reasons for your Vizio SmartCast TV to stop working. It can be a software glitch or a faulty network configuration.

Also, various issues with the Vizio SmartCast TV can prevent it from functioning smoothly. For instance, it can be a constant black screen, Vizio TV doesn’t load, the user could not cast, etc.

Regardless of the type of the error and its cause, we will explain how to fix it.

Important: Before trying any of our solutions, you must ensure that your internet connection is working properly.

Solution 1: Try to Power Cycle if Your Vizio SmartCast is Not Working

Sometimes, your Vizio SmartCast not working is because of a very small software glitch in its system. Well, the good news is that this type of error is among the easiest to be addressed.

As the first solution in our guide, we recommend you to power cycle the TV. The term “Power Cycle” refers to completely restarting the module.

As a result of power cycling, the temporary configurations of the model will be deleted. When the device starts, the settings will be fresh.

So, the TV has to reinitialize its settings once it is restarted. For many users, this solution works like a charm.

Steps You Should Follow to Power Cycle the TV.

  • Get the remote of the TV and press its “Menu” button. Then, select the option called “System“.
  • Go to the option called “Reset & Admin“.
  • You will see an option called “Soft Power Cycle” now. Just select it, and it will begin the process.
Soft Power Cycle
  • Be sure to switch off your router as well.
  • Once the TV is turned on, power on the router too.
  • Once both devices are switched on, you should check if the TV works correctly.

That’s a Soft Power Cycle. if That Doesn’t Work, Follow the Steps Mentioned Below.

  • Get the remote and press its power button to turn your TV off.
  • Then, you can unplug the TV from its wall outlet.
Try to Power Cycle
  • Now, you should press the “Power Button” on the TV and hold it for about 30 seconds. Please note that your TV must be unplugged from the power source while doing this.
  • You can plug your TV into the power source once the 30-second period is over.
  • Then, press and hold the Power Button of the TV for 30 more seconds.
  • You can switch on your TV now. Make sure you don’t press any other button or remote other than the Power Button on the TV.
  • Wait for a while, so you will see the Vizio SmartCast Home screen if the issue is fixed.

PS: If you are facing the AirPlay not working problem, click to fix them now.

Solution 2. Refresh the Network’s DHCP Settings

Sometimes, the ‘Vizio SmartCast not working’ issue can relate to a faulty DHCP setting on the network connected to the Vizio SmartCast.

You should rectify the DHCP settings to address the issue if that is the case. The purpose of DHCP settings is to assign an IP address to the clients (devices) on the network. DHCP stands for the term Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.

As you can realize, the term describes what this protocol does on the network.

In general, any home network might have more than one device. Your laptop, smartphone, a tab or two, etc., will be connected to the home network.

That is in addition to the Vizio SmartCast TV. Each of those devices will be given unique IP addresses by the DCHP protocol. In other words, the DCHP protocol ensures that no two devices have the same IP address on a network.

As a result, there will not be any conflicts when devices communicate with the router.

As long as the DHCP settings are properly configured, the network connection should run very smoothly. However, there are times when the DCHP protocol is improperly configured due to some reason or another.

If that is the case with you, by any chance, there can be conflicts in the network. This means there can be instances when the same IP address is assigned to two IP addresses. As a result, your Vizio SmartCast can become unresponsive.

In other words, your Vizio SmartCast not working due to a misconfiguration in your DHCP configuration.

So, the solution to address this situation is reenabling the DCHP settings. Once the DHCP settings are refreshed, the devices will be assigned IP addresses properly. As a result, all the devices will communicate with the router without conflicts.

Follow the Steps to Change the DCHP Settings of the Network.

Also, the steps can vary slightly based on the router.

  • Turn your Vizio SmartCast TV off.
  • Then, launch a web browser on your computer (which is already connected to the same network).
  • Now, you can access the router by entering its URL on the browser’s address bar. Once the router page is loaded, you should enter the username and password to access the settings.
  • Once you have gained access to your router, just enter the “Settings” page.
  • You can now go to the DCHP settings section of the router and click on it. Please note that the path can vary depending on the router type. For instance, it can be in the “Advanced,” “Network,” “Setup,” etc.
  • You can then enable the DCHP option. If the option is already enabled on the settings, you should disable it first. Then, wait for a couple of seconds and enable it once again.
Refresh the network's DHCP settings
  • Now, you can exit the router page after saving the settings.
  • You can now turn on the TV and check if the problem is gone.

This solution would have fixed the ‘Vizio SmartCast not working’ error if the case was related to DHCP settings. However, if the problem persists, you should take the extra step to manually edit the router settings.

In this case, you should edit the settings so the router will use Google DNS. Then, check if the Vizio SmartCast is working as expected.

Also, learn how to fix the Vizio remote not working.

Solution 3. Try the Same Device with a Different Network

If none of the above options have worked for you, try this method. In this case, we assume everything is fine with the TV set, but something’s wrong with your network. Also, some ISPs can have some restrictions on their web traffic.

They use different techniques to take control of the network to assure safety. So, if there is an added layer of security in your network, that can cause this Vizio SmartCast not working issue.

In certain cases, ISPs directly prevent users from accessing various services. If they block a service required by your Vizio SmartCast TV, that can cause problems. So, to address this issue, you should simply connect the same device to a different data network.

That would be the best move if you could connect the device to a network under a different ISP. You can simply activate your smartphone’s hotspot if you don’t have a different Wi-Fi network at home.

So, once again, the key is to connect the device to a network from a different ISP.

  • To do that, you should first connect the TV to a different network. Use a hotspot created on your mobile device if there is no other network.
Try the same device with a different network
  • You can now check if your Vizio SmartCast TV is working as expected. If Vizio SmartCast is not working, the issue might not be on the network. In that case, you will have to move to the next step (which is the last resort).

Also, if you wonder how to turn up Vizio TV without a remote, just click to read more.

Solution 4. Factory Reset Your Vizio SmartCast TV

If you have tried all those methods mentioned above and have failed to fix ‘Vizio SmartCast not working’, here’s the last resort.

In this step, it is recommended to factory reset your Vizio SmartCast TV and check if it works. Your Vizio SmartCast TV can be factory reset through the menu or the buttons.

You can use buttons if the TV is already stuck in the start loop or black screen. Here are the steps you can try to factory reset your Vizio SmartCast TV.

In addition, it can be frustrating if you face the Vizio TV no sound issue! Don’t worry; here are several ways to troubleshoot your Vizio TV sound not working issues.

1. Using the TV Menu

  • Get the remote of your TV and press its menu button. Then, select the option called “System.”
  • After that, you should open the option “Reset & Admin.” Then, you should select the option “Reset TV to Factory Defaults.” This will reset your Vizio SmartCast TV to its default settings.
Factory Reset your Vizio SmartCast TV using the TV menu
  • Just wait until the process is completed.

2. Using the Buttons

  • If you reach the side of your Vizio SmartCast TV, you can see that there are 04 buttons. The buttons assigned for the “Input” and “Volume Down” functions are located towards the bottom. However, the order may vary based on the model of the TV. So, you should somehow find the “Input” and “Volume Down” buttons and press them for about 10 seconds. This will bring up a bar on the TV screen.
  • Press the “Input” button once again for about 05 seconds. That will make your TV screen black.
  • Now, switch to the Vizio SmartCast TV and follow the onscreen instructions to configure the device.

Also read: Best Vizio TV Remote App for Android – Control Your TV with Ease.

FAQs

What to do when Vizio SmartCast is not available?

Restart your device and check your internet connection. If the issue persists, consider resetting the SmartCast to factory settings.

Why does my Vizio SmartCast keep buffering?

This usually happens due to poor internet connection. Ensure your Wi-Fi is functioning properly and consider moving closer to the router.

Is my device compatible with Vizio SmartCast?

Vizio SmartCast is compatible with most smartphones and tablets. However, some older devices or specific apps might face issues.

How to update Vizio SmartCast software?

You can update it from the settings menu on your device. Ensure you have a steady internet connection before starting the update.

When to seek professional help for Vizio SmartCast issues?

If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and the issue persists, it’s time to contact Vizio’s customer support or a professional technician.

Conclusion

So, those are the solutions to try if your Vizio SmartCast is not working. Do you know other ways of fixing this issue? If so, please let us know.