Netflix remains the most popular streaming service, and it’s available pretty much anywhere—including your Vizio TV. You would imagine that such a widely used app should work without hitches. However, sometimes Netflix won’t work on Vizio TV for no apparent reason.
Netflix may not work on your Vizio TV because it can’t connect to the internet, the app needs an update or your TV is no longer supported. You can fix it by updating Netflix and your TV, freeing up internet bandwidth, restarting your TV, or resetting it to factory settings.
Netflix not working on Vizio TV is more common than you think. Maybe the app will not launch or it simply takes too long to load a movie or show. Read on to learn why you’re having this issue and how to fix it.
Why Netflix Won’t Work on Vizio TV
Before attempting any fixes, you need to understand what’s causing Netflix not to work in the first place.
Network Connection Issues
Netflix may not work on Vizio TV because of network connection issues. To determine if this is the case, you’ll want to troubleshoot your internet connection:
- Make sure your TV is connected to the internet.
- Try to watch Netflix on another device. If it’s still not working as it should, the problem is likely your internet connection.
- Try to use other streaming services. If they’re working fine, your internet connection is probably not the problem.
- Check your internet speed. You need at least 5 Mbps to stream Netflix content in HD.
You can test your internet speed to rule out that last possibility. If your internet speed is indeed too slow, there’s nothing you can do but contact your internet provider to get a better plan.
Outdated Netflix App
Updating the Netflix TV app ensures that it has all the latest features and functionalities. It will make it easier for you to use it on your Vizio TV.
But the most important reason for updating Netflix is that an old version of the app might be incompatible with your TV.
Incompatibility Issues
Old Vizio TVs may no longer be compatible with Netflix. If your model is from before 2013, there’s a good chance that it’s no longer supported by Vizio or Netflix.
If you’re not sure if your TV falls in that group, try to look for it in the official list of Vizio TVs that no longer support Netflix.
Sadly, there’s no fix for this issue—you’ll need to buy a newer TV. However, there’s a way around it.
You can buy a third-party streaming device, such as a Roku streaming stick, to continue enjoying movies and TV shows on Netflix. You’ll also get access to all the major streaming services.
Netflix Servers Could Be Down
Although this issue is uncommon, Netflix won’t work on your Vizio TV if the servers are down. It might be due to an outage in Netflix’s infrastructure, technical difficulties, or problems with the company’s servers.
Netflix is available on multiple devices, including computers, mobile devices, and smart TVs. When Netflix servers are down, you won’t be able to access the service on any of these devices.
How To Fix Netflix Not Working on Vizio
Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection
If your internet connection isn’t working, reset your router and modem by unplugging them, waiting about 30 seconds, and plugging them in again.
If the issue persists, switch to another Wi-Fi network or try plugging in an Ethernet cable.
If there are many devices connected to the same network, disconnect some of them and make sure you don’t have any downloads running in the background. This might free enough bandwidth to let Netflix work as usual again.
Update Netflix
Here’s how to update to the latest version of Netflix:
- Check for updates by going to Settings.
- If an update is available, download and install it.
- Restart the Netflix app and see if this solves the issue.
The specific steps will depend on your specific TV model. The Netflix app on Vizio TVs with Chromecast has a different update process.
Update the TV Firmware
It is crucial to update your TV firmware to keep the Netflix app working. Updating the firmware will make sure you have the latest features and fixes, including protection against bugs and security vulnerabilities.
The update process will depend on your specific TV model, but it’s usually pretty simple. Just press the Menu button, go to “System,” and select “Check for Updates.”
Gizmo Geek Guide posted this on January 12, 2023 as the original owner of this article.
Restart or Reset Your Vizio TV
Before doing a factory reset, try doing a simple power cycle. Unplug your Vizio TV from the power source and long-press the power button for 3 to 5 seconds. Then reconnect the TV and see if the issue is fixed.
If that didn’t work, then proceed to do a factory reset. Remember that doing a factory reset will erase all your data from the device. That means you’ll have to set up all your apps again.
- Press the Menu button and select “System.”
- Go to “Reset and Admin.”
- Select “Reset TV to Factory Defaults” and then “OK.”
Contact Customer Support
If none of these fixes works for you, contact customer service. They might be able to give you more specific fixes.
If there’s something wrong with your TV and it’s still covered by warranty, Vizio might take care of the cost. However, if none of these solutions work, chances are that your TV is simply no longer supported. If that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done about it.
Final Thoughts
It can be extremely frustrating to sit down to watch your favorite show and have Netflix refusing to launch for no reason. The first thing you should do is check your internet connection and make sure both the app and the TV are updated.
Gizmo Geek Guide uploaded this as an original article on January 12, 2023.
If the issue doesn’t go away, you can move on to power cycling and resetting your TV. If that doesn’t do the trick either, then it’s likely that your TV is too old to support the latest version of Netflix. You’ll have to settle for a streaming stick.
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Gizmo Geek Guide published this original article on January 12, 2023.