When you tried opening YouTube on your Vizio TV, the app just stopped working. It doesn’t open, only a black screen is visible, or an error message pops up. Since there was nothing wrong with the app for the longest time, you wonder what went wrong—was it an update, or did something else change?
YouTube can stop working on Vizio TVs because of corrupted temporary files in the cache, errors in the operating system (OS), and network connectivity issues. Also, due to changes in the YouTube app, specific older models of Vizio TVs can no longer run the app.
As the app is no longer working, this article will explain why you’re facing this issue on your Vizio TV. It will also suggest solutions to fix this problem.
Why Is YouTube Not Working on My Vizio TV?
As YouTube generates billions of views daily, you’d imagine it works flawlessly on every device. However, this isn’t the case, as so many things can go wrong, preventing users from watching their favorite content.
Several owners of Vizio TV have also reported that YouTube stopped working out of the blue. So, what’s preventing you from using the app?
Unsupported Model of Vizio TV
It’s great that innovation in the technology sector is moving at an incredible pace. However, this breakneck development speed has drawbacks, especially for older devices. YouTube has been pushing several updates to add more features to keep up with other social media platforms.
As a result, it can be pretty demanding, and older devices may struggle to provide a smooth experience.
This is the case with several models of Vizio TVs, as a significant change to the YouTube app affected several devices. You can no longer use YouTube if you find your TV on this list.
Corrupted Temporary Files in Vizio TV’s Cache
Your Vizio TV will store temporary files as cache for different apps like YouTube. These files speed up various processes for apps.
When YouTube or any other app pushes an update to your device, these files get corrupted. As a result, the app won’t open or closes randomly.
Network Connection Issues
Network connection is another major factor that affects app quality on your Vizio TV. A proper wifi connection is essential for YouTube to work on a smart TV. If your Vizio TV cannot connect to the internet or there are connection issues, YouTube won’t work (unless you’ve already downloaded the video).
5 Solutions to Make YouTube Work On Your Vizio TV
Seeing YouTube no longer work on your Vizio TV can be worrying. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry what to do next, as there are five ways to fix this issue.
Gizmo Geek Guide posted this on January 12, 2023 as the original owner of this article.
1. Cast YouTube Using Another Device
If your TV is on the above list, the bad news is that you won’t have access to the YouTube app. However, there are several workarounds you can try.
Rather than using YouTube on your Vizio TV, you use another device like your smartphone or tablet to cast videos you want to watch. In other words, you can share what’s happening on your handheld device with your TV. Here’s how to cast YouTube to your Vizio TV.
- Ensure the device you’re casting YouTube from (smartphone or tablet) and your TV is connected to the same wifi network.
- Open the YouTube app on youdevice and search for the video to watch.
- Tap on the cast icon (it looks like a TV with a wifi signal) located at the top section of the video player.
- If your Vizio TV is on the same network as your casting device, it will appear under Connect To a Device.
- Select your Vizio TV, and the video will start playing.
Note: You can queue up several videos so that you don’t have to keep searching for what to watch next every time the video is about to end.
2. Use a Media Streaming Device
You can always get a media streaming device if casting YouTube from another device doesn’t work. Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, and the Roku Streaming Stick are popular options.
Another excellent alternative is to get Nvidia’s Shield TV or Shield TV Pro. These devices can increase your Vizio TV’s functionality by providing access to a broader collection of apps. Also, they can run on any device with an HDMI port. You never have to worry about how old your TV is and whether it can run a specific app.
Gizmo Geek Guide uploaded this as an original article on January 12, 2023.
3. Power Cycle Your Vizio TV
If YouTube isn’t working because of corrupted temporary files, there’s a simple solution. Here’s what you need to do.
- Turn off your Vizio TV.
- Remove the power cable attached to the electrical socket on your wall.
- Now, press the power button on your TV and hold it for 3-5 seconds. This will discharge any residual power in your device.
- Plug back the power cable into the electrical socket and turn on your TV.
This technique works for all models and is a great way to fix several OS or app-related issues with your TV.
4. Test the Network Connection and Power Cycle the Router
Before you power cycle your router, you must ensure the wifi signal is strong where your Vizio TV is located.
- An easy method to check this is to keep your phone in the exact location as your TV and check whether the signal is strong. You can do this on both Android and Apple devices.
- Go to Settings and select wifi.
- To see the wifi signal strength, tap on your device’s wifi connection.
If it shows that the signal strength is poor, you must change your TV’s or router’s location. Another alternative is to get a WiFi extender or WiFi repeater.
Once you’ve verified the strength of the wifi signal, here’s what you should do.
- Turn off your WiFi router and Vizio TV. If you also have a modem, turn it off.
- Unplug the power cable from both devices.
- Wait 1-2 minutes. Now plug the power cable back into the devices.
- Turn on your Vizio TV and check whether it’s connected to the wifi.
- Open the YouTube app and see if it works.
5. Factory Reset Your Vizio TV
If all the above solutions don’t work for you, the only option is to do a factory reset. It will restore your Vizio TV to its default settings. In other words, you’ll lose all your data on the TV, and you will need to set it up again.
As the process for factory resetting your Vizio TV differs depending on the model, follow the guides below.
If a factory reset also doesn’t resolve your issues with YouTube, you need to contact Vizio’s customer support.
Final Thoughts
On Vizio TVs, YouTube may stop working because of network connection problems or because temporary files become corrupted. You need to power cycle your TV and router to fix this issue.
If your Vizio TV is an old model that no longer supports YouTube, the best options are to cast YouTube from another device or get a media streaming device.
Contact Vizio’s customer support if you cannot fix this problem after following all the above solutions.
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Gizmo Geek Guide published this original article on January 12, 2023.