Vizio TV Won’t Turn Off? Try This…

with No Comments

One of the strangest TV problems I’ve come across is when someone’s Vizio TV won’t turn off.

In most cases this is caused by some kind of power issue, but it can also have a software cause.

Regardless, it’s easy to fix by following the simple steps below to diagnose and solve your problem. We’ll first go through a few steps to determine what’s causing the issue, then we’ll get it sorted out for you.


vizio tv won't turn off

Vizio TV Won’t Turn Off?

If your Vizio TV won’t turn off, power cycle your TV to reset it. Unplug your TV from the wall, hold down the power button on the side for 60 seconds and plug your TV back in again after 15 minutes and the power button should then work as normal.

If this doesn’t work for you, or if you want some more detailed steps that you can take to prevent this problem from reocurring, then try the fixes below.


1. Vizio Remote Won’t Turn TV Off

If you’re relying on your remote control to switch your TV off, make sure that it is fully working, with no stuck buttons.

If you’re using an IR remote, you can check that it is actually sending an IR signal by using a phone or digital camera, as infrared is not visible to the human eye.

Activate the camera on your phone, or a live view mode on your digital camera and point your remote at your camera. Press a button and you should see a light appear in the IR emitter of your remote.

checking if a tv remote is working

Note that not all models of iPhone will be able to see the infrared beam, as they filter out IR signals. If you have to use an iPhone, then first check that you can see infrared by using a remote that you know is working.

Modern Vizio remotes use Bluetooth or WiFi Direct to connect to your TV, and these can be blocked by RF interference.

For more on this, check out my linked article on what to do if your Vizio TV remote isn’t working.

You might also want to download the Vizio SmartCaste Remote app to your phone (for Android and Apple). This connects to your TV over WiFi, and should let you switch it off. If this does not work, you should skip to power cycling and resetting your TV in the steps below.


2. Check Your TV’s Buttons Work

There will also be a power button somewhere on your TV itself. This may be hidden along the bottom or side of the TV.

Hold this down for a good 10 seconds and see if this switches off your TV.

If both this button and the remote do not work, there is likely to be some software issue with your TV which you can fix by power cycling.


3. Power Cycle Your Vizio TV

Although this might seem a basic step, power cycling your TV is often the best way to fix your Vizio TV.

With modern electronics, it’s possible that the problem is caused by something stuck in your TV’s flash memory or by a gremlin in the electronics that simply switching your TV on and off won’t resolve.

Power cycling your TV will clear out any issues with non-permanent memory without losing your personal settings.

To reset your Vizio TV:

  1. Unplug your TV.
  2. Hold down the physical power button on your TV for at least 60 seconds to drain any residual power from the capacitors.
  3. Leave your TV unplugged for at least 15 minutes.
  4. Plug it back in and switch back on.

nb. Make sure that you hold down the physical power button on your TV, not the one on the remote and make sure you time 60 seconds when holding the power button down.

vizio tv power button

Make sure you do wait for the full 15 minutes before plugging your TV back in – you would be surpised how long the components within your TV can hold charge, and you want to make sure it has fully reset.

Although this seems a very basic step, don’t overlook it because in the vast majority of cases a simple soft reset fixes most issues.


4. Check for Power Cord Damage

For anything to do with TVs not turning off, you need to confirm that the power cord itself isn’t damaged.

In particular, look for kinks and knots in the power cable, which can damage the copper wires both mechanically and from increasing the electrical resistance, which generates heat, causing damage that may not necessarily be obvious.

Because of potential damage within the cable that you cannot see due to the protective sheath, it can be a good idea to use a new power cable, if you have one or can borrow one.

Also, be sure to carefully look at the power connector on your TV to confirm that the port is free from corrosion, dirt and dust.


5. Factory Reset Your Vizio TV

Returning your TV back to its factory settings is a more extreme step, as it will delete any personalization features or connected devices, but it’s always worth a shot when other methods haven’t worked.

To factory reset a Vizio Smart TV:

  1. Turn the TV on.
  2. Hold down the Volume Down and Input buttons on the side of the TV simultaneously.
  3. After a few seconds, a message will pop up on screen telling you how to reset your TV. You can release the two buttons you are holding.
  4. You will usually then hold the Input button for 10 seconds for a factory reset.
  5. Another message will pop up on screen about the reset.
  6. Your TV will re-boot and return to the original setup screen.

For older Vizio TVs, you can perform a factory reset by using the remote to go to:

  • Menu -> On screen display go to Admin & Privacy or System -> Reset to Factory Settings

Some models also have a physical reset button recessed into the case, usually near the power button. If your TV has one, then get a pin or paperclip and hold down this reset button for a count of ten.


Vizio TV Support and Warranty

You can check your warranty information direct with Vizio.

Unfortunately, warranties typically only last a year unless you have already paid to extend it.

Because problems with TV’s can occur at any time, if your TV is under one year old, return your TV under warranty and get it fixed.

You can use the Vizio support site to help diagnose your problem, but if you are at this stage, then you are better off calling them direct on:

  • 844-254-8087 (Mon. – Fri., 8am – 11pm CST, Sat. – Sun., 9am – 8pm CST)

You can also contact them directly through live chat, or text them a short description of your problem on 205-301-3729.

Even if Vizio won’t fix your TV, they might still offer you a discount off a future model if you pester them hard enough! This is always worth a try in my experience.


My Vizio TV Won’t Turn Off: How to Fix

To fix your Vizio TV not turning off:

  1. Check your remote is working.
  2. Check your TV’s power button works.
  3. Soft reset your TV by power cycling.
  4. Replace your power cord.
  5. Factory reset your TV.

If you haven’t been able to fix your problem using the steps above, then your next port of call should be customer support, who can advise you if they are able to fix it.

If not, then you can try a local TV repair technician, but if they are unable to help, then unfortunately you are most probably looking at having to get a new TV.


Read More:

Vizio TV turns on by itself?

Vizio TV no sound?

Vizio TV keeps restarting?

Vizio TV blinking power light fix

Follow Tim Daniels:

Hi, I'm Tim Daniels, photographer and photo trainer, founder of Lapse of the Shutter and creator of the totally free Lightroom Develop System. I've travelled to (probably) 30 countries over the last few years, taking photos and licensing them around the world, and creating lots of free photography learning resources. Read More ...

Leave a Reply