Vizio soundbar not connecting to TV – how to fix and possible causes

If your Vizio soundbar isn’t connecting to the TV, ensure it’s getting enough power to operate normally. 

• Unplug the Vizio soundbar from the outlet.
• Check the power cord for any signs of damage.
• Plug it into a different power outlet and turn it on.
• If it turns on, the cause was a faulty outlet not delivering enough power for the soundbar to turn on. 

If it still doesn’t turn on, move on to the next step, as the likely cause is something else.

Power cycling can resolve most if not all, issues, especially if software glitches or bugs cause them. This process removes any power the circuitry holds and resets the device. Power cycling your Vizio soundbar might resolve the issue of not connecting to your TV.

Here is how you can do it:

• Unplug your Vizio soundbar from the power outlet. 
• Press and hold down the power button for 30 – 40 seconds. 
• This should deplete any energy from the internal circuitry.
• Leave it for 5 minutes. 
• Plug it back into the power outlet and turn it on. 

If any software-related issues interfered with your Vizio soundbar not connecting to the TV, this should’ve resolved that.

A likely cause for your Vizio soundbar not connecting to the TV might be that its software is outdated and needs an update. Outdated software or firmware can cause issues in performance, so updating it might resolve this issue. You can update your Vizio soundbar’s software via the Vizio SmartCast app or take the long route: update it via PC. 

Here is how you can update your Vizio soundbar’s software using the SmartCast app: 

• Go to Google Play or Apple App Store and download the Vizio SmartCast app.
• Open the app and set it up. 
• Once set up, open the “Settings” and choose the “Check for Updates” option.
• It should start searching for any available updates and prompt you when it finds any.
• Select “Yes” to install the update and wait for it to finish.
• This should update your Vizio soundbar’s software.

Updating the Vizio soundbar’s software via PC:

• Open the SmartCast app and select your sound bar. 
• After that, look for the gear icon and select it.
• This should open a list, and select “System” from it. 
• Select “System Information.” 
• Select “Soundbar Information.”
• This should display the firmware version.
• Head over to the Vizio support webpage.
• Search for your soundbar’s firmware version and download it.
• Once the download is complete, connect a USB (around 2 GB) to your PC.
• Extract the files directly into the USB and ensure no other data is in it and that it is FAT formatted.
• Power on the sound bar and change its input to one with no audio.
• Insert the USB in the USB port.
• The lights should start flashing; this means that the firmware is being updated.
• Wait for the lights to stop; this indicates that the process is complete and it is safe to remove the USB.
• You can check to see if the process was successful by looking at the firmware version in the SmartCast app. 

After completing this process, your soundbar should be able to connect to the TV. If this doesn’t work, then give the next method a try.

If your soundbar isn’t connecting to the TV even after its firmware update, something else is wrong. There is a possibility that some other device is interfering with your TV’s ability to recognize and connect to the soundbar. 

In this case, you need to disconnect any devices connected to your TV. One way to do this is through Consumer Electronics Control or CEC. 

• Press the “Menu” button on your remote.
• This will display a list of options.
• From those options, select “System.”
• Select “CEC.” 
• Turn it on. 
• Then select “Device Discovery.”

This should display all the devices that are connected to your TV. Disconnect all of them and attempt to connect your Vizio soundbar to your TV again.

If all else fails, factory resetting your electronic devices generally eliminates most issues, that is, if they are software-related. Doing so removes all your settings and configurations, so you’ll have to set it up again from scratch. 

You can factory reset your Vizio soundbar, returning it to its out-of-box condition. Simply follow the steps below: 

• Press and hold the volume and Bluetooth buttons together for 5 to 10 seconds.
• If that doesn’t work, try holding the input and Bluetooth buttons down for the same amount of time. 
• All LEDs should flash three times, indicating that the process is complete.

If this issue persists even after a factory reset, then the issue is most likely with some internal component. In this case, contacting Vizio support is your best bet.