How To Fix Vizio TV Frozen Issue? (6 Easy Fixes)

Owning a television is a significant step toward meeting your entertainment needs.

You can use it to watch your favorite shows and movies, play your favorite games, or even as an external display for your computer.

But what if the Vizio TV frozen issue occurs? This post will help you resolve the issue. Just keep reading until the end to know how to troubleshoot Vizio TV.

WHY DOES VIZIO TV KEEPS FREEZING?

Enter VIZIO, with its appealing deals and fantastic bargains on TVs without sacrificing quality. I’ve had a VIZIO M Series TV for quite some time, and it’s never let me down in terms of quality or performance.

However, the TV did stutter and freeze for a few seconds once or twice. But it was nothing serious, and the TV did return to color after a quick restart.

But the freeze reappeared a few days later, and this time it took a little more than a restart to fix it. VIZIO TVs randomly freeze due to outdated system firmware or a slow internet connection.

As a possible troubleshooting measure, check your internet connection and perform a power cycle on the TV. If you encounter a problem while using an app, check for app updates or reinstall the app. To resolve a problem, you may need to perform a hard reset on the television.

I resolved my freeze problem by resetting the television. However, in your case, this may not be necessary. Before you unplug your TV, try some of these troubleshooting steps.

VIZIO TV FROZEN: 6 WAYS TO FIX IT

Here are some ways in troubleshooting a Vizio TV that keeps freezing: 

1. FIRST, POWER CYCLE THE TV

Nothing fancy here, just a simple restart with an extra step or two. Try power cycling your TV as soon as it starts acting up and the entire screen looks like a surrealist painting.

A power cycle test will clear your TV of any nascent bugs and stored-up static charges, making it faster and more efficient. All you have to do is turn your TV off and then unplug it from the wall.

Allow the TV to sit in this state for a few minutes. Then, for about a minute, press and hold the power button. Repeat this step a few times.

This will clear any static charges from the TV. Reconnect the power cable and turn on the television. Look for any inconsistencies.

Try this step, especially if your TV keeps restarting randomly. You could also use the TV interface commands to perform a soft power cycle test on your TV.

If you are experiencing freezing while using a specific app, try this step. To perform a soft power cycle on your VIZIO TV, follow these steps:

1. To access the TV’s Settings menu, press the Menu Button on the remote.
2. Click to open the Systems menu, then select Reset & Admin.
3. Select the Soft Power Cycle option and confirm by clicking Yes.

Wait for the process to finish before looking for the problem.

2. CHECK THE INTERNET CONNECTION

If you own a SmartCast TV or another VIZIO Smart TV, proper internet connectivity is critical for the TV’s optional performance.

When streaming or using apps on the TV, an unstable internet connection will cause frequent freezing. The following is the minimum required data limit for various streaming qualities:

• SD- a minimum of 3 Mbps.
• HD- a minimum of 8 Mbps.
• Live TV requires a minimum of 10-15 Mbps.
• 16 Mbps for 4K.

These data requirements can differ between platforms; for example, Youtube may have a lower data limit than Netflix. You can test your internet speed on your smartphone or PC by using a speed-testing app.

Check that you have a strong enough connection and that the router is providing consistent speeds. You can test your internet connection on your TV by performing the following steps:

1. Select the Network option by pressing the Menu button on the remote.
2. To run a connectivity test on the TV, select the “Test connection” option.

If you see a message that says “Download not available,” you have an internet problem. Restart the modem using the same power cycle test we used on the TV.

Unplug the Router/Modem from the power outlet and wait a few minutes. For about a minute, press and hold the various buttons, preferably the power button.

Reconnect the router and use the same speed testing app to check the speed.

3. SWITCH TO A HIGHER WIFI CHANNEL/BANDWIDTH

When network traffic is high, the traditional 2.4GHz WiFi band has some issues with bandwidth allocation.

When using the internet, one may experience higher latencies if there are many devices connected to the same network.

A 5GHz band has no such constraints and can handle more traffic without sacrificing latency. If your router has a 5 GHz band, try switching the network to this band.

A 5GHz connection is supported by the majority of modern VIZIO TVs. To change the internet connection, follow these steps.

1. Click and open the Network option on the Menu tab.
2. Choose WiFi and then the 5GHz band.
3. To establish the connection, enter the password.

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4. CHECK FOR UPDATES on Vizio Smart TV

Next, check your television for updates. Running an electronic device on an out-of-date version opens the floodgates for bugs and errors, which are waiting to disrupt proper operation.

Typically, VIZIO TVs are set to automatically check for and update the firmware to the most recent version. However, for unknown reasons, this feature may be disabled.

Make it a habit to check and update your television on a regular basis. Follow these steps to check for updates on your TV.

1. Click and open the System option on the Menu tab.
2. Check for Updates should be selected.

If you have any updates left to be applied, do so. Wait for the process to complete. Check for further issues.

5. TINKER WITH THE TV SETTINGS

A faulty setting can occasionally cause the TV to abruptly freeze. If your TV frequently freezes on startup or displays black screens, take a look at these TV settings.

So, let’s get started, shall we?

CHECK THE AUTO POWER OFF SETTING

Almost all modern VIZIO televisions have auto power-off settings that will turn the TV off after 10 minutes of inactivity.

Changing this setting can sometimes resolve the freezing issue. The exact reason for such a fix is unknown, but it has proven useful.

Follow these steps to test the settings.

1. Click and open the Timers option on the Menu tab.
2. Disable the option by clicking on the Auto Power OFF tile.
3. You could also change the Sleep time option within the same settings tab. This option allows you to specify the time after which the TV should be put to sleep.

Restart the TV after changing the setting.

CHANGE THE PICTURE MODE

As a possible solution to the freezing problem, try changing your TV’s picture mode. Changing the color profile can sometimes eliminate image discrepancies.

Follow these steps to change the picture mode on your TV.

1. Click and open the Picture option on the Menu Tab.
2. To access the various options, select Picture Mode.
3. Toggle between different picture modes and then check for problems.

After changing the mode, make sure to restart the TV.

TURN OFF CEC

Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) is a communication protocol that allows you to use a single universal remote to control all of the devices connected to the TV via an HDMI port.

This means that you can use the TV remote or the device remote to control either device. Isn’t that a useful feature?

All modern televisions have such HDMI ports built in, but some require you to turn the feature on. These ports can occasionally cause your TV to freeze.

If this is the case, you should try disabling the option. To do so, follow these steps.

1. On the Menu tab, click and open the System option.
2. Click on CEC and toggle the setting OFF.
3. Restart the TV and check for further problems.

6. APP RELATED FIXES

Check your internet connection first if you are experiencing freezing issues while watching content on an app. Then, attempt to log out of the service.

Apps like Netflix and Hulu are notorious for freezing. Inherent bugs and errors that may have taken up residence in your device following a recent update could be the cause.

After logging out of the service, restart or power cycle your TV, and then try logging back in. Check to see if this helped to resolve the problem.

If not, you should check for updates or uninstall and reinstall the app.

UPDATING AND REINSTALLING THE APP

Unlike their regular offerings, VIZIO’s SmartCast TVs support streaming services and apps. Furthermore, these apps may necessitate frequent updates in order to eliminate bugs and errors.

If updating does not help, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app after restarting the device. Follow these steps to update or uninstall the service.

1. To access the SmartCast Menu and view all apps, press the V Button on the remote.
2. To open an options tab, highlight the app in question and press the yellow button.
3. You can find either of the options in this tab.

Remember to restart your TV after updating or uninstalling an app.

CONCLUSION

Freezing problems, or pretty much any other problem, can make your day a little more difficult. But it’s how we overcome these obstacles that defines our fighting spirit.

This guide will assist you in overcoming one such problem. A thorough check for loose cables and connections, particularly the power and HDMI cables, can ensure that the side of things is in good working order.

Checking the Router settings, particularly the DNS settings, can also be beneficial.

If none of these suggestions worked, your TV may have a faulty PCB/motherboard. If this is the case, please contact VIZIO customer service for further assistance.

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