How to Fix Vizio TV Remote not Working: Step-by-Step

The Vizio remote is important for using your smart TV since you can navigate the menu and various applications. However, some users complain that the Vizio TV remote sensor is not working.

This can be due to a series of factors, but it is not an issue that is impossible to fix. And we will show you how to get it working again in this guide.

Why isn’t my Vizio TV responding to the remote?

Below are some of the reasons your Vizio TV remote sensor might not be working:

• Low batteries: The first thing to check if your Vizio TV is not responding to the remote is the remote battery. The solution to this is to change your batteries.
• Presence of obstacles between the remote and TV: There must be a clear path between your remote and TV for the sensor to work. If obstacles block the path, the sensor might fail to work.
• Interference from other electronic devices: Another potential cause of this issue is the presence of electronic devices emitting radiations that interfere with your remote. The fix to this is to remove these devices.

How to fix Vizio TV remote sensor not working?

1. Check if the sensor is emitting IR

1. Turn on your mobile phone camera and point the remote to the camera (the end that you will normally point towards your TV).
2. Press and hold any button (especially the power and volume buttons) on the remote while still pointing toward your camera.
   
3. Check your camera screen to see if the LED light at the top of the remote is flashing light.
4. Finally, repeat this for all buttons on your remote.

Before making changes to your TV and remote, you should check if the remote is still emitting IR. If it does, you can proceed to the other fixes.

If the test fails, you might need to take the remote to a repair shop or replace it altogther.

2. Change batteries

This is one of the quickest solutions to make sure the Vizio TV remote sensor is working. Just make sure you replace the batteries with fresh and compatible ones.

Most Vizio remotes will take either two AA batters or two AAA batteries. If the new batteries don’t solve the problem, move on to the next solution. 

3. Power cycle the remote and TV

1. Take the batteries out of the remote.
2. Press the power button and hold for a few seconds, then release.
   
3. Now, press every button on the remote at least once while the batteries are out. This helps to clear residual power from the remote.
4. Insert the battery into the remote.
5. Next, unplug the TV from the power outlet.
6. Press and hold down the TV’s power button for a few seconds. Wait for one minute after doing this.
7. Finally, plug the TV back into the power source and power it on.

After doing this, check if the Vizio TV remote sensor is now working. This can also work when your TV won’t turn on.

4. Clear the way to the TV sensor

The IR sensor of the TV is usually located either on the bottom left or bottom right of the TV. The sensor is susceptible to anything that might block it, even the protective plastic wrap that comes with new TVs.

This can be the reason the Vizio TV is not responding to any remote. So, move anything that might be in front of the sensor, including books, picture frames, etc.

Also, use a cotton swab with a bit of distilled alcohol to clean any impurities on the TV sensor and the IR remote sensor ( the small lightbulb on the remote‘s front edge).

5. Reset Remote to Clear the Memory (for Universal Remotes)

1. Press and hold the Set or Setup button. Release the button when the LED light on the top of the remote blinks twice.
2. Type in the reset code of your remote, most Vizio universal remotes have a reset code of 981 or 977. You can also consult your remote’s manual to find the reset code.
3. Again, the LED should flash twice. This means that the memory has been cleared, and any firmware issues should be resolved.
4.  Switch it back to the TV using the button at the bottom of the remote and see if it works.

6. Change the power source

Another effective solution that has been reported to work for some users is changing the power source your TV is connected to. This is imperative if the power transferred to your TV from the source is abnormal.

This can stop your Vizio TV from responding to the remote or buttons, as it will misbehave due to the dirty power. The solution is to change to a stable power source that can provide the quality your TV needs.

We have come to the end of this guide on the Vizio TV remote sensor not working issue. If the problem persists, the problem might be related to the IR sensor. The only solution here is to replace it altogether or to change the sensor.

Similarly, if the Vizio smartcast is not working, check our detailed guide to fix it quickly.

If our solutions worked for you or if you have any other ideas, leave us a note in the comments below.