Unlike many other TV brands out there, Vizio is a fairly new TV brand because of which it only and only offers smart TVs. These smart TVs offer a wide range of features and benefits to the user without charging a premium for the same. And to offer the most versatile experience possible, these smart TVs also come with traditional features like an included remote controller. However, if this remote controller stops working or goes missing, using your Vizio TV can be quite a challenge. While you can control your Vizio TV over Wi-Fi, it might not be possible if you have not connected your Vizio TV to your Wi-Fi network previously. Thus, we are here with a complete guide on how to connect Vizio TV to Wi-Fi without the remote.
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How to Connect Vizio TV to Wi-Fi without the Remote?
By default, you will need to go to the settings of your Vizio TV in order to access its WiFi settings and connect it to your WiFi network. However, accessing these settings can be quite difficult and even impossible without having a working remote controller. Therefore, you should instead try all of these workarounds one by one to connect Vizio TV to WiFi without the remote:
Via TV Menu Buttons
If you only want to connect to the WiFi on your Vizio TV to change its input source from Vizio SmartCast to an external HDMI device, then you would be glad to know that you don’t need to connect to the WiFi for the same. Instead, you can use the menu buttons present at the bottom or the back of your Vizio smart TV to change the input source easily. Not only that, but you can also use these menu buttons to access the settings of your Vizio TV and then connect to the WiFi for your wireless needs.
Via USB Keyboard and Mouse
Another quick and easy way to connect to the WiFi on your Vizio smart TV or access any other settings is to connect a USB keyboard and mouse combo to your TV. Since all Vizio TVs are smart TVs, they come with USB ports on the back, which can be used to connect a keyboard and mouse. After that, you can simply navigate the settings on your Vizio smart TV and connect to the WiFi quite easily.
Via Universal Remote
Apart from the included remote controller, all Vizio smart TVs also support input from a universal remote. So, if you have a universal remote controller at your home, you can also try using the same to change the settings on your Vizio smart TV and to connect to your WiFi network.
Via IR Blaster App
Since not everyone has a universal remote at their home, you can instead look for an R blaster on your smartphone. If your smartphone comes with an inbuilt IR blaster, you will be glad to know that it is the same hardware used in most remote controllers. So, in case your smartphone also has an IR blaster, simply download any IR blaster app on your smartphone, which will convert your smartphone into a universal remote. You can then use this app to control your Vizio TV and connect to the WiFi.
Via Vizio SmartCast Mobile App
While the Vizio SmartCast mobile app requires your TV to be connected to the WiFi in the first place, this app also helps you with the same. In other words, if you are connecting to the WiFi on your Vizio smart TV for the first time, the Vizio SmartCast mobile app can assist you by automating this process. So, if you have lost your Vizio TV remote, you can try using the Vizio SmartCast mobile app to see if it automatically connects your Vizio smart TV to your WiFi network.
Via Mobile Hotspot
The only reason that your Vizio TV is not connecting to your home’s WiFi network automatically is that your WiFi is most likely password-protected. And since removing this password can be quite hectic and cause issues with all other smart devices in your home, you should instead turn on your mobile hotspot. You can simply use your smartphone to create an open mobile hotspot WiFi network without a password. As a result, your Vizio TV will automatically connect to it without needing a remote.
Via Ethernet Cable
Another great way to connect your Vizio TV to your home network when you can’t use the remote is to plug in an ethernet cable in your TV. You simply need to connect an ethernet cable between your WiFi router and your Vizio smart TV. As soon as you connect this cable, your Vizio TV will be connected to your home network right away without requiring either the remote or a WiFi connection in the first place.
Via HDMI CEC
If you are not familiar with the same, HDMI CEC stands for HDMI Consumer Electronics Control which is a universal control method supported over the HDMI connection. This means that if you have a streaming device connected to your Vizio TV, which also supports HDMI CEC, then you can simply use the remote controller of your streaming device to control both the streaming device as well as your Vizio smart TV. With such HDMI CEC-supported devices, the remote signals are transferred over the HDMI cable, which then helps you control your TV and the streaming device using a single remote.
Via Power Line
In case you have tried all of the various methods given above but are still not able to connect to WiFi on your Vizio smart TV, then you should also recheck the remote control of your Vizio TV one last time. To ensure that the issue is with the remote controller and not the Vizio TV itself, you should power cycle your Vizio TV using the power line. For this, turn off your Vizio TV and unplug the power line. Then, wait for 60 to 120 seconds before plugging the power line back in and seeing if the remote works or not.
Connecting Vizio TV to WiFi without Remote – FAQs
Ans: Whether your Vizio TV remote controller is not working properly or has gone missing, you can still connect your Vizio TV to the WiFi using other methods. And one of these handy methods includes simply connecting a USB keyboard and mouse to your Vizio TV. Since Vizio TVs support keyboard and mouse input by default, this will help you connect to the WiFi right away.
Ans: Since connecting your Vizio TV to the WiFi requires you to go to the menu and the settings, you may want to learn how to access the same. Thankfully, it is quite easy to do so by either using the menu buttons on your TV or using the Vizio SmartCast app on your smartphone. From either, you can change the settings of your Vizio TV and connect to a WiFi network.
Ans: Because the Vizio SmartCast app for smartphones allows you to control your TV as well as access live TV channels and much more, it is one of the most versatile TV apps out there. Thankfully, despite all of this, the Vizio SmartCast app is completely free to use as it does not even require logging in, let alone needing any subscription charges.
Ans: If you have connected an external streaming box or your PC to your Vizio TV, then it will use the same as a video source. However, as soon as this external device is disconnected or powered off, your Vizio TV will switch to the SmartCast interface so that you can take benefit of all of its features and stream movies and TV shows using the included apps.
Ans: Even if you don’t have a remote for your Vizio TV, you can still use it as a standard TV when connected to external streaming devices. Although, if the external streaming device is not selected as the primary streaming device, then you won’t be able to see it. Fortunately, you can easily change the input of your Vizio TV from SmartCast to HDMI using the menu buttons present on the bottom or the back of your Vizio SmartCast TV.
Ans: As mentioned earlier, the menu buttons of your Vizio can be quite handy for changing the input source or for even connecting to the WiFi if needed. And if you aren’t able to locate the same, you should first look at the bottom edge of your Vizio smart TV. Alternatively, you can find the menu buttons on your Vizio smart TV at the back behind the screen.
Conclusion
Apart from the included remote controller, you can also use the Vizio SmartCast mobile app for controlling your Vizio smart TV. This can be quite useful if you have accidentally lost your remote controller or it has stopped working. Although, this feature works over WiFi and requires your Vizio smart TV to be connected to your WiFi connection in the first place. In other words, if your Vizio smart TV remote is not working, then connecting it to your WiFi can be quite a task. Hence, we have already given a complete detailed guide on how to connect Vizio TV to WiFi without the remote above. And if it has helped you with the same, make sure to leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section down below.
