Undoubtedly, one of the best perks of owning a smart TV is that you can access internet-powered streaming sites without additional hardware.
However, considering Netflix is one of the most popular streaming sites, finding out that it doesn’t or won’t work on your Vizio smart TV can be quite inconvenient.
With that in mind, there are several reasons why Netflix is not working on your Vizio Smart TV. And this means that the solution that will work for you depends on the issue you are facing.
If Netflix is not working on your Vizio Smart TV, check the internet connection status, starting with Wi-Fi or cable connections. Additionally, check your TV’s location settings and clear the cache. If none of these work, update Netflix to the latest version.
Probable causes why Netflix isn’t working on Vizio TV
Here are a few most-likely reasons for Netflix failing to work on Vizio TVs:
- Poor or lack of internet connection
- You have set the wrong location or are in an area where Netflix isn’t allowed.
- Corrupt app cache and data
- Your TV has power cycled.
- You need to update your Netflix and TV so that they are both working on software that’s compatible with each other
- Netflix is under site maintenance.
- Your account has been blocked.
Solutions to fix Netflix not working on Vizio TV
Keep in mind that it could be any of the issues above that are preventing you from watching Netflix content. That is where these troubleshooting steps come in. I have arranged them starting with solutions that have worked for most people. However, if you know the exact issue that’s causing Netflix not to work, feel free to skip to the relevant solution.
1. Confirm Compatibility
Contrary to popular belief, just because your TV is smart doesn’t mean it will be compatible with Netflix. You can check the current list of compatible devices on Netflix’s website. For perspective, Netflix has constantly been updating its software to meet current consumer needs.
So, assuming your Smart TV is powered by software that is outdated, it will not receive the latest updates from Netflix. And without updates, your TV might run into issues such as Netflix buffering or failing to work completely.
Therefore, it’s essential to confirm whether the software on your TV receives updates and whether it’s compatible with your favourite streaming suites.
Also, you can contact the Vizio customer care desk to inquire or google search our particular internet model to confirm if it’s compatible.
Assuming you find out that it’s not compatible, consider buying a firestick, as it’s cheaper than having to replace the whole TV.
2. Check the internet connection
One of the main reasons why Netflix stops or won’t start working is because you have a poor internet connection. Remember that the Netflix app needs a strong internet connection to access the required content you want.
For perspective, at the very least, you need an internet speed of 3 Mbps for standard quality streaming and 5 Mbps for HD quality.
Here is how to check the internet connection:
- In your browser, launch Speedtest.net and press Enter.
- Compare the Netflix internet speed requirements with your numbers.
- If they don’t match, try rebooting your modem or router by unplugging them from their power source.
- Plug back in your router after a few minutes and wait for all the lights to start blinking green or orange before you try to connect your TV to the internet.
- Alternatively, you could opt to switch your TV’s internet source from Wi-Fi to mobile data and hope it solves your slow internet problem.
3. Clear unnecessary app cache and data
Netflix stores your app data and cache to make your user experience more seamless.
So, for example, after a few days of use, you will always find your favourite shows at the top of the watch list, followed by similar shows. This way, it’s fairly easy for you to find something to watch.
On the other hand, when the stored app cache and data get corrupted or crowd the app’s memory storage capacity, your app will start buffering and eventually stop working. In such a scenario, here is how to go about it:
- Click the menu button on your TV remote.
- Scroll through till you find the system icon, and proceed to click on it.
- Click on Apps and select All apps.
- Click on System apps.
- Click on the Netflix app.
- Double-click on it by pressing OK twice.
- On the drop-down menu, click on Clear cache and data.
- You can now go back to the TV homepage and confirm whether the Netflix app is working fine.
Considering your TV’s memory hosts a lot of apps, it’s common for its memory storage to get full or for one file to get corrupted.
Therefore, it might help you clear your TV’s cache and unnecessary data. Here is a short guide on how to do it:
- Press the Menu button on your TV remote.
- Scroll to Systems and click on it.
- Click on Reset & Admin and click OK.
- Locate the Clear memory/Factory defaults icon and click on it.
- Click on Clear Memory.
4. Wait it out
Even though Netflix pride itself on its ability to serve its wide customer base conveniently and without inconvenience, this is just not possible.
Though rare, the Netflix site may sometimes crash, disrupting its viewers from accessing the content. It could either be that many people were trying to log in at the same time, crushing the site, or there is a problem stemming from the site developers.
Either way, when such a thing happens, Netflix will email out some communication to let you know the site is under maintenance or that you are supposed to wait a few minutes.