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How to Change the Channel on Your Vizio TV

It can be frustrating when you can’t figure out how to change the channel on your TV. I recently experienced this when I got a new Vizio TV. After some trial and error and some research, I finally figured out how to do it, and I’m here to share my experience and the tips and tricks I discovered along the way. In this blog post, I’ll be talking about how to change the channel on your Vizio TV.

Switching channels is literally as easy as a tap of a button on your remote control. However, you have to scan for channels first if you’re using an antenna or a cable TV without a cable box. There are also a few other ways to change channels if you don’t have the original remote control.

MethodSteps
Scan for Channels1. Connect antenna or cable to Vizio TV.
2. Press INPUT on the remote.
3. Select TV input.
4. Open the menu and select the TV or Tuner option.
5. Switch the Signal Source to Antenna or Cable.
6. Start Auto Search.
Use the TV Unit’s ButtonsLocate the buttons on the back of the Vizio TV and manually change channels.
Use a Smartphone1. Download a Vizio TV or universal remote app.
2. Open the app and use it as a remote control to change channels.
Use a Universal Remote1. Turn on the Vizio TV.
2. Press and hold the TV button on the universal remote until the LED flashes twice.
3. Enter the Vizio TV’s code.
4. Test the remote by powering off the Vizio TV.

How to Get Channels on Your Vizio TV

If you want to start browsing local or cable channels, you have to run a channel scan on your Vizio TV. 

Note that if you have a satellite or cable box that uses an HDMI, AV (composite), or component cable, you don’t have to scan.

To scan for channels on your Vizio TV:

  1. Make sure your antenna or cable is properly connected to your Vizio TV.
  2. Press the INPUT button on your remote control.
  3. Select the TV input (can appear as TV or ANTV).
  4. Open the menu and select the TV or Tuner option, depending on the model.
  5. Switch the Signal Source to either Antenna or Cable, depending on what’s connected.
  6. Start scanning by selecting Auto Search or Auto Channel Scan, depending on the model.
  7. Let your Vizio TV scan for about 10 minutes or until it’s 100% complete.

Once that’s done, you should be able to browse the available channels. To do so, simply press on the Vizio remote control’s Channel Up or Channel Down buttons.

Different Ways to Change Channels on Your Vizio TV

In case your Vizio remote control is broken or missing, or if the batteries are drained, there are a few other ways to change channels on your TV. 

If you find yourself unable to use the TV’s original remote control, you can try these alternatives:

Use the TV Unit’s Buttons

While it may be a hassle to resort to this, it can still get you around if you have no other options. At the very least, you’ll have a go-to alternative if nothing else works.

You can do this by locating the buttons on your Vizio TV. Most of the time, you can find these at the lower right part of the back of your TV.

Try to test out the buttons to determine which is for switching channels and changing the TV’s volume. 

You can also check your Vizio TV manual or refer to Vizio support, especially for different TV models.

Use Your Smartphone as a Remote

With technology becoming so advanced these days, you can even use your phone as a remote control for your TV. This is another convenient option you can take advantage of since most people own a smartphone.

To switch channels on your Vizio TV using a smartphone:

  1. Head to your phone’s App Store or Play Store.
  2. Search for a Vizio TV or universal remote app and install it.
  3. Once installed, open the app, and it should show you an accurate copy of a Vizio remote control.

Remember that you need to have internet access on your phone to do this.

Use a Universal Remote

If you have a universal remote or are planning to buy one, you can pair it with your Vizio TV as a substitute. 

To pair the universal remote to your Vizio TV:

  1. Turn on your Vizio TV manually from the unit’s buttons.
  2. Press and hold the TV button for around 5 seconds until you see the LED flash twice.
  3. Look for the Vizio TV’s corresponding code in the code list and type it on the universal remote.
  4. The LED will flash once every time you enter a digit and will flash twice once you’ve entered the last digit.
  5. Try to power off the Vizio TV using the universal remote, and if it does, you’re good to go.
  6. If that doesn’t work, keep repeating the steps until you find the right code.

Once that’s done, you can use the universal remote’s corresponding buttons for switching channels.

Conclusion

If you aren’t sure what to watch on your Vizio TV, browsing through channels is a great way to get around. Pressing the channel buttons is almost like an exercise for your fingers and finding what to watch is the reward.

It’s also a relief to know that there are other ways to switch channels if you can’t use the original remote. These alternatives might just come in handy if someone loses the remote.