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I Lost My Vizio TV Remote: What to Do?

As a recent Vizio TV owner, I know how frustrating it is to lose the remote. I recently had this experience and was determined to find a solution. After doing some research, I discovered a few tips and tricks that I wanted to share with other Vizio TV owners who may find themselves in the same situation. In this post, I will discuss what to do if you’ve lost your Vizio TV remote and the steps I took to solve the problem. I hope my experience can help you find a solution that works for you!

Vizio TV users can easily order a new remote from the company’s online store. They can also control their TV using their smartphones by installing the Vizio Smartcast app. Another option is to use a third-party universal remote.

SolutionDescriptionSteps to Implement
Get a New RemoteOrder a replacement remote for your Vizio TV from the company’s online store.1. Look up your TV model in the user manual or use Vizio’s Find Your Manual Tool.
2. Visit Vizio’s online store and order the correct remote.
3. Wait for the new remote to arrive (usually within 2-3 business days).
Use Your Phone as a RemoteControl your Vizio TV with your smartphone using the Vizio Smartcast app.1. Download the Vizio Smartcast app on your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Launch the app and tap the Control icon.
3. Tap on Devices and select your Vizio TV.
4. Use the virtual buttons to control your TV.
Use a Third-Party Universal RemoteUse a third-party universal remote that is compatible with Vizio TVs.1. Research and purchase a compatible third-party universal remote.
2. Follow the remote’s instructions to set it up with your Vizio TV.
3. Use the universal remote to control your TV (note that some features may not be available with this option).

What to Do If You Lost Your Vizio TV Remote

If you’ve misplaced the remote that came with your Vizio TV, don’t worry, you can still use your TV and access all of its features without the remote.

If you’re a person that only feels comfortable using a remote when operating your TV, Vizio makes it very easy for you to get a new remote to replace the one you’ve lost.

Get a New Remote

Getting your hands on a replacement remote for your Vizio TV is a piece of cake. There are remotes for all sorts of Vizio TV models available on the company’s online store

Once you’ve ordered the desired remote, you can expect it to arrive within two business days. If you order during peak seasons such as Christmas, then your remote is more likely to arrive within three business days.

If you’re unsure which exact remote came with your Vizio TV out of the box, you can easily access that information by consulting the user manual. Can’t find it either? No worries, you can look it up by using Vizio’s Find Your Manual Tool and searching for your TV model.

You should also note that even if you can’t find the exact remote that came with your TV, this isn’t an issue. 

This is because all Vizio remotes use the same Infrared signal. In turn, essential commands such as power, channels, navigation keys, volume, and the menu button will work just fine irrespective of the remote model you use.

Use Your Phone As a Remote

Your smartphone can do all sorts of amazing things, and that includes controlling your Vizio TV.

Here’s how you can utilize this nifty feature:

The first thing you’ll need to do is to install the Vizio Smartcast app on your phone. You can do so by searching for it on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Once you find it, download the app.

Next, launch the Smartcast app and tap the Control icon (the one with a TV on it) on the bottom right of your screen. From the screen that appears, tap on Devices. You’ll find this button in the top-right portion of your screen.

A list of devices available for pairing will show up. Once you find your Vizio TV on the list, tap on it to select it. If you can’t find your TV on the list, make sure that it’s connected to the same WIFI network as your phone.

This should prompt the control menu to pop up. The control menu will consist of virtual buttons that allow you to use your phone as the TV remote. You can do all sorts of things such as switching the TV on and off, changing the aspect ratio, and controlling the volume.

The capabilities of a Smartcast virtual remote don’t stop there. They also giveyou the option of managing the apps you have on your Vizio TV as well as controlling them. 

You can easily use the Smartcast app to navigate apps such as HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Spotify and stream your favorite content.

Another great feature of the Smartcast app remote is that you can access a virtual trackpad by swiping left from the control menu. This trackpad allows you to navigate your TV as you would with the directional pad on a physical remote.

Use a Third-Party Universal Remote

Another way that you can control your Vizio TV without its original remote is by using a third-party universal remote.

When choosing which one to buy, you should make sure that it’s compatible with Vizio TVs. You should also note that these remotes aren’t designed solely for Vizio TVs. 

Therefore, they might not have all the control features that you can access with the original remote or the Smartcast app remote feature.

Conclusion

If you’ve lost your Vizio TV remote, there’s no need to panic, Vizio has made it very easy for you to get a new remote delivered right to your doorstep.

There are also plenty of ways in which you can navigate and control your Vizio TV without it.

The best way to do so is to use the Vizio Smartcast app to control your Vizio TV via your smartphone. There’s also the option of getting a third-party universal remote to use with your TV.