I’m an owner of a Vizio TV, and I’ve been experiencing a problem where my TV keeps switching to the Smartcast mode on its own. Recently, I’ve been doing some research to try and figure out why this is happening and what I can do about it.
In this post, I’m going to be sharing what I’ve learned, as well as some tips and tricks that have worked for others who have had the same issue. Hopefully, by the end of this post you’ll have a better understanding of why your Vizio TV keeps switching to Smartcast mode and how you can fix it. Stick around to find out more!
The issue is usually with the automatic input or Vizio interactivity features. Try disabling them to stop Smartcast from launching suddenly. If that doesn’t work, you may have to update the TV software.
| Cause | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Input | Vizio TVs may have an automatic input feature that defaults to Smartcast on startup. | Change the TV’s boot-up options in the System menu to your preferred input. |
| Vizio Interactivity | The interactivity feature may cause the TV to switch to Smartcast based on your usage patterns. | Disable the Smart Interactivity feature in the Settings menu. |
| Software Malfunction | Interrupted updates or outdated software can cause random input changes. | Install the latest software update by following the steps in the Update tab of the Settings menu. |
Table of Contents
Causes of Vizio TV Switching to Smartcast
There are a few issues that may cause your TV to switch input modes without confirmation from the user.
- Automatic Input
One of the best features of using a Vizio smart TV is that the device is constantly learning. It picks up on your behavior and patterns to create a more enjoyable viewing experience.
Because of that, Vizio discovered that most of its users prefer to start the TV with Smartcast. So, the company released a worldwide update that makes the application the default.
That means that when you turn on your TV, you’ll automatically switch to Smartcast.
Solution
The automatic launch into Smartcast may be useful, but it can be frustrating if you don’t use the app often.
Luckily, there’s an easy way to change your preset defaults. To do that, you can follow these steps:
- Click on the menu button on your Vizio remote.
- Navigate to the System menu.
- Find the Input at the Power On option.
- Locate the drop-down menu for the boot-up options.
- Select how you want your TV to start up.
- Click the OK button to move to the next screen.
- Exit the menu and restart the device.
There are a few options you can choose from when it comes to the boot-up menu.
Automatic is the most common one, and it starts up with Smartcast. Other than that, you can pick Previous Input. This option will remember the last source you selected and use it to restart the TV.
Finally, there’s also the Specific Input option. That allows you to choose a set app to boot up your device.
- Vizio Interactivity
Just like the automatic input, Vizio adds an interactivity option to all their smart TVs. This allows your TV to predict your needs and act accordingly.
It’ll collect information on what applications you’re using and when you frequent them. For example, if you launch the Smartcast app every day at seven, the TV will pick up on this behavior.
So, the TV may be switching input because it thinks that’s what you want.
Solution
The only way to stop your Vizio TV from changing the input on its own is to disable the interactivity feature.
To do that, you can follow these steps:
- Find the menu button on your remote.
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Scroll through the options until you see the Smart Interactivity tab.
- Click on the option and examine the menu.
- Locate the activation button on the right-hand side of the menu.
- Select the Disable option.
- Restart your Vizio TV.
Once you’re done with these steps, the TV should no longer be able to switch inputs. That means you’ll have to do it manually using the remote.
In addition, this will stop the TV from being able to record any of your personal data. This may be excellent for privacy, but it’ll limit the smart features you can use.
This process is reversible, so you can decide to turn interactivity back on at any time.
- Software Malfunction
Most people don’t realize that their smart TVs are constantly updating. As soon as the devices have an idle moment, they scour the internet for new software.
This allows the TVs to function smoothly as the world advances around them.
However, interrupting the updating process can lead to TV malfunctioning. It’ll corrupt the current version of the software and cause random input changes.
Solution
The easiest way to fix a software issue is to install the latest update. Thankfully, this process is simple and shouldn’t take much time.
To get started, you can follow these steps:
- Turn off your Vizio TV.
- Click on the power button on the device for about 30 seconds.
- Turn the TV back on.
- Click on the menu button on the remote.
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Find the Update tab.
- Follow the instructions on the TV screen.
The entire process should take about 10 to 15 minutes. After that, you’ll have a fresh copy of the latest software.
Wrapping Up
If your Vizio TV keeps switching to Smartcast, there are a few culprits that may be behind the issue.
That includes the automatic input and the Vizio interactivity features. Other than that, a software issue can also cause your TV to switch input without permission.
You can solve these problems by disabling the features or installing a new copy of the firmware.
