I recently ran into an issue with my Vizio TV and thought I would share my experience in hopes that it will help others who might be having the same problem. A few weeks ago, I was trying to use my Vizio TV and received an error message that said it was not supported. I was so frustrated and didn’t know what to do. After some research, I found a few tips and tricks that helped me solve the issue. In this blog post, I’ll be discussing the Vizio TV not supported message and how to fix it. I’ll also share some other solutions I’ve found that may help you too.
Try fixing the issue by adjusting the picture settings on the source device or the aspect ratio on your TV. Plus, ensure that you’ve plugged external inputs into the correct HDMI port using a supported cable.
| Issue | Vizio TV Not Supported Message |
|---|---|
| Cause | Resolution incompatibility between source device and TV display |
| Solution 1 | Adjust picture settings on the source device |
| Solution 2 | Change the aspect ratio on Vizio TV |
| Solution 3 | Check for HDMI compatibility (right port and HDMI version) |
| Solution 4 | Choose the correct HDMI cable (HDMI 2.1, 2.0, or 2.0 with Ethernet) |
| Contact Customer Support | For persistent issues, contact Vizio customer support |
Table of Contents
Why a Vizio TV Shows a Not Supported Message
Vizio TVs automatically adjust resolutions when displaying content. The type of signal received from the source determines these adjustments.
When you connect an HDMI device, it reads the audio formats and resolutions supported by your TV through the HDMI cable. Then, it will decide whether to scale source pictures or convert them to fit the TV’s frame rate and screen.
The TV will also work to meet the best mode for the image. Even after scaling and conversion, the picture may still fail to meet the desired display resolution.
Thus, a “Not Supported” message may appear.
Vizio TV Not Supported Message: How to Fix in 4 Ways
We’ve established that the not supported message is due to a resolution issue. There are four ways to tackle this problem.
- Adjust Picture Settings on the Source Device
The first thing to do to fix the problem is to adjust the resolution on your source device. You can also check the user manual that comes with your Vizio TV for supported resolution.
Whether you’re connecting a cable box, a DVD player, an Xbox, or other external inputs, you need to resize as necessary. This resetting will eliminate the need for scaling or conversion and possible incompatibility issues.
- Change the Aspect Ratio on Vizio TV
Modifying the aspect ratio of your TV can also address resolution incompatibilities due to resizing. This change may help if you’re trying to play content in other formats like the previous TV standard of 4:3 aspect ratio.
On your remote, you can toggle between the Wide or Normal mode and see if it fixes the problem.
- Check for HDMI Compatibility
HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. It’s a connection standard for the transmission of digital audio and video data from source to display.
Most TVs —including your Vizio— have ports at the back of the device. Each HDMI port has different capabilities that address the following aspects:
- Video resolution and frame rate support
- Color support
- Expanded HDR support
- Audio support
- Gaming support
- Cable support
If you have a newer TV model, there’s a high chance that it comes with the latest HDMI version with enhanced capabilities.
Fortunately, newer versions have a backward compatibility feature. This means that you can still source content from older HDMI devices. However, older TVs won’t work with newer HDMI sources, and this may be causing the “Not Supported” message on your Vizio.
Additionally, you need to ensure that the device is connected to the correct HDMI port.
Some TVs have ports designed for specific inputs to achieve the best display. For example, they may indicate 4K@60Hz under the HDMI port. This means that the port is capable of running a video with a standard 4K resolution with a refresh rate of 60 Hz.
However, other TVs have numbered HDMI ports only. It won’t hurt to try each port to fix the problem.
- Choose the Correct HDMI Cable
Other display issues can stem from the cable connection between the input and your Vizio TV. Similar to plugging into the right HDMI port, there’s also a correct HDMI cable for your device.
Choose a cable depending on the type of content you want to load. Plus, keep in mind other features that you want to maximize.
Here are the different cables in the market:
HDMI 2.1
This is the latest version of HDMI cable that’s marketed as 8K-ready. It supports 48 Gbps bandwidth. With this high transmission rate, it can display content in 4K, 8K, and 10K at a 120 Hz refresh rate.
It also has Ethernet functionality that supports the Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) technology. Plus, it boasts low electromagnetic interference from nearby devices.
HDMI 2.0
This cable is compatible with 4K-resolution devices and can give a refresh rate of 60 Hz. For 1080p resolutions, this value can go as high as 240 Hz.
HDMI 2.0 supports an 18-Gbps bandwidth and Audio Return Channel (ARC) technology. Other features include expanded color spaces and High-Dynamic Range.
HDMI 2.0 with Ethernet
This has similar features to HDMI 2.0 but with the addition of Ethernet. It gives you the advantage of faster internet data transmissions with better bandwidth.
Summary
A “Vizio TV Not Supported” message is mainly a resolution problem. This happens when your TV has difficulty processing the source image to match the display size.
You can fix this by adjusting the source device resolution or your TV’s aspect ratio setting. Plus, make sure that the HDMI device is plugged into the compatible port using the correct HDMI cable.
For persistent issues, you can contact your TV’s customer support.
