As a proud owner of a Vizio Smart TV, I was dismayed to find out that the picture quality would flicker whenever I used my Nintendo Switch. After trying to troubleshoot the issue, I found out that this was a common problem for many Vizio TV owners.
In this post, I’m going to share my experience and the research I did to figure out why my TV was flickering, as well as some tips and tricks I used to resolve the issue. Hopefully, this post will help others who are in the same boat and struggling to find a solution.
The most likely reasons why your Vizio TV has been flickering with Nintendo Switch is that you need to set the resolution to 720p, the RGB to limited or you need to change the auto-scan settings. It could also be due to a faulty HDMI, TV, Switch or Switch dock.
Tips:
- Change the resolution settings on your Nintendo Switch to 720p.
- Change the RGB setting to limited.
- Check the HDMI cable and connection.
- Check the Nintendo Switch itself, make sure it’s properly in the dock and has adequate power.
- Try different HDMI inputs on the Vizio TV.
- Unplug the dock, wait a minute, and plug it back in.
Table of Contents
Why Does my Vizio TV Flicker When Using Nintendo Switch?
Below are likely reasons why your Vizio TV flickers with Nintendo Switch.
Change the resolution settings on your Nintendo Switch
Some people also have had success by changing the resolution settings on the Nintendo Switch. To do this do the following:
Settings -> TV Output -> Resolution
Usually, it is necessary to set the resolution to 720p.
Turn RGB to limited in the settings
Some people have also had success by selecting RGB as limited in the settings on their Nintendo Switches.
In the Switch’s tv settings, turn RGB to limited. System Settings -> TV Output -> RGB Range
Turn on or off Auto-scan
Some people have had success by turning on or off the auto scan in the aspect ratio settings.
The Nintendo Switch
You want to investigate the Nintendo Switch to make sure that there is a proper connection with everything. Start with the console itself.
Do you have it within the docking station the proper way? Is the docking station set up the way you would expect?
Do you see the green light when the Nintendo Switch is in the dock? On top of all this, do you have the HDMI cable secure in the HDMI out slot of the Nintendo Switch docking station?
Finally, be sure the Nintendo Switch has adequate power. If any of these things are off, it could be the cause of the flickering.
The HDMI Cable
The HDMI cable is another thing you want to investigate when it comes to the Nintendo Switch and the Vizio TV. You want to check out the HDMI cable to see if it is the problem point for the flickering.
The easiest way to make this determination is to do a replacement of the HDMI cable. Swap it out with a different HDMI cable to see if that takes care of the issue.
If it does, that means that the HDMI cable is now defective and needs to be thrown away.
In the event the flickering continues, then that means that the HDMI cable has no issues and it is something else causing the problem.
The Vizio TV
You rely on your Vizio TV to do its thing when working with the Nintendo Switch. For the Vizio TV to function properly, the HDMI input you are using needs to be soundly functioning.
Try taking the HDMI cable and placing it within a different HDMI input on the television. Does that fix the flickering problem? If it does, then you may be in good shape once again.
If it does not, it could be that the input on the television is starting to break, or the screen is burning out and the television needs replacement.
| Possible Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|
| Incorrect resolution settings on Nintendo Switch | Change resolution settings to 720p in TV Output settings |
| RGB setting on Nintendo Switch is set to full | Change RGB setting to limited in TV Output settings |
| Auto-scan settings on Nintendo Switch | Turn on/off auto-scan in aspect ratio settings |
| Faulty HDMI cable | Replace HDMI cable |
| Nintendo Switch not properly connected to dock | Check proper connection to dock and ensure adequate power |
| HDMI input on TV not functioning properly | Try using a different HDMI input on TV |
| Screen burning out on TV | TV may need replacement |
| Output resolution of Nintendo Switch is incompatible with TV | Change resolution settings on display settings of Nintendo Switch |
How to Stop Vizio TV Flickering With Nintendo Switch?
The best way to stop the Vizio TV from flickering is to get to the source of the problem.
You need to get to the root cause to understand what it is that is causing the Vizio TV to flicker when you are using the Nintendo Switch.
To start, it would help to try changing the RGB setting and the resolution setting on your Nintendo Switch as explained above.
It could be that you have a problem with the Nintendo Switch, the HDMI cable, or perhaps even the Vizio TV itself. To get to the source of the problem, though, you need to do troubleshooting.
The more you can troubleshoot, the closer you will get to the problem point. As you narrow down your options, make note of what you try so that you do not repeat the same steps.
Why Does My Nintendo Switch Flicker With Vizio TV When Docked?
The Nintendo Switch docking station is made to work with any television that supports an HDMI input.
The Vizio TV is going to fit this mold perfectly and should have no issue displaying what you are sending its way with the Switch.
Some people have had success by unplugging the dock, waiting for a minute and then plugging it back in.
The only other thing we could mention you could try outside of the above is to alter the resolution settings on the display settings of the Nintendo Switch.
If it is trying to output at a resolution the Vizio TV cannot handle, it could also cause flickering.
As we have stated, many reasons can cause a Nintendo Switch to flicker on a Vizio TV. To get to the root cause of the problem, try a variety of steps.
Pros of Vizio TV with Nintendo switch
- Compatible with all HDMI inputs
- Crisp and clear image quality
- Smooth and responsive gameplay
- Easy to change resolution settings
Cons of Vizio TV with Nintendo switch
- A faulty HDMI cable or TV can cause flickering
- Changes to settings may be necessary to prevent flickering
- Troubleshooting may be necessary to find the source of the problem