Plug-and-play is a very interesting technology, but it is also frustrating when it doesn’t work properly. If your Visio soundbar is not connecting, you know this all too well.
Generally speaking, a Visio soundbar will not connect to the TV if the cable is plugged into the wrong port. Use the HDMI 1 port on the TV and the HDMI out on the Visio soundbar. Enabling the ARC feature may also help things to work smoothly.
Once you have your Visio soundbar connected and up and running, you can begin enjoying it for all it has to offer. Since the issues that can cause the soundbar to disconnect are quite diverse, we have a list of things to check to make sure it is operating at peak performance.
Vizio Soundbar Won’t Connect
An obvious issue that can keep the soundbar from connecting to the TV or any other device is for the power to be turned off. This can happen for a number of different reasons, but it is often associated with the breaker.
Look in the breaker box and see if one of the breakers is out of line with the others. You might also see some red that indicates the breaker has tripped.
You can reset the breaker by turning it off and turning it back on again. If it continues to trip, unplug the electronic devices on the circuit and see if it stops. If it doesn’t, you may need to have the breaker replaced.
Although power strips can be very convenient, they also aren’t the best for plugging in your Visio soundbar. Try plugging the soundbar directly into the receptacle rather than using the power strip. It can help.
If you have too many devices operating on the same circuit, you are likely to have problems. It is a common issue when dealing with your entertainment devices because they all tend to be concentrated in a single area.
Ideally, you would have two different circuits available for the electronic devices and you would split them between the circuits. If you are plugging everything into the same circuit, especially if you have a 15 amp breaker, you may be overloading it.
Finally, make sure that the receptacle itself has not gone bad. It doesn’t happen very often but it isn’t out of the question. Check the receptacle using a light or another appliance to see if it works.
Have You Checked Wi-Fi? – If the power is on but the soundbar still will connect, it could be a problem with Wi-Fi. It may also be Bluetooth or cables, but we will discuss that in a bit.
If you are having a problem connecting with Wi-Fi, check the following:
1. Home network – The Visio soundbar and any connected devices should all be on the same home network. Do not use the guest network or a hotspot.
2. Check network – Make sure that the Wi-Fi is up and running by trying to log on using another device. A laptop or phone should work.
3. Ethernet – If you are still struggling to get the Wi-Fi connected make sure that it is not an overall Internet issue. Plug the Visio soundbar directly into your router with an ethernet cable.
If you are having a problem connecting with Bluetooth, there are a number of issues that could occur. Bluetooth is convenient but it is also limited.
In order for Bluetooth devices to connect, they must be within 33 feet of each other and there should not be any obstacles in the way. In either case, the signal may be too weak so you should move closer to the device.
If you are trying to connect with Bluetooth from a mobile device to your Visio soundbar, you may need to put the soundbar in pairing mode. This is done by holding in the Bluetooth button on the soundbar until the light flashes.
One other thing to consider is that the entire system may need to be reset. You can reset the devices one at a time by unplugging them and leaving them off for 60 seconds before plugging them back in again.
A master reset may also be necessary. Unplug all of the devices and the connected cables and leave them disconnected for five minutes before you plug things back in again.
Often, that will get things running again.
Vizio Soundbar Won’t Connect to TV
A Visio soundbar connects to a TV with an HDMI cable. More specifically, it should be an HDMI cable that is ARC compatible.
Unplug all cables and take the following steps to connect your Visio soundbar to the TV again:
1. Choose HDMI ARC cables and locate the HDMI ARC port on the TV. If you are using older cables, they should be upgraded.
2. Connect the cable to the HDMI ARC out port, typically labled HDMI 1. Connect the other end to the appropriate port on your Visio soundbar.
3. Go into the settings menu on your TV and switch the audio settings. Make sure that you are using Dolby Digital or Bitstream.
4. Although it is not always necessary to enable CEC and ARC (SAC) functions, it may help to do so. You can enable those settings from the system menu.
5. While you are in the CEC menu, choose “Device Discovery.” This will make the soundbar sink with the TV and will register it properly.
Check the Power – If you are having problems with the power, it will be obvious because there are no lights that will be lit on the soundbar. Check the cables, breaker, receptacles, and test things thoroughly. Use the power button on the soundbar and not the remote control to check it.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on October 2, 2021.
Check Your Input – There are going to be settings on both the television and the soundbar that identify the proper inputs. Go into the soundbar settings menu and ensure that you are using the correct input for the Visio soundbar.
Soft Reset – Perform a soft reset by unplugging the TV and Visio soundbar. Disconnect the HDMI cable. Wait five minutes and plug it back in again.
Vizio Soundbar Won’t Connect to Bluetooth
If your video soundbar is not connecting to Bluetooth, you might have the devices too far apart from each other. When they are sinking, they should be within 1 foot of each other to keep the device from recognizing other Bluetooth-enabled devices in the room.
After they are connected via Bluetooth, they should not be placed more than 33 feet apart from each other. If they are far apart and there are obstacles in the way, it can block the Bluetooth signal as well.
If you are having a problem pairing your Bluetooth subwoofer or another speaker to the soundbar, unplug everything and wait 60 seconds. More than likely, the soundbar will reconnect automatically and you will be up and running again.
Vizio Soundbar Won’t Connect to Phone/iPhone
Bluetooth can work flawlessly but if there is a little issue with the soundbar or another device, it could cause them to disconnect. You may even have a problem getting them paired again.
The first thing to do if you are having a problem connecting your Visio soundbar with your phone is to restart them both. Restart your phone using the phone menu and restart the soundbar by unplugging it for 60 seconds.
Once you have both your phone and the soundbar up and running again, push the Bluetooth button on the soundbar and hold it until the LED lights are flashing from the bottom to the top. You are now in pairing mode.
At times, it may be necessary to remove the Visio soundbar from your phone and pair it again from scratch. This will often help to get things working properly.
Have you tried to pair the soundbar with another device? Doing so will let you know if it is an issue with the soundbar or your phone.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on October 2, 2021.
Finally, check the Visio website to see if there is a firmware update for your soundbar. Transfer the update to a memory stick and plug it into the soundbar.
When prompted to do so, upload the firmware and allow it to install. Make sure you keep the memory stick plugged in during that time.
Vizio Soundbar Won’t Connect to Subwoofer
The beauty of having a Visio subwoofer is that it is already compatible with the Visio soundbar. When you plug both of them in the first time they will likely pair automatically.
If you are having a difficult time pairing them or if they are not connecting, unplug everything and wait 60 seconds before plugging them back in again.
Make sure that the subwoofer is within a foot of the soundbar when they are connecting for the first time. They should both be put in pairing mode by holding the Bluetooth button until the lights flash.
Vizio Soundbar Won’t Connect to WiFi
If you are having a problem connecting to Wi-Fi, it may be associated with your home network. If any changes have been made to the network recently, including renaming it or changing the password, you will need to run the setup again on the soundbar.
If the network is down temporarily, it may also cause problems. Check the router and try to connect through another device.
Your Internet connection speed should be at least 10Mbps. You may be able to operate the soundbar at a slower speed but it will be spotty. Upgrade your Internet.
If you are running too many items on the network or if you are running it at a busy time of the day, you may not have enough bandwidth for your soundbar. Do a speed check on your phone or computer.
Make sure that the Internet isn’t the problem. Plug the Visio soundbar into the router directly with an ethernet cable.
Resetting the router can sometimes help. This is done by unplugging all cables and the power from the router for 60 seconds. Plug the router back in and give it a few minutes to reboot fully.
Vizio Soundbar Won’t Connect to App
You may have difficulty connecting the Visio soundbar to any app but this problem is often associated with the SmartCast app. You may be seeing the warning that the pairing process ‘timed out.’
In order to connect your Visio soundbar to any app, you must be on the same network. This should not be the guest network or a hotspot, it should be the primary network at your home.
Some older soundbars are not compatible with Wi-Fi. If that is the case, they won’t connect no matter how hard you try.
If all else fails, clear the app and reset the settings. Delete the app from your device and download a new app to start from scratch.
Anytime your Visio soundbar isn’t connecting, it is likely a problem with the HDMI cable. You should be using an HDMI ARC cable plugged into the HDMI 1 port on the TV. Check the audio output settings to make sure everything is set to CEC and ARC.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on October 2, 2021.