VIZIO's Bluetooth headphones article explains that a VIZIO TV with firmware version 1.510.21.1-1 or newer supports Bluetooth headphones for wireless private listening. Check the firmware first: press Menu or Gear, then All Settings, Admin and Privacy, TV Information, Firmware; if it is older, an update adds the feature. Put the headphones in pairing mode using their manual, press Menu on the remote and look for the Bluetooth Headphones option, then press OK; if nothing is paired it says None, and if something is paired it shows the device name.
The checks in more detail
The TV lists devices it finds, and you should pick your headphones; if they do not appear, check they are in pairing mode and select More Devices. To unpair, open the Menu, scroll to Bluetooth Headphones, choose Forget Paired Devices at the bottom, pick the device and confirm. VIZIO notes not all headphones are compatible. Keep the headphones within a couple of meters, charge them and disconnect them from your phone first.
Turn off other Bluetooth devices nearby. Audio delay is normal with Bluetooth, so an HDMI eARC soundbar is better for lip sync. If the TV's speakers go silent, check whether headphones are still connected. Update the TV software under System or Admin and Privacy, Check for Updates, and contact VIZIO Support if the option never appears. The feature is tied to firmware, not to the model year, so a TV that lacks the menu may only need an update to gain it.
Test the headphones with a phone first, so you know they work before blaming the TV. Headphones that support two devices at once can stay connected to a phone and refuse the TV, so switch the phone connection off completely before you start pairing. Write down the firmware version before and after updating, so that if the Bluetooth Headphones option is still missing you can tell support exactly what version you have.
Differential
Likely causes of “VIZIO TV line will not pair with Bluetooth headphones or speakers”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Old firmware
What separates it There is no Bluetooth Headphones option because the firmware is old
How to confirm Update the TV, so that the Bluetooth Headphones option appears
- 2
Headphones not in pairing mode
What separates it The headphones are not listed because they are not in pairing mode
How to confirm Put the headphones in pairing mode, following their manual
- 3
An incompatible pair
What separates it The headphones never connect because they are an incompatible pair
How to confirm Try other headphones, to see whether the first pair is the problem
- 4
A stale pairing
What separates it The headphones connect and then drop because of a stale pairing
How to confirm Use Forget Paired Devices, and then pair the headphones again
- 5
Range or interference
What separates it The connection drops because of range or interference nearby
How to confirm Move closer to the TV, and away from sources of interference
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The firmware version that the TV shows
- The model of the headphones that you are pairing
- Whether they appear in the list
- Whether they pair with a phone
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the firmware
ReversibleCheck the firmware, which is under Admin and Privacy, in the TV Information screen, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Put headphones in pairing mode
ReversiblePut the headphones in pairing mode, following the steps in their manual, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Open Bluetooth Headphones
ReversibleOpen Bluetooth Headphones from the Menu, and choose to search for devices, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Pick them from the list
ReversiblePick them from the list, or choose More Devices if they are not listed, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Forget old devices
ReversibleForget old devices, using the Forget Paired Devices option, and then pair again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Keep them close
ReversibleKeep the headphones close to the TV, and reduce interference from other devices, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Update the TV
ReversibleUpdate the TV, using Check for Updates, and then retest the pairing, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Firmware
- Bluetooth headphone support needs firmware 1.510.21.1-1 or newer.
- Compatibility
- Not all headphones work.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Quantum 4K QLED TV, V-Series 4K TV, M-Series Quantum X TV, OLED H1 TV.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the option never appears after updating, contact VIZIO Support
- !If only one pair fails, try another pair
- !If drops continue near the TV, use an ARC soundbar
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Firmware 1.510.21.1-1 and pairing.
Connection, error codes, reset.
Power cycle, flashing light and CEC steps.
Enabling CEC and brand names.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Which firmware adds Bluetooth headphones?+
Firmware version 1.510.21.1-1 or newer adds Bluetooth headphones on VIZIO TVs.
Where do I pair?+
Pair in the Menu, under Bluetooth Headphones, on the models that support it.
How do I unpair?+
Use Forget Paired Devices, to unpair the headphones from the TV.
Are all headphones compatible?+
No, not all headphones are compatible, so try another pair if one fails.
Can headphones silence the speakers?+
Yes, headphones can silence the speakers, if they are still connected to the TV.
Should I use an ARC soundbar?+
For lip sync, yes, use an ARC soundbar, which has no Bluetooth delay.