VIZIO's No Signal article says the TV is not receiving video from the selected input, and gives a six-part order. Confirm the connected device is on, whether a cable box, streaming device, console or Blu-ray player, and wake it with its own remote. Reseat the HDMI cable at both ends, use a different cable and a different HDMI port; for coaxial, connect to the ANTENNA/CABLE input and tighten by hand without overtightening.
The checks in more detail
Press Input and select the input the device uses, remembering inputs may be renamed to Xbox, PlayStation or Cable Box, and if unsure try each HDMI input. Check that the input is not hidden: Menu, System or Input Settings, Hide From Input List, and set the input to Visible. Restart both: turn off the TV and device, unplug both, wait at least thirty seconds, plug the device in first and let it finish starting, then plug in and turn on the TV and select the input again.
If it persists, test the device on another TV or another device on the same input, remove any HDMI switch or receiver, check the provider's service status and confirm an antenna is positioned correctly. VIZIO also says SmartCast TVs take fifteen to thirty seconds to boot and may briefly show No Signal at start-up, which is normal. Because inputs can be renamed and hidden, a device may be connected and working while the input list simply does not show it;
check the list before you replace anything. If you use a wall mount, pull the cable forward and test again, because a hard bend behind the set is a hidden cause of intermittent loss. Take a photo of the Input menu showing which inputs are listed and named, because a renamed or hidden input is easy to forget by the time you speak to support.
Differential
Likely causes of “VIZIO TV line shows no signal on HDMI”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A sleeping device
What separates it One input shows No Signal because the device is asleep
How to confirm Wake the device with its own remote, and check the picture again
- 2
The wrong input
What separates it The TV shows No Signal because the wrong input is selected
How to confirm Select the input, and try each HDMI input in turn
- 3
A hidden input
What separates it An input is missing from the list because it is hidden
How to confirm Set the input to Visible, so that it appears in the input list
- 4
A loose or bad cable
What separates it The TV shows No Signal because the cable is loose or bad
How to confirm Reseat the cable at both ends, or replace it with another one
- 5
A start-up delay
What separates it A brief No Signal shows on boot because of a start up delay
How to confirm Wait thirty seconds after the TV starts, since the signal can take time
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The device that you are connecting and the HDMI port it uses
- Whether the input is visible in the input list
- Whether the device works on another TV
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedTurn the device on
ReversibleTurn the device on, and wake it from sleep, before you check the input, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reseat the cable
ReversibleReseat the cable at both ends of the connection, pushing each plug in fully, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Select the input
ReversibleSelect the input on the TV, and try each HDMI input in turn, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Make the input visible
ReversibleMake the input visible, by turning off the Hide From Input List option, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Restart both
ReversibleRestart both by unplugging them for thirty seconds, starting the device first, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Remove switches
ReversibleRemove switches and splitters from the chain, and connect the device directly, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Test on another TV
ReversibleTest the device on another TV, to isolate whether the device works, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Renamed inputs
- Inputs can be named Xbox or Cable Box.
- WatchFree+
- The antenna input may be labeled WatchFree+.
- 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 a good cable and port still show No Signal, test the device on another TV
- !If every device fails, contact VIZIO, and give them the model
- !If only one device fails, contact its maker
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Inputs, cables and channel scan.
Power, menu test, input and backlight service.
HDMI cable, HDR and picture features.
Power cycle, flashing light and CEC steps.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my VIZIO say No Signal?+
The device is off, the wrong input or a cable.
Is No Signal on boot normal?+
Briefly, for fifteen to thirty seconds.
Should I wait when unplugging?+
At least thirty seconds for both devices.
Which should I plug in first?+
Plug in the connected device first, and then the TV, when you restart both.
Can an input be hidden?+
Yes, an input can be hidden, so check the input list for hidden ones.
Should I run a channel scan for HDMI?+
No, do not run a channel scan for HDMI, since it is only for an antenna.
Can a switch cause it?+
Yes, a switch can cause it, so connect the device directly to test.
Can I control a soundbar with the VIZIO remote?+
Yes, if CEC is turned on, the VIZIO remote can control the volume of a connected soundbar.