Vizio soundbars are popular, and for a good reason: they are affordable and sleek. If you can’t hear your favorite tunes or TV series due to connection or pairing issues, there’s no need to replace it just yet.
Our technical team gathered 11 common fixes if your Vizio soundbar’s Bluetooth pairing isn’t working.
How to Solve Bluetooth Pairing Problem on a Vizio Soundbar: 13 Fixes
Fix #1: Restart the Soundbar and Device
First up, try restarting your Vizio sound bar and your device. Turn both off with the power button. Wait for about 30 seconds, then power on both the source device and sound bar.
In most cases, this simple solution can solve Vizio sound bar Bluetooth pairing issues, but if not, try the next ones.
Fix #2: Check Previously Paired Devices
Check if your device has reached its limit of paired devices. It can usually save 5 or 7.
To connect your preferred source device, remove an unused Bluetooth device first by going to Settings > Bluetooth Menu > List of Paired Devices (actual menu varies).
Lastly, select the other device, then select ‘Unpair’ or ‘Forget.’
Fix #3: Check if the Soundbar is Connected to Another Device
If there are two devices connecting in the area, your Vizio sound bar may automatically connect to the nearest one.
Turn off Bluetooth on other devices. Go to Bluetooth pairing mode by pressing and holding the Vizio sound bar Bluetooth button for about 3 seconds until the Bluetooth LED starts to flash. You can then initiate Bluetooth pairing again.
Fix #4: Check if the Device is Within the Bluetooth Range
Bluetooth devices have a range of 30 feet or under 10 meters. So if your devices are too far apart, you might experience choppy audio and pairing issues.
Thick walls and obstructions also cause bad Bluetooth pairing. Bring the Vizio soundbar and source device closer together.
Fix #5: Check for Any Soundbar System Updates
Follow the steps to install a Vizio soundbar system update:
1. Take note of your Vizio sound bar firmware version and serial number. For the firmware version, go to Settings > System Information > Soundbar Information. For the serial number, there should be a barcode at the back and the serial number starting after the word ‘S/N’; write them down.
2. Go to the support page on the Vizio website. Type in your soundbar serial number, then click ‘Get Firmware Data.’
3. You should see the ‘Most Recent Firmware Version’ on the Vizio support page. If it matches your soundbar firmware version, it means you’re using the latest system version. If it doesn’t match, proceed to the next steps.
4. Download the firmware update, then copy the file to a USB drive.
5. Turn off and unplug your soundbar power source. Connect the USB drive containing the firmware update. Plug in, then power on your soundbar.
6. The LEDs of your soundbar should flash simultaneously, indicating the update is in progress. Never unplug the USB drive while the LED lights are still flashing. The LEDs should turn off, indicating a successful update. Try pairing and connecting again.
Fix #6: Check for Power Issues
Try plugging the soundbar into another power source you’re sure is working. If your Vizio sound bar model comes with a built-in battery, ensure it’s properly charged.
Fix #7: Forget or Unpair, Then Pair Again
Unpair the Vizio sound bar by going to Settings > Wireless and Connectivity Settings > List of Paired Devices (actual settings menu varies).
Select your Vizio sound bar here, then click on ‘Forget’ or ‘Unpair.’ You may try and re-pair your particular device with the soundbar.
Fix #8: Check the Device’s External Audio Setting
Check whether your device’s audio is on mute or set to a low volume. It may also have separate volume levels per Bluetooth speaker; check the Vizio sound bar volume in ‘List of Paired Devices.’
Fix #9: Install Drivers (For PC)
1. For a PC, press the Windows key, then type and open ‘Device Manager.’
2. In the computer’s Device Manager, go to the section ‘Sound, video and game controllers.’
3. Your Vizio sound bar might appear as an ‘Unknown device’ or as itself. Either way, right-click on it, then select ‘Update Driver Software…’
4. Afterward, select ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ in the pop-up window.
Fix #10: Separate From Other Wireless Devices
Other devices might cause interference, resulting in a bad Bluetooth connection. Turn off the Bluetooth in every phone, computer, or tablet within range, then try connecting again.
Fix #11: Reset the Soundbar
To reset it without the remote, press and hold the Vizio sound bar Bluetooth button and Volume Down button simultaneously for 5 seconds. All the LED lights should blink 3 times, indicating a successful hard reset.
If you want to do a reset with a Vizio remote, follow these steps:
1. Refer to the Vizio soundbar manual for the LED indicators.
2. Press the ‘Setup’ button.
3. You can then select ‘Reset All’ using your remote to clear all the settings. All the LED lights should blink 3 times, indicating a successful factory reset [1].
Go to pairing mode to initiate Bluetooth pairing after the factory reset.
Fix #12: Try to Pair the Soundbar to Another Device
Find a device that has no Bluetooth pairing issue. Try pairing the Vizio soundbar with this Bluetooth device to see if it works.
Fix #13: Unplug the Soundbar From Power
Turn off the Vizio soundbar by its power button, then unplug the power cord to get rid of residual current and completely refresh it.
How to Properly Pair a Vizio Soundbar to Another Device via Bluetooth
Pairing depends on the device’s Bluetooth settings, so always consult its manual. For this example, we’ll use a Samsung QLED TV:
- Press the Vizio sound bar’s pairing button.
- Go to TV Settings > Sound > Sound Output > Speaker List > Active.
- Select your Vizio sound bar in the Active list.
- Click on ‘Pair and connect.’ The LED screen will indicate if the connection was successful.
FAQ
How should I fix my Vizio soundbar that’s stuck in pairing mode?
To fix a Vizio soundbar that’s stuck in pairing mode, try restarting both the external device and the soundbar first. If that does not work, you can try to unpair, go to pairing mode, then pair your device and soundbar again. Refer to Fix #1 and #7 above.
What should I do if my Vizio soundbar Bluetooth is connected but has no sound?
You should check if your Vizio soundbar is on mute. Increase the volume gradually as well. If unsuccessful, try checking the mute and volume in your device (see Fix #8).
Conclusion
There you have it! If your Vizio soundbar’s Bluetooth pairing is not working, our tech team tackled every Bluetooth pairing issue you can think of in one helpful guide. Good luck, and enjoy the music!
