How to Control Vizio TV Without Remote? 

Lost, damaged, or misplaced your Vizio TV remote? You need to get a replacement as quickly as possible. In the meantime, you should learn how to control Vizio TV without remote. But can you even control your Vizio TV without remote? Absolutely you can! 

All Vizio TVs feature buttons. These buttons are typically hard to locate. But, if you look carefully in the bottom-right or bottom-left corners of your TV, you’ll find them. You can use these buttons for functions like switching the TV on/off, changing channels, etc. 

But can you do more? Yes. Many Vizio TV owners don’t know they can control their smart TVs without the original remotes. I’m not talking about pressing buttons. You can download apps, adjust volume settings, & do a variety of things without your remote. 

All you need is an Android phone with an infrared (IR) blaster. Unfortunately, iPhones don’t have IR blasters. So, if you own a non-Wi-Fi Vizio TV model, you won’t be able to control it with your iPhone. But if your Vizio TV is Wi-Fi enabled, you won’t need a phone with an IR blaster. 

If you have no remote for your Vizio TV, here’s everything you need to know about controlling the device.

Do you have a particular question about how to control Vizio TV without remote? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page. 

How to Use Vizio Smart TV Without Remote?

The easiest way to operate a Vizio TV with no remote is by using Vizio SmartCast app for Android or iOS. Download the app on your phone & take the following steps: 

• Pair the app with your Vizio smart TV
• On the upper-right corner of the app, select “Devices”
• Then, click “Add;” the app will ask you to hold your smartphone near your Vizio TV for a short while to complete the pairing process 
• Once the app & your Vizio TV are paired, at the bottom of the screen, select an option titled “Control”
• Inside the “Control” page, select “Devices” (look in the upper-right corner of the app)
• On the “Devices” page, you’ll notice a list of paired devices; choose your Vizio TV from the list 

Congratulations: you’ve just converted your smartphone into a remote control for your TV. You’ll notice this “virtual remote” appear on the app screen. You can use it to do anything, including turning the TV on/off, adjusting the volume, changing the channels, & setting the aspect ratio. 

Here’s a helpful video guide that further simplifies the process of converting a smartphone into a Vizio TV remote:

Now, even if you have broken or lost your Vizio remote, you can control your Vizio TV normally. 

How to Download Apps on Vizio Smart TV Without Remote?

Use the SmartCast app on your smartphone to download & install new apps on your Vizio TV. The app will allow you to add, delete, & control all apps on your Vizio TV. Bear in mind: Vizio TVs offer a very small collection of apps. 

So, remote or no remote, you won’t have access to too many apps on your Vizio TV. Follow these steps to access the Vizio Play Store & download apps with no remote: 

• Check whether your Vizio TV is connected to the internet
• Press the volume & input buttons on the TV for 10-15 seconds  
• This will take you from the home screen to a screen that displays all the apps installed on the TV
• Go to the ‘All Apps’ category 
• Look for the app you want to download 
• Use the app on your phone to control the cursor on your TV
• Select the app you want to download
• Click the “OK” button  

Wait for the app to download & install. You’ll need a working Wi-Fi connection to complete this process. 

How to Select on Vizio TV Without Remote?

The control menu on your Smartcast app operates like a normal Vizio TV remote. Therefore, you can use this app on your phone to control the cursor on your TV & select different options. For instance, if you want to open the Vizio menu without a remote, you can use the app’s virtual control menu to do so. 

This is what the virtual remote on the SmartCast app looks like.  

How to Add Apps to Vizio Smart TV Without Remote?

Use the SmartCast app on your smartphone to add, control, & delete apps on your Vizio TV. The process is similar to downloading apps on Vizio smart TVs without a remote, which I explained earlier. 

How to Change Input on Vizio TV Without Remote?

Open the Vizio SmartCast app on your smartphone & select the “Control” icon. Select “Devices,” choose your Vizio TV, & start using your smartphone as a virtual remote. You can change the input and video modes with this remote just like you would with an actual remote. 

How to Change Channel on a Vizio TV Without Remote?

You can either locate the channel buttons on your Vizio TV & use them to switch channels. Or, you can use your smartphone as a virtual remote via the SmartCast app. 

How to Get to Menu on Vizio TV Without Remote?

To access your Vizio TV menu without remote, use the SmartCast app. If you have a Google Chromecast, you can link it to your TV & use it to control your TV via the Google Home app on your smartphone. This process, however, is extremely complicated. It’s better to use the SmartCast app. The app will allow you to easily change your Vizio TV settings without remote. 

How to Change Settings on Vizio TV Without Remote?

Again, you can easily change your Vizio TV settings without remote by using the Vizio Smartcast app. 

How to Adjust Volume on Vizio TV Without Remote?

You can either locate the volume buttons on your Vizio TV & use them to lower or increase your volume settings. Or, you can use your smartphone as a virtual remote via the SmartCast app to control your TV’s volume settings. 

How to Program Vizio TV Without Remote?

You can program your Vizio TV via the Vizio SmartCast app. As you can see from my answers, the most important thing you can do as a Vizio TV owner is learn how to use the SmartCast app. Once you do that, you can exercise total control over your Vizio TV without using an actual remote. 

Credits: Thanks for the photo to Canva.

At ipoki.com we only mention the products that we’ve researched and considered worthy. But it’s important to mention that we are a participant of several affiliate programs, including Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate ipoki.com earns from qualifying purchases.