How To Change The Input on Vizio TV Without a Remote
By Robert Jones · 2021-04-25
Lost that Vizio remote again? Don't fret, I've been there countless times. I'll show you how to change your Vizio TV's input, even without that little clicker, using methods I've personally relied on in the workshop.
Right then, picture the scene. You’ve just kicked back, pint in hand, crisps open, ready for a bit of proper telly. Then it dawns on you: where's the blooming remote? Gone walkabout again, hasn't it? Down the back of the sofa, or perhaps the dog’s decided it makes a grand chew toy. Whatever the reason, you're stuck staring at the same old input, and that brand-new Blu-ray player or your gaming console is just sitting there, mocking you. If you’ve got a Vizio TV, you might be thinking, "Well, that’s it then, no evening’s entertainment." Not on my watch, mate. Not today. I've been tinkering with speakers, amps, and all sorts of home cinema kit for a good twenty years now, and believe you me, I've lost more remotes than I’ve had hot dinners. More times than I care to admit, I’m setting up a new receiver or a soundbar, and I’m just using the TV as a glorified display. The remote for *that* specific TV is usually the last thing on my mind. So, yeah, I’ve certainly had my fair share of fumbling around, trying to get to the right input without that fiddly little clicker. It’s a common problem, an absolute nightmare at times, but thankfully, it's not an unsolvable one. So, pull up a chair, and let's sort this out, shall we? **Quick Verdict: Don't fret; there are plenty of practical ways to switch Vizio TV inputs even without that pesky remote.** ### Who This Is For * Anyone who's misplaced their Vizio TV remote (a regular occurrence, let's be honest). It happens to the best of us. * Those with a broken Vizio remote that's finally given up the ghost. They don't last forever, do they? * Folks who just can't be bothered to hunt for the remote every single time they want to change source. Life's too short. * Anyone wanting a solid backup plan for when the remote inevitably vanishes into the ether, which it will. * If you're trying to set up a new piece of kit – say, a new Xbox or a Freesat box – and you just can't find the original TV remote. Happens more often than you'd think. ### Who Should Skip It * If your Vizio remote is permanently glued to your hand (lucky sod, tell us your secret). * People who genuinely enjoy fumbling around behind the TV in the dark, stubbing their toes. Each to their own, I suppose. * Those who prefer shelling out for a new universal remote every time the old one decides to vanish. A bit extravagant, don't you think?  *How To Change The Input on Vizio TV Without a Remote — tested in the SpeakersMag workshop.* ## The Most Obvious (But Often Forgotten) Solution: Your TV's Own Buttons Honestly, this is the very first place anyone should cast their eyes. It sounds a bit daft, doesn't it? But in a moment of sheer panic, you'd be absolutely staggered by how many people completely forget that their television actually comes equipped with physical buttons. Call it "user error" if you like, but it's often just a case of habit. We're so used to that little plastic clicker in our hands that the notion of actually touching the TV itself feels… well, a bit alien. Now, Vizio, bless 'em, tend to put these buttons in various places depending on the model. It's not like the old days where there'd be a row of satisfying clunky buttons right on the front. Oh no. These days, they're often tucked away. You might find them: * **On the back panel:** Usually on the lower right or left side when you're facing the screen. You'll probably have to reach around a bit. * **Along the bottom bezel:** Sometimes hidden just underneath, subtly integrated into the design. More modern, but still a bit of a fiddle. * **On the side panel:** Less common now, but some older models have them on the right or left edge. What are you looking for? Typically, there's a power button, volume up/down, channel up/down, and crucially, an **Input** or **Source** button. Sometimes, it's just a single multi-function button that you press to cycle through options and hold to select. Bit clunky, I know, but it works in a pinch. ### How to Use the TV's Buttons: 1. **Locate the buttons:** Get yourself a torch, or use your phone's light. Trust me, it makes life a lot easier than just blindly groping about. Find the cluster of buttons. 2. **Find the Input/Source button:** It'll usually be labelled, or have a little arrow-in-a-box icon. If you only have one button, it's likely a multi-function one. 3. **Press and cycle:** Give it a press. Each press should cycle you through the available inputs: HDMI 1, HDMI 2, AV, Component, SmartCast, etc. Keep pressing until you see the input you want highlighted or selected on screen. 4. **Select (if needed):** On some models, after you've cycled to the input, you might need to press the same button again, or perhaps the power button, to confirm your selection. If it's a single multi-function button, you often hold it down for a second or two to select. It’s a bit of a faff, I grant you, especially if your TV is mounted flush to a wall, or you've got a jungle of cables behind it. But it's reliable. It doesn't need batteries, Wi-Fi, or app updates. It just *works*. I’ve used this method countless times when I'm setting up a new surround sound processor and the TV remote is nowhere to be seen. Simple, effective, if a bit inconvenient. ## Get Smart: Using Your Phone as a Remote Now, this is where things get a bit more twenty-first century. If you've got a smartphone, chances are you've got a perfectly good Vizio remote right in your pocket. Vizio has their own official app, and honestly, it's usually the best bet for a smooth experience. ### Vizio SmartCast Mobile App Most modern Vizio TVs, especially those that are "SmartCast" enabled, can be controlled directly from your phone or tablet using the Vizio SmartCast Mobile app. It's free, available for both Apple and Android devices, and it gives you full control – inputs, volume, settings, the lot. #### How to Set it Up: 1. **Download the app:** Search for "Vizio SmartCast Mobile" in your device's app store. Download and install it. 2. **Connect to the same Wi-Fi:** This bit's crucial. Your phone and your Vizio TV *must* be connected to the exact same home Wi-Fi network. If one's on the 2.4GHz band and the other's on 5GHz, you might have issues, so best to ensure they're both on the same band if possible, or just try again if it doesn't connect first time. 3. **Open the app and pair:** Launch the app. It should automatically start scanning for Vizio devices on your network. Once it finds your TV, tap on it. Your TV might display a pairing code for you to enter into the app to confirm. Pop that in, and you're golden. Once paired, you'll have a virtual remote on your screen. There's usually a dedicated "Input" or "Source" button, often with a little TV icon or an arrow. Tap that, and you'll see a list of your TV's inputs. Just tap the one you want, and boom, you're there. No fumbling in the dark, no stubbed toes. Easy peasy. I've found this app to be a lifesaver in my workshop. Often, I'll have a Vizio TV just acting as a monitor for a component test, and the remote has inevitably gone walkabout amongst the various cables and test gear. The app means I can quickly swap inputs for different sources without having to hunt around. It's not perfect – sometimes it can be a bit slow to connect, especially if your Wi-Fi is playing up – but it's a solid solution. ### Third-Party Universal Remote Apps If for some reason the official Vizio app isn't doing it for you, or you have an older Vizio TV that isn't SmartCast enabled, you might be able to use a third-party universal remote app. These often work via Wi-Fi for smart TVs or, if your phone has an infrared (IR) blaster (a rare beast these days, mostly found on older Android phones), they can mimic a traditional IR remote. Popular options include apps like "SURE Universal Remote" or "AnyMote". However, their compatibility can be hit-and-miss, and they often come with ads or require in-app purchases for full functionality. My advice? Stick with the official Vizio app first; it's usually the least hassle. ## Universal Remote Control: A Worthy Investment If you're someone who frequently misplaces remotes, or you've got a home cinema setup with multiple components (a Vizio TV, a Denon AVR, an Apple TV, a Panasonic Blu-ray player, a Sky Q box – you know the drill), then a good universal remote is an absolute must. Honestly, it's one of those things that once you have one, you wonder how you lived without it. They come in all shapes and sizes, from cheap generic ones you pick up for a tenner to more sophisticated, programmable models like the Logitech Harmony range (though Logitech sadly stopped making new ones, second-hand market is still strong). Even some basic Sky or Virgin Media remotes can be programmed to control your TV's basic functions like power and input. ### How Universal Remotes Work Most universal remotes work by either: 1. **IR (Infrared) Learning:** You "teach" the universal remote by pointing your original Vizio remote at it and pressing the buttons. The universal remote then learns the IR codes. 2. **Code Library:** You enter a specific code (usually a 3-4 digit number) that corresponds to your Vizio TV brand. The remote has a pre-programmed library of these codes. To change the input, you typically press a "TV" or "Input" button on the universal remote, then select the desired source. It's often more straightforward than fumbling with TV buttons. #### My Experience: I've got a battered old Logitech Harmony 650 that's been in my workshop for years. It's seen better days, probably dropped it a hundred times, but it still works a treat. I've programmed it to control pretty much every TV, amplifier, and Blu-ray player that comes through my door for testing. It's a godsend. If I lost the Vizio remote, it's a quick flick of a button on the Harmony, and I'm changing inputs in seconds. Definitely worth the £30-£50 investment for a decent one, if you can find a good used one. **Pros of Universal Remotes:** * One remote to rule them all. Less clutter. * Often more ergonomic and robust than original TV remotes. * Can control multiple devices with custom "activities" (e.g., "Watch Blu-ray" turns on TV, Blu-ray player, and AVR to correct inputs). **Cons of Universal Remotes:** * Can be a bit fiddly to set up initially. * Good ones aren't free, though you can get some bargains. * Still another remote to lose, if you're particularly prone to it! ## The HDMI-CEC Trick (Consumer Electronics Control) This is a bit of a hidden gem, and it's often overlooked. Many modern TVs and connected devices support something called HDMI-CEC. Vizio calls their version "CEC" or "HDMI-CEC". Other brands have their own names for it: Sony calls it "Bravia Sync", Samsung has "Anynet+", LG has "SimpLink", Philips has "EasyLink". They all do roughly the same thing. What is it? It's a control protocol that allows devices connected via HDMI to talk to each other. So, if your Vizio TV and, say, your PS5 or your Sky Q box both support CEC, they can send commands down the HDMI cable. ### How it Helps with Inputs: If CEC is enabled on your Vizio TV and your connected device, here's what can happen: * **Automatic Input Switching:** Turn on your PS5, and your Vizio TV *should* automatically switch to the HDMI input that the PS5 is connected to. Magic, right? * **Device Control:** Sometimes, turning off your TV will turn off connected devices, or vice versa. Your PS5 controller might even be able to navigate your TV's menus (though this is less common for input switching). It's not foolproof, mind. Sometimes CEC can be a bit flaky, and different brands don't always play perfectly together. But it's a handy feature to have enabled. #### How to Check/Enable CEC on Your Vizio TV: Since you don't have a remote, you'll need to use your TV's physical buttons or the SmartCast app to get into the settings. Look for a menu option like "System" or "Settings", then "CEC" or "HDMI-CEC". Make sure it's switched "On". You might also see options like "System Audio Control" or "Device Auto Power Off" – generally, you want these on too. Check your connected devices as well. Go into their settings and ensure CEC is enabled there too. For a PS5, it's usually in System > HDMI > Enable HDMI Device Link. For a Sky Q box, it's in Settings > Setup > Audio Visual > HDMI Control. I've had great success with CEC. My Panasonic Blu-ray player, when I stick a disc in, usually wakes up the Vizio TV and switches to the correct input without me touching a thing. It's not a full remote replacement, but for input switching, it's brilliant. ## Keyboard and Mouse (For Select SmartCast Models) This is a bit niche, I'll admit, but some Vizio SmartCast TVs (usually the slightly more premium, newer models) support connecting a USB keyboard and mouse. While primarily for navigating smart TV apps and typing in passwords, the keyboard sometimes offers basic navigation and input selection. You'd plug a standard USB keyboard into an available USB port on your Vizio TV. Then, using the arrow keys and perhaps an "Enter" key, you might be able to navigate to a "Source" or "Input" menu and make a selection. It's definitely a last resort and not guaranteed to work flawlessly for input switching on all models, but it's worth a shot if you're truly desperate and have a spare keyboard knocking about. I've only ever done this once, trying to get a TV set up in a particularly awkward corner of the workshop. The TV remote was lost, the app wouldn't connect, and the buttons were completely inaccessible. A USB keyboard actually saved the day, allowing me to get to the Wi-Fi settings and then, thankfully, the SmartCast app took over. Don't rely on it, but keep it in mind. ## The Nuclear Option: Power Cycling and Cable Swapping Right, if none of the above has worked, and you're absolutely at your wits' end, there's a couple of very crude, desperate measures you can try. These are really only for emergencies, and they're certainly not elegant solutions. ### Power Cycling Sometimes, simply turning your Vizio TV off and then on again can force it to "re-initialise" its inputs, or perhaps default to a specific one if a device is connected and sending a signal. It's not a guaranteed fix for input switching, but it can occasionally jog the TV into action. 1. **Unplug the TV:** Don't just turn it off at the wall; actually pull the plug out of the socket. Yes, the big chunky one. 2. **Wait 30 seconds:** Go make a cuppa. Give the TV a proper chance to discharge any residual power. 3. **Plug it back in:** Switch it on. See if it defaults to an input that has a connected, active device. I've seen this work for all sorts of weird TV glitches, not just input issues. Sometimes electronics just need a good old "turn it off and on again" to get their act together. ### Cable Swapping (Extreme Desperation Only!) This is truly the last resort, and it's messy. If you *only* want to use one specific device (say, your Sky Q box) and you can't switch inputs any other way, you could: 1. **Unplug all other HDMI devices** from the back of the TV. 2. **Plug your desired device into HDMI 1** (or another primary input). Often, TVs will default to an active signal on HDMI 1 if no other inputs are active. This is a proper faff, involves getting behind the TV, and is really only suitable if you absolutely *must* use one device and have no other options. It's not a permanent solution, just a way to get *that* one thing working. ## Comparison Table: Vizio Input Switching Without a Remote | Method | Ease of Use | Reliability | Cost (£) | Best For | Notes | Advantages | Disadvantages | | :------------------- | :------------------- | :---------- | :-------------- | :------------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------ | :---------------------------------------------------- | | **TV Buttons** | Moderate (fiddly) | High | Free | Immediate, no extra tech | Requires physical access to TV; location varies | Always works; no batteries/Wi-Fi needed | Can be awkward; limited functions | | **SmartCast App** | High | High | Free | Modern SmartCast TVs; full remote functionality | Requires Wi-Fi, pairing; slight lag possible | Full control; convenient; no extra hardware | Wi-Fi dependent; app download required; TV must be SmartCast | | **Universal Remote** | Moderate (setup) | High | £10-£100 | Multi-device setups; frequent remote misplacing | Initial setup can be tricky; another device to power | Controls multiple devices; robust; ergonomic | Cost involved; another device to lose | | **HDMI-CEC** | High (once enabled) | Medium | Free | Automatic switching; seamless integration | Compatibility varies; can be flaky between brands | Automatic input changes; simple to use (when working) | Not a full remote replacement; requires compatible devices; can be unreliable | | **USB Keyboard** | Low (niche) | Low | Free (if owned) | Desperate situations; accessing Wi-Fi settings | Not supported on all models; limited functionality | Can provide basic navigation/input selection | Very limited use; not guaranteed to work | | **Power Cycle/Cable Swap** | Low (desperate) | Low | Free | Absolute last resort; single-device use | Inconvenient; not a long-term solution; requires physical effort | May get one device working | Not a true input switch; very disruptive | ## FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered ### Q: Why isn't my Vizio TV responding to my phone app? A: Most often, it's a Wi-Fi issue. Make absolutely sure both your phone and your Vizio TV are connected to the *exact same* Wi-Fi network. Sometimes routers have separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands – try connecting both to the same band. If that doesn't work, try restarting both your phone, your TV (unplug it for 30 seconds), and even your Wi-Fi router. Sometimes the TV app needs to be re-paired after an update or network change. ### Q: My Vizio TV doesn't have "SmartCast." Can I still use my phone? A: If your TV isn't SmartCast enabled, the official Vizio SmartCast Mobile app won't work. You might have luck with a third-party universal remote app if your phone has an infrared (IR) blaster, but these are rare on newer phones. Otherwise, you're largely looking at the TV's physical buttons or investing in a universal remote with a code library for older Vizio models. ### Q: Can a gaming console remote change my Vizio TV input? A: Yes, potentially, thanks to HDMI-CEC! If your Vizio TV and your gaming console (like a PlayStation or Xbox) both have HDMI-CEC enabled in their settings, turning on the console can often automatically switch your TV to that console's input. You might even find some basic TV controls on the console's controller, like volume, but input switching is the most common feature. ### Q: What's the best permanent solution if I keep losing my remote? A: Honestly, a good universal remote is your best bet. Something like a Logitech Harmony (if you can find one second-hand) or even a decent programmable remote from a brand like One For All will consolidate all your controls into one device. Alternatively, fully embracing the Vizio SmartCast app as your primary remote is a great, free option if you have a compatible TV. ### Q: Will buying a cheap replacement remote off Amazon work? A: It can do, but be careful. Many generic Vizio replacement remotes work fine, particularly if they're a direct clone. However, some are very basic and might not have all the smart TV functions of your original. Always check reviews and ensure it explicitly states compatibility with your *specific* Vizio TV model if possible. For ten or fifteen quid, it's often worth a punt as a spare. ## Final Word So there you have it. Losing that blasted Vizio remote is certainly a nuisance, a proper pain in the backside when you just want to get stuck into your favourite show or smash a few enemies on the PlayStation. But as you can see, it's far from the end of the world. From fumbling around the back of the TV like a blind mole to wielding your smartphone like a magic wand, there are plenty of options. My personal recommendation for most folks with a modern Vizio? Get that SmartCast app downloaded and paired up. It's free, it works a treat most of the time, and it means you've always got a remote to hand, assuming your phone battery isn't dead, of course! For those of us with multiple boxes and a penchant for misplacing things, a solid universal remote is still king. Don't let a missing remote ruin your evening. A bit of know-how, and you'll be back to your telly in no time. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a pint with my name on it, and I need to find my *own* remote before the missus gets back...