Smartcast TV is a feature-packed software for your Vizio TV. It is usually great at streaming movies and TV shows from the Internet and your smartphone. However, some s have run into a “Smartcast TV Not Available” message which makes your smart TV a little dumb. So what’s the deal with this error message?
In this article, I am going to go over the steps needed to fix the “Smartcast TV Not Available” error message and make it completely go away. These fixes are incredibly simple as well and you will not have to return your Vizio TV. Let’s get started.
Why Is Smartcast TV Unavailable?
There have been several reports of this error. It usually restricts you from the main menu which has all the titles but it does not affect the movies that are accessed through apps like Prime Video and Netflix.
Why does this issue occur? Usually, it is because of a network issue. If your Internet is not working properly, then Smartcast TV will not be available. Sometimes, it is dues to small bugs in the software that can be flushed out easily. Vizio’s servers may also be down and this will affect your TV.
How to Fix “Smartcast TV Not Available” Error?
There are several different reasons for this error and hence, you have to try out several different steps. Try them out one by one until the error is gone. Let’s start with the simple fixes:
1. Restart Your TV
Restarting is the first thing you have to try out when there is an issue with the software. Unplug the TV and plug it back in after 30 seconds. Check whether the error message disappears or not.
This method works because a normal restart can help the smart TV fix a few bugs. These bugs may be the reason for the “Smartcast TV Not Available” error message.
2. Check Your Internet
Smartcast TV needs a proper Internet connection to work and if you have Internet problems, then you will see the “Smartcast TV Not Available” error message. You can easily check whether your Internet is working or not by opening up a webpage on your browser.
You can also test the TV’s connection by following these steps:
- Press the Menu button on your Vizio remote.
- Select Network and then select Test Connection.
- If you get a Network not connected message or the connection speed is 0, then there is definitely an issue with the Internet.
- You can try fixing the Internet by switching off your router and turning it back on. If you are using a mobile hotspot, then make sure that it is nearby the TV.
3. Check Vizio’s Twitter
A lot of articles will ask you to reset your TV by this point. However, before you reset all your custom settings, make sure that you check Vizio’s Twitter handle(@VIZIO). The handle contains news about outages. If the Smart TV service is temporarily down, then the “Smartcast TV Not Available” error message will not go away even after a hundred resets.
Make sure that there are no service outages before proceeding to the next step. If there is an outage, then you will have to wait for a day or so and the service will come back automatically.
4. Update the Firmware
Like most systems, Smartcast TVs can also run into problems if the firmware is out of date. You can simply update the firmware to make this issue go away.
- Make sure that your TV is connected to the Internet and go to Settings.
- Open up the System Settings and select Check for System Updates.
- The TV will check for updates and install them if the system is outdated.
5. Reset the TV
This is the last resort. If you still have a “Smartcast TV Not Available” message even after all of the above steps, then a factory reset should fix your TV up. All of your settings will be reset and you will have to customize your TV to your liking again. Let’s get started.
- Press the Menu button on the Vizio remote.
- Select the Reset & option.
- Choose Reset to Factory Settings and then select Reset.
- After the reset is completed, you will have to set up your TV again.
Final Take
As long as the Vizio servers are functioning properly, you should be able to get Smartcast TV up and running. Easy, wasn’t it? You will now be able to choose from hundreds of different curated movies and TV shows. With that out of the way, let me know if you have any doubts in the comments section down below and I will help you out as soon as possible.