How To Update Apps on a Vizio TV (All Models, 2026 Guide)

Vizio Smart TVs handle app updates differently depending on which platform your TV uses. If you have a SmartCast model (2018 or newer), your apps update automatically — there’s no manual “update” button for individual apps. Older VIA and VIA Plus models (2009–2017) let you update apps from the Connected TV Store. This guide covers both platforms, plus firmware updates and what to do when updates get stuck.

Which Vizio TV Platform Do You Have?

Before you start, you need to know which platform your Vizio TV runs. The update process is completely different between them.

Platform	Model Years	How to Identify	App Updates
VIA (Vizio Internet Apps)	2009–2013	Press the VIA button on remote — apps appear in a dock at the bottom of the screen	Manual updates from Connected TV Store
VIA Plus	2013–2017	Press the VIA button — apps appear in a full-screen grid layout	Manual updates from Connected TV Store
SmartCast (no built-in apps)	2016–2017 (some models)	Only casting works — no app store on the TV itself	Cast from phone/tablet only; no TV-side updates
SmartCast (with built-in apps)	2018–present	Press Home or V button — SmartCast home screen with rows of apps	Apps update automatically with firmware; no individual app updates

If you’re not sure, check your remote. A VIA button means you have an older model. A Home or V button with a SmartCast home screen means you have a newer model. You can also check your model number at Menu → System → System Information.

How to Update Apps on SmartCast TVs (2018 and Newer)

SmartCast TVs do not allow you to update individual apps manually. The apps are built into the SmartCast operating system, and they update automatically when Vizio pushes a firmware update to your TV. This happens in the background when the TV is in standby mode and connected to Wi-Fi.

If an app feels outdated or buggy, the fix is to update your TV’s firmware:

Press the Menu button on your Vizio remote (or the V button on older SmartCast remotes).
Navigate to Admin & Privacy → Check for Updates.

On some models, the path is System → Check for Updates instead.

If an update is available, select Yes to confirm.
Wait for the download and installation to complete. The TV will restart — possibly twice. Do not unplug the TV during this process.
After the restart, your apps will be running the latest versions included in that firmware.

Alternative path for 2024–2026 models: Press Menu → All Settings → Admin & Privacy → Check for Updates → Yes.

What If No Update Is Available?

If your TV says the firmware is already current but an app still isn’t working right, the issue is likely on the app’s server side (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc.) rather than your TV. Try these steps:

Power cycle the TV — Unplug the TV from the wall (not just the remote power-off). Wait 60 seconds. Plug it back in. This clears the TV’s cache and forces a fresh connection to SmartCast servers.
Check your internet connection — Go to Menu → Network → Test Connection. If the test fails, restart your router and try again. For the most reliable updates, connect via Ethernet cable rather than Wi-Fi.
Re-sign into the app — Some streaming apps (especially Netflix and YouTube) require you to sign out and back in after a firmware update.

How to Update Apps on VIA and VIA Plus TVs (2009–2017)

Older Vizio TVs with the VIA or VIA Plus platform allow you to update apps individually from the Connected TV Store. Here’s how:

VIA TVs (2009–2013)

Press the VIA button on your remote to open the app dock.
Highlight the app you want to update.
Press the Yellow button on the remote.
Select Update if an update is available.
Wait for the installation to complete.

VIA Plus TVs (2013–2017)

Press the VIA button to open the full-screen app launcher.
Navigate to the Connected TV Store tab.
Find the app that needs updating — apps with available updates typically show a notification badge.
Select the app and choose Update or Install.
Wait for the process to finish.

Important: Vizio discontinued support for the VIA and VIA Plus platforms. The Connected TV Store no longer receives new apps, and some existing apps (like Netflix on very old models) have been deprecated by the streaming services themselves. If your VIA/VIA Plus TV can no longer run the apps you need, your best options are to connect an external streaming device like a Roku Streaming Stick 4K or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K.

How to Update Vizio TV Firmware via USB Drive

If your Vizio TV can’t connect to the internet or the over-the-air update keeps failing, you can update the firmware manually using a USB drive.

Find your TV’s model number: go to Menu → System → System Information and note the exact model number (e.g., V505-J09, M55Q7-J01).
Go to support.vizio.com on your computer. Navigate to Support → Firmware Information.
Search for your model number and download the firmware file if one is available.
Format a USB flash drive as FAT32 (most USB drives are already FAT32 out of the box).
Rename the downloaded file to fwsu.img and copy it to the root of the USB drive.
Turn off your Vizio TV.
Insert the USB drive into any USB port on the TV.
Turn the TV on. A blue LED light on the front of the TV should start flashing — this means the TV detected the firmware file and is installing it.
Do not turn off the TV or remove the USB drive while the blue light is flashing.
Once the blue light stops, turn the TV off, remove the USB drive, and turn the TV back on.

If the blue light never appears: The USB drive may be formatted incorrectly, the file may not be named exactly fwsu.img, or the firmware file may not match your specific model. Double-check all three.

Troubleshooting: Vizio TV Stuck on “Downloading Updates”

This is one of the most common Vizio TV problems — the TV gets stuck in an update loop and either freezes on “Downloading Updates” or restarts repeatedly. Here’s how to fix it in order of likelihood:

1. Force a Power Cycle

Unplug the TV from the wall outlet. Press and hold the power button on the TV itself (not the remote) for 15 seconds to drain residual power. Wait 60 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears the update cache and often breaks the loop.

2. Check Your Network Speed

Firmware updates can be several hundred megabytes. If your internet connection is slow or unstable, the download may time out and restart endlessly. Test your speed on another device — you need at least 10 Mbps for a reliable firmware download. Switch to an Ethernet cable if possible.

3. Change Your DNS Settings

Sometimes the TV’s connection to Vizio’s update servers gets blocked by your ISP’s DNS. Try switching to Google DNS:

Go to Menu → Network → Manual Setup.
Set DNS to 8.8.8.8 (primary) and 8.8.4.4 (secondary).
Save and retry the update.

4. Factory Reset as a Last Resort

If nothing else works, a factory reset can clear corrupted update data:

Go to Menu → Admin & Privacy → Reset to Factory Settings → Reset TV.

On older models: Menu → System → Reset & Admin → Reset TV to Factory Defaults.

The TV will erase all settings and restart fresh.
After setup, it will attempt to download the latest firmware again.

Warning: A factory reset removes all your Wi-Fi passwords, app logins, and picture settings. You’ll need to set everything up again from scratch.

5. Contact Vizio Support

If the TV is still stuck after a factory reset, the issue may be hardware-related (failing flash storage is a known problem on some older models). Contact Vizio support:

Phone: 1-844-254-8087 (Mon–Fri 8 AM–11 PM CT, Sat–Sun 8 AM–9 PM CT)
Chat: support.vizio.com
Vizio community forum: Post your model number and firmware version for community help

Our Recommendation

If your Vizio SmartCast TV (2018 or newer) is acting up, start with a power cycle and firmware check — that resolves the issue about 80% of the time. For older VIA/VIA Plus TVs that can no longer run modern streaming apps, the most cost-effective fix is adding an external streaming device rather than replacing the entire TV.

For anyone buying a new Vizio TV in 2026, the VIZIO V-Series 50″ 4K Smart TV (V4K50C-0809) offers the best value with 4K resolution, Dolby Vision HDR, WiFi 6, and the full SmartCast app library for under $300. If you need a larger screen, the VIZIO V-Series 75″ 4K Smart TV (V4K75C-0804) delivers the same smart features at 75 inches.