Vizio TV WatchFree Not Working? – Here’s How to Fix

Wondering why your Vizio TV WatchFree not working? Well, this guide is just for you!

WatchFree is a Vizio TV’s free streaming service that offers users the best streaming experience by providing them with a variety of channel and title options at no additional cost.

In case it’s not working for you, then continue reading to unwrap the possibilities and their respective solutions.

Normally, the WatchFree service takes a long time to fully load, and the situation worsens if your TV’s internet network is weak or unstable.

The solution revolves around excluding the obvious possibilities first and then troubleshooting the WatchFree Vizio TV service.

Let’s find out some more detail about the WatchFree service!

Why is My WatchFree Not Working on My Vizio TV?

There are several factors general factors that can cause and prevent WatchFree from working on your Vizio TV.

They include network connection, TV software issues, server downtime, and many others so it’s best to take a closer look at each individual factor that is involved.

• Weak or no internet connectivity.
• Outdated firmware on the Vizio TV.
• WatchFree application glitches or bugs.
• Corrupted app cache and data collection.
• Network restrictions or firewall settings.
• VPN or proxy connection enable on TV.
• Server or service outage on Vizio’s end.
• Regional app and in-app content restrictions.

Is WatchFree Free?

Absolutely Yes! Vizio’s WatchFree is a free streaming service for their smart TVs.

This service provides free access to a variety of live television channels as well as on-demand content.

However, WatchFree is free, but some channels within the service may require a separate subscription. 

How to Fix When Vizio TV WatchFree Not Working?

If you’re experiencing issues with WatchFree not working, try the following troubleshooting methods to potentially resolve the problem. 

1. Test the TV Internet Connection

The Vizio TV WatchFree service is only available when the TV is connected to the internet.

If your TV is already connected to a network, use the TV’s built-in test connection feature to test the internet’s consistency, strength, and reliability.

How to Test the Vizio TV Internet Connection?

1. Turn on your Vizio TV to run a connection test.
2. Hold the Vizio TV remote and press the “Menu“.
3. Go to the TV “Settings“ menu using the arrows.
4. Find and enter “Network” or “Network Connection“.
5. Select “Test Connection” or “Check Connection“.
6. Wait for the TV to perform a networking speed test.
7. Check Results:

• If the TV shows the internet download/upload speed, it means the connection is working.
• If the TV doesn’t show any internet measurements, then the TV is currently offline.

Tip: One of the best ways to determine is to check whether other apps are also not working!

1.2 Troubleshoot Internet Connection

If you’re also experiencing issues with other apps not only WatchFree, try some of these tips:

✅ Power Cycle Router:

Unplug the network router from the power adapter for 5 minutes and then plug back the router into a standalone power outer.

✅ Reconnect TV to WiFi:

Open TV WiFi settings, forget the network > reconnect to the WiFi > and enter the correct password.

✅ Use Ethernet Connection:

Connect your Vizio TV to the internet by using an Ethernet cable, which plugs into one of the LAN ports on your router.

Note: If you identify internet issues with your network setup, contact your ISP for support!

2. Hard-Reset the Vizio Television!

One of the most-efficient ways to refresh the Vizio TV’s software and hardware components is by performing a combined method of restarting.

This involves restarting the Vizio TV from the settings and from the power, which is a thorough inspection in the methods below:

Note: Make sure to apply both methods!

Method #1 Soft Restart Your Vizio TV

1. Press the Menu button on your Vizio TV’s remote.
2. Choose the System option under Admin & Reset.
3. Choose the Power Cycle Soft option from the list.
4. The Vizio TV will turn off automatically and restart. 

Method #2 Power Cycle Your Vizio TV

1. Press the power button on the remote to turn off the TV.
2. Unplug your Vizio TV power cable from the wall outlet.
3. Disconnect the other end of the power cable from the back of the TV.
4. Leave your Vizio TV unplugged for about 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Reconnect the power cable back and plugged into the outlet.

When your Vizio TV has completely booted up, make sure it is connected to a working WiFi network, and then launch the WatchFree app to see if it is operational.

If not, continue reading.

3. Check the Vizio Server Status

The Vizio or WatchFree server may be down for maintenance, which is why WatchFree is not working on your Vizio TV.

To determine whether this is the case, you need to check the status of the Vizio servers to determine whether the problem is with the server or on your side.

Here are the ways to check the Vizio server status:

• Vizit Vizio’s Twitter or Facebook.
• Contact Vizio Customer Support.
• Online forums and communities.

If you have any confirmation about a down server, simply wait until it is fully restored. If there is no news about the down server, something else may be preventing your Vizio TV from working.

Keep reading the guide to do more troubleshooting!

4. Clear WatchFree Cache & Data!

Clearing the app cache is a recommended solution for WatchFree app-related issues.

Over time, the app’s cached data can accumulate and potentially cause issues, which ultimately results in affected apps and features. 

Here’s how to clear the Vizio app cache & data in easy steps:

1. Push the “Menu“ button on your TV remote.
2. Go to the “Settings“ on TV using the arrow keys.
3. Locate and click on the “Applications“ option.
4. Check for the WatchFree app and select the app.
5. Tap on the “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data” options.
6. Exit from the TV settings menu and restart your TV.

Reminder: Connect your Vizio TV to a working internet and test the WatchFree application!

5. Enable or Disable a VPN

Note: The Vizio WatchFree service is only available in the United States!

Whenever WatchFree not working on Vizio TV it’s likely due to a network restriction. If you’re outside the US, you need to enable VPN to be able to stream WatchFree.

In contrast, if you’re in the US and you have an activated VPN or Proxy, altering your location, WatchFree will not work.

The Solution? 

The VPN could be a phone app, computer software, or a browser extension. To disable a VPN you can either locate the software or completely uninstall the platform.

If you’re trying to view WatchFree from outside the US, you need to enable a VPN and connect to a US server.

Tip: We recommend using AtlasVPN, to bypass regional restrictions and access WatchFree!

6. Check for Vizio TV Software Updates

Updating your Vizio TV regularly is necessary to ensure optimal functionality, which typically addresses bugs without you knowing about them.

Hence, without updating the TV firmware the device is prone to glitches and bugs, which are potentially impacting the WatchFree app! 

Note: A WiFi connection is compulsory to update the Vizio TV software!

1. Locate and push the Menu remote button.
2. Navigate to TV Settings and then System.
3. Click on the Check for Updates option.
4. Press the Update button to update the TV.

Prepare with patience because the update might take longer than you expect. Only when the TV restarts, it will update.

When the operation is ready, test whether WatchFree and other services will work normally. If not, then continue reading the next solution…

7. Factory Reset the Vizio TV

If none of the above methods worked and WatchFree is still not working, then perform a factory reset on your Vizio TV.

However, keep in mind that the factory reset will erase all settings and data, so make a backup of any important information before proceeding!

How to Factory Reset the Vizio TV?

Note: Steps may vary between Vizio TV models!

• Go to TV Menu > then Admin & Privacy > and click on Reset to Factory Settings.
• Go to Menu > System > Admin & Privacy > and click on Reset to Factory Settings.
• Go to Menu > All Settings > then Admin & Privacy > Reset to Factory Settings.

Once the reset process on your TV is complete, configure and set up your TV and enjoy the on-demand Vizio TV services.

If WatchFree is still not working on your TV, contact the Vizio Support team for further guidance.

Best of luck!

Quick Recap:

Hence, whenever Vizio TV WatchFree not working, test your TV internet connection first, then restart your TV and check the Vizio server status. In case nothing helps, clear the WatchFree app cache and data and perform a factory reset on your Vizio TV.

Check out our blog for more troubleshooting guides on Vizio TV!

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