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VIZIO Smart TVs ship with picture and sound settings already optimized by professional ISF-certified calibrators, so they look and sound great right out of the box. That said, every room is different — lighting conditions, seating distance, and personal preference all play a role. This guide covers the key picture and sound settings available on your VIZIO Smart TV and the recommended configurations for movies, gaming, everyday TV, and more.

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Picture Settings

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Picture Modes

VIZIO offers several picture modes tailored to different environments and content types:
  • Calibrated — Best for most content in a lit room. Uses ISF-certified color accuracy for a natural, true-to-life image.
  • Calibrated Dark — Best for dark rooms and movie watching. Deeper blacks and adjusted contrast for low-light environments.
  • Vivid — High brightness and saturation. Good for bright showrooms, but not ideal for daily home use.
  • Game — Low input lag for gaming. Reduces processing delay so your controller inputs feel more responsive.
  • Computer — Optimized for desktop or PC input with minimal processing for sharp, accurate text and graphics.

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How to Change Picture Mode

1

Open the Picture Menu

Press the Menu button on your remote, then navigate to and select Picture.
2

Select a Picture Mode

Select Picture Mode and choose your preferred mode from the list (Calibrated, Calibrated Dark, Vivid, Game, or Computer).
3

Fine-Tune the Image

Use the Backlight, Brightness, Contrast, Color, and Sharpness sliders to further adjust the image to your liking.
4

Save Your Settings

Press Back to exit. Your settings are saved automatically per input source, so each HDMI input can have its own picture configuration.

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HDR & Dolby Vision

VIZIO Smart TVs automatically switch to HDR or Dolby Vision mode when receiving HDR content — no manual toggle required. For the best results, ensure your HDMI source (streaming stick, game console, or Blu-ray player) is configured to output HDR or Dolby Vision in its display settings.

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Sound Settings

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Audio Modes

VIZIO provides several audio modes to match your listening environment and content:
  • TV Speaker — Standard stereo output from the TV’s built-in speakers.
  • Surround Sound — Virtual surround effect that adds enhanced depth and spatial audio.
  • Leveling — Automatically reduces sudden volume spikes between commercials and regular programming.

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How to Change Sound Settings

1

Open the Audio Menu

Press the Menu button on your remote, then navigate to and select Audio.
2

Select an Audio Mode

Select Audio Mode and choose your preferred option (TV Speaker, Surround Sound, or Leveling).
3

Adjust Audio Settings

Use the Volume, Equalizer (Bass and Treble), and Balance controls to dial in your preferred sound profile.

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Connect a Soundbar via HDMI ARC

For the best audio experience, connect your soundbar using the HDMI ARC port — it’s clearly labeled on the back of your TV. Once connected, go to Menu > Audio > TV Speakers and set it to Off so all audio is routed through your soundbar. To enable automatic volume control (so your TV remote adjusts the soundbar volume), navigate to Menu > System > CEC and turn CEC On — make sure CEC is also enabled on your soundbar.

Movie Night

Use Calibrated Dark mode for deep blacks and accurate color. Set backlight to 40–50, enable Dolby Vision on your source device, and connect your soundbar via HDMI ARC for immersive audio.

Gaming

Use Game mode for the lowest input lag. Disable motion smoothing by setting Reduce Judder and Reduce Blur to 0, and enable Game Low Latency for the most responsive gaming experience.

Everyday TV

Use Calibrated mode with backlight adjusted to match your room’s ambient brightness. Enable Leveling audio mode to avoid jarring volume jumps between shows and commercials.

Sports

Use Vivid or Calibrated mode for bright, punchy colors. Set motion smoothing to a moderate level and enable Clear Action to keep fast-moving scenes sharp and blur-free.

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Troubleshooting

Your picture settings may have been inadvertently changed. To restore defaults, go to Menu > Picture > More > Reset Picture Mode. This resets all picture settings for the currently selected mode back to their factory values.
Enable the Reduce Motion Blur or Clear Action setting to sharpen fast-moving content. Navigate to Menu > Picture > More and adjust the motion clarity options to your preference.
First, confirm your TV is not muted by pressing the Mute button on your remote. Then go to Menu > Audio > TV Speakers and make sure it is set to On. If a soundbar is connected via HDMI ARC, ensure the soundbar is powered on and its volume is turned up.
CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) may be disabled. Go to Menu > System > CEC and set it to On. Also verify that CEC (sometimes labeled HDMI Control, Anynet+, or Simplink) is enabled in your soundbar’s settings as well.
For the most accurate picture out of the box, use Calibrated mode — it’s been professionally set by ISF-certified calibrators to match industry color standards.