How To Add Apps to Vizio Smart TV? [Beginner-Friendly Guide]

These days, no house is complete without a smart TV.

The internet has shaped the way we watch television and also the way we use our TV sets as multimedia devices. Modern-day TVs are closer to computers or smartphones than traditional television sets from decades ago.

The similarities between them include apps. Lots of them.

One of the most popular TV set companies out there is Vizio. 

So today, we are going to take a look at how to add apps to Vizio Smart TV. There are many different ways to go about it, so let’s begin.

About Different Vizio TV Models

Like other modern electronics, Vizio TVs differ wildly depending on their age. It’s important to know when your TV came out. This is because the software and app functionality changes depending on how old your set is.

So let’s take a look:

• 2018 to Present: SmartCast support. Includes tech like built-in cast, screen share, and built-in integrations with Google Assistant and Alexa.

• 2016 to 2017: SmartCast is only partially supported. Older models support the old ecosystem, Vizio Internet Apps Plus (VIA+).

• 2015 and Older: Vizio Internet Apps (VIA) and VIA+ only. SmartCast is not supported.

How To Add Apps to Vizio Smart TV

Now that we’ve gotten these differences out of the way, let’s see how the app installation process works.

Requirements

Web connectivity is required as apps are installed through the internet. You can do this either through a wired or wireless connection. Depending on your method of choice, you may also need a smartphone and the dedicated Vizio Mobile app.

Connect TV to Internet

Connecting your Vizio TV to the internet is super simple.

Push the Menu button on your remote control and navigate to the Network setting where you’ll see the various options available. If there are any Wi-Fi networks nearby, you will see them displayed here. Simply select your Wi-Fi network and enter your password.

You can also connect your TV to the internet using a wired connection.

If you have an internet cable running to your TV, you will see it as an option at the top of the Network menu.

Open Vizio’s App Store

Installing Vizio Smart TV apps can be done through Vizio’s App Store. You can access it by pressing the home button in the shape of a V on your remote control.

Prefer to use your phone instead? Then you can install apps via the Vizio Mobile app. It works both with Android and iOS devices. Simply install it and open it. 

Adding Apps to Vizio TV

When you press the V key on your remote, you will be taken to the home screen. There, in the Apps section, you will see a list of all the apps you can install.

Navigate to the one you want and select it to install it on your TV. It’s as simple as that.

Cast Apps to a SmartCast TV

If you’d rather use your phone, the Vizio App Store is also available on mobile.

Open Vizio Mobile on either an Android or an iOS phone. You’ll see a list of apps compatible with your TV. Select the one you want on your phone, then tap the Cast button. This will send the app from your phone to your TV.

But there’s yet another way.

SmartCast TVs natively support Chromecast and Apple AirPlay. Open the app you want to cast to your TV on your phone. Afterwards, tap the AirPlay or Chromecast button and select your Vizio TV. You should now see the app on your TV screen.

And finally - Amazon’s Fire Stick.

If you have one of these, you can plug it into the back of your TV and manage your Vizio Smart TV apps that way. 

Add Apps on VIA/VIA+ Vizio TVs

Vizio Internet Apps and Vizio Internet Apps Plus are the predecessors of the SmartCast ecosystem. If you have an older Vizio TV set, it likely operates on one of these systems.

How do you install apps on them, then?

The process is pretty similar to SmartCast.

• Press the home key (V key) on your remote control. This will take you to your TV’s main menu. 
• Navigate to the All Apps section. 
• You’ll see a list of all the applications you can install on your TV. Select the one you want and install it.

Casting apps are unfortunately not available on VIA and VIA+.

But there is an alternative: the old-fashioned way.

If you want the convenience of Chromecast without getting a SmartCast Vizio TV, you can buy a separate Google Chromecast device and plug it into the HDMI port at the back of your TV.

How To Organize Your Installed Apps

So you’ve amassed some useful apps on your TV. Now what?

All of your installed Vizio TV apps will be displayed on the home screen in the so-called App row.

SmartCast TVs allow you to change the order in which your apps appear on your screen. To do this, select the Customize App Row button at the end of the app list. This will let you move your apps around the home screen, arranging them in any order you like.

If you want to make Netflix the first app that shows up on the screen, you can. It’s all up to you.

Wrap Up

Knowing how to install apps on your Vizio TV is an important part of making the most of your smart TV’s functionality. But that process varies depending on how old your set is.

Modern Vizio TV sets use a system called SmartCast. Moreover, all SmartCast TVs have built-in Chromecast and AirPlay. This means that you can use other devices to cast apps and movies. And if you ever need new apps, it’s as easy as pressing the V button on your remote and browsing.

Good luck, and don’t hesitate to unlock the full potential of your smart TV!