Vizio TVs Now Require Walmart Accounts For Smart Features

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Prospective Vizio TV buyers should know there's a good chance the set won't work properly without a Walmart account. In an attempt to better serve advertisers, Walmart, which bought Vizio in December 2024, announced this week that select newly purchased Vizio TVs now require a Walmart account for setup and accessing smart TV features. Since 2024, Vizio TVs have required a Vizio account, which a Vizio OS website says is necessary for accessing "exclusive offers, subscription management, and tailored support." Accounts are also central to Vizio's business, which is largely driven by ads and tracking tied to its OS.

A Walmart spokesperson confirmed to Ars Technica that Walmart accounts will be mandatory on "select new Vizio OS TVs" for owners to complete onboarding and to use smart TV features. The representative added: "Customers who already have an existing Vizio account are being given the option to merge their Vizio account with their Walmart account. Customers with an existing Vizio account can opt out by deleting their Vizio account." The representative wouldn't confirm which TV models are affected. Walmart's representative said the Walmart account integration is "designed to respect consumer choice and privacy, with data used in aggregated, permissioned, and compliant ways" but didn't specify how.

Blessing in disguise?

[AmiMoJo]

If you don't have a Wallmart account, it becomes a dumb TV, which is a significant improvement for many people.

Re:

[karmawarrior]

Yeah, I would assume most "smart TVs" require an account for the "smart" part, which is only an issue if you make usage of the smart part mandatory.

Roku TVs need a Roku account, for example.

This is an article which raises alarm bells over something quite normal and, given "smart" just means "Can run apps from the cloud, so will need some kind of cloud account", actually quite reasonable. It's only unreasonable if your HDMI ports are locked if you don't sign in.

Re:Blessing in disguise?

[hazem]

The last Vizio I bought wouldn't let you past the screen-covering EULA without signing in or creating an account. Which is why it went back to the store and it's the last Vizio will ever buy. It also lacked a sleep button on the remote... and required 8 button presses EACH time you wanted to use the sleep feature.

Years ago, they were my favorite brand of TV, worth paying a bit extra for. Never again. I'm so tired of the enshittification.

Re:

[AmiMoJo]

Aren't they Wallmart's own brand, as in innately shit?

I've liked Panasonic TVs before, but now they have sold the business to a Chinese company I will have to properly evaluate one when the time comes. My main Panasonic is from 2012 and still going strong. It's used as a dumb display with an Nvidia Shield, which Nvidia has replaced twice outside of warranty. Their hardware may be unreliable crap, but at least they give you a replacement for free.

Honestly, if you don't care about games, get a Mi Box, not a S

Re:

[hazem]

They are now. But they used to be a solid brand that you could get at Costco. I think back in the 90s they even sold computer monitors.

Thanks for the box recommendation. Does a Mi Box work with local media (on a NAS)? I switched from Roku (tired of the ads and constantly added apps) to Apple, which solved those annoyances, but it doesn't play media off the local network.

Re:

[AmiMoJo]

The Mi Box is just an Android TV box, so you can run Kodi and use whatever network sharing method you like.

Re:

[algaeman]

Android TV won't run apps unless you log in to Google

Re:

[AmiMoJo]

It will, you can side load them.

Re:

[Iamthecheese]

I had a Visio monitor. It was very well designed.

VLC for Apple TV

[SpiceWare]

Long story short, have you tried the VLC app [videolan.org] on your Apple TV for media on your local network?

I bought a Vizio PX75-G1 back in 2019 and originally used a Mac mini to drive it. I have HDHomeRun [silicondust.com] tuners and used the mini for OTA content - live TV and DVR functionality. The mini was also my media server with my content stored on a Drobo 8D and organized in iTunes.

After Drobo went under I ended up getting a Synology NAS that replaces both 8D as well as the Drobo 5D I used on my Mac Pro. I then learned the Syno

Re:

[MachineShedFred]

Interesting.

I bought a Shield TV Pro when they came out in 2021, and it's been rock solid right up to today. I even still got a software update for it last week, so they're still doing development on an Android device 5 years after launch, and they might be the only company doing that.

I couldn't have been happier with the purchase, and I don't use it for games. I wanted a STB that does real HDMI audio passthrough so I can use high definition formats with my high definition AV receiver.

Just make sure it is

Re:

[AmiMoJo]

Mine is a Pro as well. They just keep failing on me. One stopped seeing the remote after boot for a few minutes, and the other stopped getting any network connectivity (wired or wireless) for several minutes after boot.

Re:

[redmid17]

I don't want to be a complete asshole, but you did read the second sentence of the fucking summary, did you not?

Re:

[anoncoward69]

Paying extra for a Vizio TV? I thought they were almost always in the "budget category" A Samsung, LC, Panasonic, Sony would almost always cost more.

Re:

[bill_mcgonigle]

I got one around 2008. They were the best of the non-premium 1080p HDMI screens at the time.

The one I got had slightly better test review scores on display quality than the LG that year. The Sony was 20% better for 3x the price.

It lasted about twelve years and by then a bigger 4K with much brighter colors was half the cost in nominal dollars, so probably 1/4 the cost in real terms.

And by then cheap flashable streaming sticks were available as was pihole and fairly easy outbound NAT rewriting rules to keep

Re: Blessing in disguise?

[AvitarX]

It's super sad.

I purchased my Vizio TV because it's only smart feature was that it had a built in Chromecast.

No apps, no ads, it just showed up on my phone apps to let me put them on the TV.

Then after 18 months a huge update and it became annoying just like every other TV.

Re:

[nicubunu]

Actually not, there are plenty of functions you can use without an account, like record shows, play media from local shares, use a web browser, connect with your phone and such.

Re:

[sjames]

There's no reason a smart TV MUST have an account with the manufacturer or seller unless they want to enshittify it.

You may want to have accounts with various streaming services or perhaps you just want it to stream video you have on a NAS.

Re:

[MachineShedFred]

That sounds like a feature to me, as long as it doesn't constantly nag you to log in.

Re:

[ctilsie242]

Definitely. Virtually all "smart" TVs always lag behind, so why even bother. Instead, I use HDMI or a similar port and use a decent set-top system like an Apple TV to do the job "right". In fact, I don't have any interest in giving a TV an Internet connection at all, just so their screenshot uploads are blocked. However, with stuff like Amazon Sidewalk where a neighbor's IoT device can allow another device to connect without user authorization, that option may be fading fast.

Re:

[misnohmer]

Have you confirmed this?

Re:

[unixisc]

If you don't have a Wallmart account, it becomes a dumb TV, which is a significant improvement for many people.

If it has a USB port, it could be connected to any of the others - Roku, Sling, Fire TV.... boxes - and then used w/o anything beyond paying Roku, Sling.... for it

Re:

[okle69]

I wouldn't assume that... My older vizio TV that I use as a dumb display occasional gets firmware updates. The latest one actually made it less dumb even when disconnected from the Internet- now when I switch to TV antenna input I have to first click through a sales page every time.

Makes sense

[TwistedGreen]

For context, Walmart acquired Vizio and its SmartCast OS for approximately $2.3 billion in December 2024.

This is just the next step of an overarching plan to compete with Amazon's smart device ecosystem.

As strategies go, it seems kind of cargo cult-y but what do you expect from Walmart.

Re:

[redmid17]

Absolutely gobsmacking you can get a +5 informative for repeating information included in the summary. Jesus Christ Dice.

Re: Makes sense

[drinkypoo]

Dice isn't relevant here, it's B1zX

The only safe route...

[fruviad]

I don't watch much TV, but when I do I watch it on the 25-year-old flatscreen that we inherited from the in-laws or my 20" Sony Trinitron CRT. No way I'm buying a spamware-packed television that'll be a security risk with a lifespan dictated by the corporation's decisions about what is best for their bottom line.

Re:

[ukoda]

Look for a gaming monitor with no WiFi option. Most are 'dumb' making them simple and usable. If it has Ethernet leave that unconnected. Then pair it with something like Kodi running on a recent RPi using LibreELEC. With some effort you can pair Kodi with an old Fire TV remote left over from when you binned your Fire TV due to it's death by enshitification, or buy a clone remote from China. If it is broadcast TV you want most stations now have a stream you can use with Kodi. With that set up you can r

Re:

[anoncoward69]

Projectors are a good option too most of those are unmolested by "smart tv" features so far. They are only just starting to creep into some of them. I've got a nice 1080p Epson 1985WU connected to a Google TV Streamer that projects on to a 100" screen. It's got two HDMI inputs that can do split screen video sources so it's like having 2 50" tvs side by side. Those two HDMI inputs go into a 4x2 HDMI matrix switch and I can put any of those 4 inputs on the switch into 2 of the HDMI inputs on the projector.

Re:

[jaa101]

But one of the major improvements in recent TVs is HDR with its associated high brightness. Projectors are far behind in those specs. But I agree that it would be great to be able to buy dumb TVs again.

Re:

[cayenne8]

Look for a gaming monitor with no WiFi option

Do they make these in 65" or larger?

If not, that's not really useful....no one wants to have everyone in the family and/or guests huddled around a 25" monitor in the corner of the living room you know....

;)

Re:

[ukoda]

They do large models targeted at people who play in their livingroom. Not sure how large they go, I have a 55" one i brought about 4 years ago as my primary PC monitor. They make good monitors as they typically do not have imaging processing features to mess up the image quality and resolution.

Re:

[anoncoward69]

LOL 25year old flat screen? What is it a 5 inch thick 480p EDTV Plasma?

Re:

[fruviad]

Yeah. It's huge. Don't know the exact model/details, but it's definitely an old-school flat screen.

Bullshit

[RitchCraft]

"designed to respect consumer choice and privacy, with data used in aggregated, permissioned, and compliant ways"

Re:Bullshit

[TwistedGreen]

What, you don't believe them, given their stellar track record?

https://www.classlawgroup.com/... [classlawgroup.com]

Re:

[ctilsie242]

If it were actually designed that way, there would be a hardware switch or jumper on the back, defaulting to OFF. If a user wants that stuff, they can go and enable it themselves. If a user wants to turn that on, say for some cool offers, they can. Otherwise, no.

Reason #6

[necro81]

That's about reason #6 why I won't be buying a Vizio.

My TV is a monitor

[Baron_Yam]

A little computer with Mint on it does a great job accessing streaming as well as my NAS. And it doesn't report my activities to anyone.

Re:My TV is a monitor

[vux984]

A little computer with Mint on it does a great job accessing streaming as well as my NAS. And it doesn't report my activities to anyone.

What are you using for the streaming services? Netflix etc? A web browser?

If so, that's a complete non-starter; it fails the ease of use expectations of watching TV of the wife using a remote control to turn it on and make it go. (and honestly it fails my own expectations for that matter too; having to reach for a keyboard or mouse to watch a movie or stream a show is just clunky). It also limits you from watching content in 4k.

At the moment, I've got a RokuHD of some sort on one TV, and an nvidia shield on another one. Plex, netflix, f1tv, and a couple other things on both of them. The TV remote can fairly seamlessly control the TV/soundbar and the attached box and it works well, and passes the usability test, but both devices are still more ad-laden than I want.

I've also got computers and consoles hooked up to TVs for gaming and what not, but i find them utterly miserable to use for streaming. Their is no app for linux that I'm aware of. And even the app for Windows is regularly just complete ass to use, and its a PITA to switch from plex to netflix and back etc, and using them with a remote control is pretty trashy. So I've been using the aforementioned boxes for streaming as the least awful way to run things for some years now.

But if there's a better way now, I'm listening.

Re: My TV is a monitor

[toutankh]

Have you tried Kodi?

Re:

[vux984]

I have tried it. It's not really a solution for me.
- good for watching local content

but

- netflix support is a kludge at best, unofficial and no 4k (is the plugin a web browser wrapper?)
- other streamers are in the same boat
- no F1TV support at all

I don't blame kodi, its the streaming services that are the root problem here. But I can't make them support open platforms and I understand why they don't.

The upshot is that picking up a dedicated streaming box seems to be the best solution to get official support

Re:

[hambone142]

Same here. I use an engineering workstation to drive my TV's display. 'Haven't watched commercial TV in about 40 years. I use a wireless keyboard and mouse to control it. If it craps out, I'll drive it with either a Raspberry Pi or a small form factor box running Linux.

Missing Details

[jetkust]

I permanently disconnected by Vizio from the internet specifically because connecting to the internet blocked OTA antenna access and replaced it with a WatchFree+ streaming app which requires internet. They made a vague claim the app "includes local channels" but I seriously doubt it has all the local channels, and it was so unusable at the time it was hard to even verify anyway.

I honestly wouldn't trust that these TVs will even work anymore without connecting it to the internet and signing up for a Walmart account (unless stated very specifically).

Re:

[HotNeedleOfInquiry]

> specifically because connecting to the internet blocked OTA antenna access and replaced it with a WatchFree+ streaming app

I threw up a little.

Re:

[usedtobestine]

That's odd. I can still view OTA channels, and their WatchFree+ channels as well.

Re:

[jetkust]

Probably has to do with the model and/or the software updates. For me, it was pretty much OTA channels were working one day and weren't working the next. The WatchFree+ app froze more than it actually played video and was extremely slow when not frozen. I tested the app without an internet connection and was just as bad. I don't know the true agenda behind WatchFree+ or what's going on under the hood, but I can't imagine throwing random streaming channels in with my local channels would personally bene

Re:

[PPH]

For me, it was pretty much OTA channels were working one day and weren't working the next.

Maintenance Menu | Factory Reset
Then just rescan the OTA channnels.

Re:

[ukoda]

Don't worry, they will fix that for you in the next enshitification update.

This is why I bought hisense

[FictionPimp]

My favorite part of my HiSense TV was turning it on the first time. It asked if I wanted a 'standard TV' or 'Google TV'. I picked standard and that was that. No wifi, no apps, just HDMI ports.

Re:

[misnohmer]

I did similar with a Vizio TV. I gave it no internet connection, so it serves as a large 4K HDMI monitor.

Replace main board with simple panel driver?

[caseih]

I've often thought it would be nice to simply replace the smart TV motherboard with a generic screen panel driver that only has HDMI. Unfortunately 4K really complicates things over the older LVDS interface standard. It's still possible, but not easy.

Re:

[bill_mcgonigle]

I took mine apart and there were two separate display modules for the 4K screen with ribbon cables I didn't recognize so I just put it back together and stuck in an HDMI streaming stick flashed to LineageOS.

Reject "smart" TVs, return to CRTs

[TronNerd82]

I'm unfortunate enough to own a Vizio TV at this point in time, and I've seriously contemplated getting rid of it and just getting a CRT. I think it would pay off for several reasons:

1) there wouldn't be any of this "smart" bullshit bogging down the experience of just using a TV. And if I really decided I needed any of that, I can probably pick up a cheap old Roku and be about my day. It's unlikely that I'd need it, but if I did, it's certainly better than having the whole thing baked into the TV. All I'd n

Re:

[gabrieltss]

All it takes is for them to "push" an update to your older Vizio TV and your toast.

Re:

[Hamster Lover]

Why would Vizio update my toast?

Only going to get worse from here.

[hwstar]

1. TV's where if you don't enable them and keep it connected to the Internet , they don't turn on the HDMI ports. All you can do is watch OTA TV
2. Cellular modems in TV's so you can't bypass ads sent through the cellular modem.
3. All sales final return policy
4. Potted and sealed electronics with tamper grids.
4. DMCA lawsuit if you modify the TV and they find out.

I guess at this point people won't but TV's anymore.

Re:

[redmid17]

Hey Eeyore. Put the gun down. The taste of metal in your mouth shouldn't be that compelling

What features?

[ozzymodus12]

I rarely look at the features. I use a firestick. I don't touch anything beyond the sound and the basics. I haven't the slightest idea why I'd need to make an account unless they make me use it to access sound and source settings. If that is the case, I'd send it back and by a real TV.

Doesn't change anything

[Locke2005]

Most of us didn't need any more reasons to not buy a Vizio. I got an old Vizio 720p free when I bought my house, I gave it away to my ex's brother. In other words, even at a price of $0, I don't want one!

Re:

[misnohmer]

They have their uses. I got one few years back, 50" 4K UHD for $249 IIRC, which was a really good price for a screen that size at the time. I never connected it to the internet (maybe once, out of the box, to get latest firmware), but have been using it for years as an HDMI screen for some security cameras. It's held up really well, especially given it's ON 24/7.

Re:

[kaatochacha]

we got my dad a 65" one last Christmas, it seems normal. Didn't make us connect to the internet, we just use a roku on the back to watch any streaming. It does occasionally try to get you to give it an internet connection, but this only happens when you're looking through the various background settings.

We've just kept it dumb and it's been fine.

Not my Vizio!

[sarren1901]

My Vizio is so old that I doubt the thing would even receive updates if I did connect it to the Internet. I just have a raspberry pi connected to it instead. Works great.

Same with TCL

[dwywit]

Recently set up a cheap TCL for a customer's AirBnB cabin.

Cannot use it for anything other than terrestrial digital TV without it being logged into a google account. Set it up and then log out? Lose all your streaming apps. Leave your own google account logged in for guests? Ha ha. Set up a dedicated google account? Double ha ha. Guests use their own? Sure, let them run through the setup wizard again, and download the latest apps again (rural area, fibre optic not available, it's 4G/5G with a weak signal),

Re: Same with TCL

[lamber45]

I recently stayed in a furnished rental during some business travel. The lease move-out checklist included an item "sign out of all accounts on the smart TV".

Bend over,

[jenningsthecat]

then grease up, and prepare to be Vizioed!

Seriously, I think we all should start using the word 'Vizioed' as slang for being ass-raped. If the term ever gained popular usage, it could result in the end of the brand. Then Walmart would be the one who got Vizioed. Who wouldn't want to Vizio Walmart with their own cheap consumer electronics?

Only if ...

[PPH]

... they have a "People of Walmart" stream.

So...what's the alternative?

[grasshoppa]

Everyone's (rightfully) bitching about this, and I agree, but none of that solves the problem.

What's the alternative? Give me a TV brand that gives you, ideally, a dumb TV, but alternatively a decent smart TV that is easy to work with.

Responsiveness is an important, and often overlooked, characteristic. It's important.

Brand/model recommendations; go!

Smart TV means accessing all your private data..NO

[bsdetector101]

When smart TV's quit being updated for TV features, you have a piece of junk.

Re:

[Molten Heart]

The best part about smart TVs is that they DO collect your data. This supplements the price of the TV and lets you get one for much cheaper. With the money you save you can buy a streaming device (Chromecase/AppleTV/Shield/etc), ideally using this device and never even connecting your TV to the network/wifi/internet. In the end you have a cheaper TV, and you have a platform that you choose (Apple/Roku/Google/etc), and your sharing less of your data.

Re:

[Quasar1999]

The best part about smart TVs is that they DO collect your data. This supplements the price of the TV and lets you get one for much cheaper. With the money you save you can buy a streaming device (Chromecase/AppleTV/Shield/etc), ideally using this device and never even connecting your TV to the network/wifi/internet. In the end you have a cheaper TV, and you have a platform that you choose (Apple/Roku/Google/etc), and your sharing less of your data.

Sadly while your logic sounds spot on, the reality is, that TV still does ACR (basically hashing each screen sometimes multiple times a second) and builds one hell of an accurate profile of everything you watch. Even if the source is HDMI. And it's still sold.

Food for thought, that HDMI cable to your dedicated device, it likely supports networking, so the TV has a path to the internet even if you don't connect an ethernet cable directly to it, or add in your wifi creds.

Roku is the same.

[gary s]

If you want anything but broadcast TV you need to setup a roku account. Now DNS/AD blockers will keep your data from being sent back to the mother ship. I am sure you could do the same for walmart TV's.

Is that why my backlights are going out?

[sabbede]

"Walmart, which bought Vizio in December 2024,"

Huh, that's when I bought my TV...

So any non-Chinese TVs I can buy?

[unixisc]

And then connect to a Roku or Sling or something else?