No sound from your soundbar over HDMI eARC or ARC

Silence from a soundbar on HDMI almost always comes down to a port, a setting or a device in the chain. This checklist follows Samsung's published steps and works on other brands in spirit. Menu names differ, so use the brand notes as a guide.

Quick checklist

1. Check the port on the TV. The cable must go into the TV's HDMI input labeled ARC or eARC, and into the soundbar's HDMI port for the TV (marked eARC/ARC). Reseat both ends.
2. Power both on. Select the soundbar's HDMI input. On Samsung bars, set the source to D.IN and watch for D.IN followed by TV ARC on the display.
3. Turn on HDMI-CEC on the TV. Brands name it differently: Anynet+ on Samsung, SIMPLINK on LG, BRAVIA Sync or Control for HDMI on Sony. On Samsung it is under Settings > All Settings > Connection > External Device Manager > Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC), per Samsung's soundbar page.
4. Set the TV's sound output to the soundbar. On Samsung: Settings > All Settings > Sound > Sound Output, then choose the soundbar. If you pick TV Speaker, you can confirm the TV's own audio is working.
5. Enable eARC on the TV if it has a toggle. Samsung's TVs have HDMI-eARC Mode under Sound > Expert Settings. Samsung's soundbar page says to set it to Auto. Samsung's eARC page says the default is off.
6. Check the audio format. If sound is poor or absent, Samsung suggests Digital Output Audio Format (Menu > Sound > Expert Settings) and testing PCM, Auto and Pass-Through once each.

If it still fails

Remove other devices

Samsung says to unplug other devices from the TV first. Some external devices do not comply properly with HDMI, which can break ARC or eARC. Reconnect them one at a time. Also power both the TV and the soundbar off, wait, and turn them back on.

Check the cable

Samsung's guidance is to replace a defective cable and to use a cable that supports eARC. The HDMI Forum describes eARC as built for high-bitrate formats such as Dolby Atmos, so use a certified Ultra High Speed cable.

Check the device supports eARC

Samsung's eARC page says to confirm that the connected AV device is eARC-capable and that the port used is the same one labeled ARC. Its list of supported models is specific to Samsung, and other makers publish their own lists, so check your model's manual.

Isolate the fault

1. Try the soundbar with another TV that has an eARC port.
2. If it works there, the first TV is the likely problem and may need service.
3. If the soundbar is silent on every TV, contact the soundbar maker.

Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection?

If you connected by Bluetooth, Samsung says microwaves and routers can interfere, a metal surface can drop the sound, and unpairing then pairing again can help. For Wi-Fi, both devices must be on the same network. See how to connect a soundbar.

Lip-sync problems

If sound exists but lags behind the picture, use the soundbar's audio sync control. On Samsung bars the delay range is 0 to 300 milliseconds on models that provide it.

Not sure how to set it up from scratch? See how to set up eARC. Catalog examples: Sonos Beam Gen 2, Samsung HW-Q990H.