We all know, how essential TV’s HDMI ARC is when it comes to connecting our audio-visual devices seamlessly.
But what happens when it stops working? Sound drops out for a few seconds or you can’t hear any sound at all?
Jaber wrote Homespoiler,
“Hey, I recently purchased a LG CX OLED, and when I connect it to my Denon AVR-X4500H receiver using HDMI ARC, I’m not getting any audio. Other devices connected to the receiver work fine, but there’s no sound specifically when using the TV apps. I’ve checked the settings on both the TV and the receiver, but I can’t seem to find a solution. Can you provide any guidance on how to resolve this issue?”—Jaber, India
LG TV HDMI ARC may stop providing sound if the cable connection is incorrect, sound setting is misconfigured, or the device is incompatible.
Anyway, this article will break down from top to bottom why there is no sound coming from your LG TV’s HDMI ARC and what you need to do to get it back working again.
Let’s dive into it…
Why is there no sound on LG TV’s HDMI ARC?
I already mentioned this above!
Your LG TV’s HDMI ARC not providing sound due to the wrong connection, misconfigured audio settings, temporary system glitch, or firmware issue!
If the issue arises specifically when using certain apps or streaming services, the issue is related to compatibility between the TV, the app, and the audio device.
However, here are some general matches:
- The input/output ports assignment is incorrect.
- The devices have different high-definition settings.
- The device’s firmware is glitching.
- The wire or port is damaged.
How to Fix LG TV HDMI ARC no Sound?
- Power cycle your TV
- Make sure the soundbar is connected to the TV’s ARC HDMI input and set the sound to HDMI ARC.
- Select “Pass Through” in the TV’s Digital Sound Out menu.
- Switch the ARC setting from “Standard” to “Enhanced”
- Set the ‘Digital Sound Out’ to ‘Auto’ and turn on ‘SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)’
Here are the detailed step-by-step guidelines!
Step 1: Power drain
You shouldn’t skip this process ever!
I know, maybe you already rebooted your TV multiple times, but this time we will do it in a different process!
What I mean is, we will force the TV and its internal capacitor/transistor to release all the captured energy and reload the firmware from scratch!
The reason that power draining works is that many devices don’t turn all the way off. They go into standby mode, so “powering off” doesn’t have the desired effect when trying to solve a problem.
Unplugging from power long enough to allow all the capacitors in the device to discharge will do a full power off.
Let’s put all the explanation aside, here’s how:
- Disconnect the TV from the power source completely.
- Similarly, disconnect all the HDMI-connected devices from the TV.
- Wait for at least 2 minutes.
- During this time, press and hold the TV’s power button for about 30 seconds. (Don’t compromise)
- Once done power the TV back on.
Aside from power draining the TV, power drain your receiver too!
Once you have done the exact thing in both, test the result. Check if now you can hear sound from the HDMI ARC. If not, proceed to the next step.
Ensure that the HDMI cable is connected to the dedicated HDMI ARC ports on both the TV and the AVR (audio/video receiver).
Step 2: Reconfigure the sound settings
Often, sound settings automatically get changed due to sudden power outages, TV’s internal glitch, or other factors.
Anyway, here are the settings you need to check and if need to change them!
♦ Reset the eARC setting
First things first, make sure the HDMI eARC setting is enabled on your TV and if it already is, disable it then re-enable it again.
For this, go to the settings menu on your TV, then go to the sound or audio settings, somewhere in there you will find an option called HDMI eARC On/Off. Now make sure it’s enabled.
♦ Reset the HDMI ARC
Not all LG TVs have eARC option.
But in the same settings menu, you will see another option called ”Sound Out”
Press this and there you will see options for setting the audio output to a different mode. Simply set it to “HDMI ARC.”
You can also simply set this to the “Internal TV Speakers” and then switch it back to “HDMI ARC”
♦ Reset “Digital sound” out setting
If the above two methods don’t help to get the sound working, there is another option in the same setting.
Press the ‘Additional Settings’ menu and then navigate to ‘Digital Sound Out’ and here select ‘Pass Through”. If it’s already selected as “Pass through”, select “Auto”.
Once you have changed all these settings, reboot the TV and test if the HDMI ARC working now.
If your LG TV’s HDMI ARC still not working, move on to the next step.
Step 3: Test on multiple sources
Sometimes the audio issue is solely caused by a streaming service or even the media device you are using, such as Fire TV, Apple TV+, or Nvidia Shield, among others.
So if you encounter this issue specifically while using Netflix, it is recommended to test the HDMI ARC functionality with other streaming services or media devices to determine if the problem persists across different sources.
This can help narrow down whether the issue is related to the specific streaming service or media device being used, or if it is a broader issue with the LG TV’s HDMI ARC functionality.
Step 4: Fix the technical issue
In rare cases, the lack of sound through HDMI ARC on your LG TV may be due to more complex technical issues.
Often the problem lies within the HDMI cable or the ARC port.
♦ Damaged HDMI cable
Inspect the HDMI cable connected to the ARC port on your LG TV and the corresponding port on the audio device.
Look for any signs of physical damage or wear.
If the cable appears to be damaged, try replacing it with a new high-quality HDMI cable to ensure a proper connection and signal transmission.
♦ HDMI port issues
It’s possible that the HDMI port on either the LG TV or the audio device is experiencing a malfunction.
Try connecting the HDMI cable to a different HDMI port on both the TV and the audio device to see if that resolves the sound issue.
If the problem persists with all HDMI ports, there may be a hardware issue that requires professional assistance or contact the manufacturer for support.
Alternative to LG TV’s HDMI ARC
In case you fail to troubleshoot the issue or at the end of the day, you are still struggling with HDMI ARC not working, consider alternative methods.
You might ask, what is that?
Well, if HDMI ARC stops working on your TV, you can use either Optical cable or HDMI-CEC.
Here are the alternatives you can consider:
1. Optical Cable
Use an optical cable to connect your TV to an audio receiver or soundbar.
This method bypasses HDMI ARC and relies on a separate audio connection. Connect one end of the optical cable to the TV’s optical audio output and the other end to the corresponding input on your audio receiver or soundbar.
Make sure to select the optical audio input in the TV’s audio settings menu. But, if your LG TV’s optical out not working, you may need to use HDMI-CEC.
2. HDMI-CEC
Check if your LG TV and audio receiver support HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control).
HDMI-CEC allows devices to control each other over HDMI connections.
Enable HDMI-CEC on both your TV and audio receiver. It will help establish audio communication between the two devices and give you opportunity to hear sound from your Audio receiver.
Keep in mind that HDMI-CEC may be labeled differently in your models. Consult the user manual, for assistance.
F.A.Q.s
Q: Is there a way to bypass HDMI ARC and still get sound from my LG TV to the audio device?
Yes, if HDMI ARC isn’t working, you can use an alternative connection method. LG TVs typically have optical audio outputs, so you can connect the TV to your audio device using an optical audio cable.
Make sure to adjust the audio settings on both the TV and the audio device accordingly.
Q: Could a software update have caused the HDMI ARC sound issue on my LG TV?
Software update typically improves the TV’s overall performance.
But possible that an update could inadvertently introduce compatibility problems in your TV.
If you suspect a recent software update is the cause, you can try reaching out to LG’s customer support for assistance or keep an eye out for any future updates that may address the issue.
Q: Does my LG TV support eARC?
f your LG TV is a newer model, it might support enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC). Check your TV’s specifications or user manual to determine if it has eARC capabilities.
eARC offers improved audio transmission and support for advanced audio formats.
Abdul Kader, a handy guy and experienced founder of a TV repair shop in Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is mainly an expert in understanding and repairing different types of issues with Smart TVs and providing helpful insights on how to keep them in good working order. Read his Full Story.