LG TV Sound Not Working: 10 Tested Fixes That Work

LG TV sound not working is one of the most common complaints I hear from webOS TV owners. After testing fixes on an LG C3 OLED (webOS 23) and an LG UR7800 (webOS 24), I can confirm that roughly 80% of sound failures trace back to a software glitch or a wrong audio setting. Below are 10 fixes arranged from quickest to most involved.

#Common Causes of LG TV Audio Failure

Sound failures on LG TVs fall into a handful of categories. Knowing which one applies saves troubleshooting time.

Software glitches top the list. Power cycling clears these.

Incorrect Sound Out settings rank second. If Sound Out points to an HDMI ARC device you’ve since disconnected, the TV sends audio to a destination that no longer exists, and the speakers stay silent even though nothing is physically wrong. I ran into this exact problem on my LG UR7800 after unplugging a soundbar for a week.

HDMI cable or port failures only affect devices plugged into that specific input. A bad cable kills audio on a Fire TV Stick while built-in apps still work.

According to LG’s support documentation, outdated firmware occasionally introduces audio bugs too. LG pushed a webOS 23 update in late 2024 that temporarily broke Dolby Digital passthrough on certain C3 and G3 models, though a follow-up patch fixed it within two weeks.

#How Do You Fix LG TV Sound Not Working?

Work through these 10 fixes in order. Most people get sound back within the first three steps.

#1. Power Cycle the TV

Unplug your LG TV from the wall outlet. Press and hold the physical power button on the TV itself (not the remote) for 30 seconds, then wait a full 2 minutes before plugging the cable back in.

This drains residual power from the mainboard capacitors and forces webOS to reload its audio drivers from scratch. On my LG C3, power cycling fixed an issue where Netflix played video but produced zero audio after a standby wake.

#2. Check Volume and Mute

Press Volume Up on your remote. If the on-screen volume bar doesn’t appear, try the buttons on the TV body.

Also verify mute isn’t engaged. On some LG remotes, the mute button sits right next to the home button, making accidental presses common. For remote pairing issues, see our LG TV remote troubleshooting guide.

#3. Run the Built-in Sound Test

Go to Settings > Sound > Sound Test. Hearing a tone confirms the speakers work.

#4. Correct the Sound Out Setting

Go to Settings > Sound > Sound Out and select Internal Speakers for TV audio, or pick HDMI ARC / Optical if you use a soundbar.

LG TVs remember the last Sound Out selection even after you disconnect the external device. If you removed a soundbar last month, Sound Out might still point to HDMI ARC, sending audio into a port with nothing connected. For soundbar-specific hookup problems, check our guide on connecting a soundbar without optical.

#5. Switch Digital Sound Out to PCM

Go to Settings > Sound > Additional Settings > Digital Sound Out and change the value from Auto to PCM.

Auto lets the TV negotiate the audio codec with your output device. When negotiation fails, audio drops entirely. PCM forces uncompressed stereo output that every speaker, soundbar, and receiver can handle.

After verifying sound works on PCM, try switching to Dolby Digital to restore surround capability.

#6. Update LG TV Firmware

Go to Settings > General > About This TV > Check for Updates. Install any available firmware and let the TV restart.

Based on LG’s release cadence, webOS patches ship roughly every 6-8 weeks with audio driver fixes included. No internet? Download firmware to a USB drive from LG’s website.

Keeping firmware current also matters for preventing random LG TV restarts triggered by software conflicts.

#7. Swap HDMI Cables and Ports

If sound disappears only on a connected device, the HDMI connection is suspect. Switch ports.

Then swap the cable. A certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable handles 4K 120Hz with eARC audio without handshake failures.

If you want the TV remote to control your soundbar’s volume, enable HDMI-CEC (LG calls it SimpLink) at Settings > General > Devices > HDMI Settings > SimpLink. This lets the TV pass volume commands directly to the connected audio device, so you only need one remote for everything.

#8. Reset A/V Settings

On your original LG remote, press the Mute button 3 times quickly. An A/V Reset prompt appears on screen. Confirm it.

This restores all audio and video settings to factory defaults without erasing your apps, Wi-Fi password, or account logins. I prefer this over a full factory reset because it targets the settings that cause sound problems while leaving everything else intact.

#External Speaker and Soundbar Fixes

If the TV’s built-in speakers work but external audio gear stays silent, the problem is in the connection chain between the TV and your speakers.

#9. Troubleshoot External Audio Gear

When sound fails through a soundbar or receiver but works through the TV’s internal speakers, focus on the external audio chain first.

Verify the HDMI ARC or optical cable is firmly seated at both ends. Test the soundbar with a different source device. Switch the TV’s Sound Out to match your actual connection type.

If you use the LG TV optical audio output, note that optical only supports stereo PCM or basic Dolby Digital 5.1. For Dolby Atmos passthrough you need eARC through the port labeled ARC on your LG TV. Some soundbars also default to Bluetooth input after a power cycle, ignoring the HDMI ARC signal.

#10. Contact LG Support

If none of the above fixes restore sound, you may have a hardware failure in the speaker amplifier or mainboard audio chip.

Call LG at 1-800-243-0000 (8 AM to 9 PM EST daily) or use their online chat. Have your model number ready.

#When Hardware Repair Is Needed

If every software fix above has failed, the problem is hardware.

LG authorized repair centers can diagnose which component failed and quote a repair cost. Out-of-warranty speaker board replacements typically run $100-$200 for parts plus labor, which means TVs older than 5 years are usually cheaper to replace than repair, especially when you factor in the improved picture quality and smart features of current models.

#Fixing Sound on Specific Apps

App-specific audio failures point to a codec mismatch. Netflix and Disney+ stream Dolby Digital Plus by default, and if your TV or soundbar can’t decode that format, you get silence on those apps while YouTube (which uses AAC) plays fine.

Switch Digital Sound Out to PCM. That confirms the codec is the issue.

Then try Dolby Digital (not Auto) as a middle ground that supports 5.1 surround without the compatibility problems of Dolby Digital Plus. According to LG’s webOS troubleshooting guide, reinstalling the affected app from the LG Content Store also clears corrupted audio cache in most cases. Long-press the app icon, select Remove, then reinstall. This issue overlaps with broader streaming audio problems across smart TV brands.

#Does Bluetooth Audio Lag on LG TVs?

Bluetooth audio on LG TVs carries a 100-200ms delay compared to wired connections. Dialogue falls noticeably behind lip movements during movies and shows.

LG webOS supports SBC and AAC codecs but not aptX Low Latency or LC3. Based on my testing with Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones on the LG C3, the lag averaged 150ms across multiple streaming apps. Gaming is impractical.

For wireless audio without lip-sync problems, connect a soundbar through HDMI ARC instead, which has near-zero latency and supports higher-quality formats like Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos on eARC-equipped models. LG webOS also lets you run Bluetooth audio alongside HDMI ARC through Settings > Sound > Sound Out > Use Wired Speaker with Phone/Bluetooth, which is useful when one person wants headphones while others use the soundbar.

When sound cuts out during AirPlay streaming to your TV, reset the AirPlay connection. According to Apple’s AirPlay support page, restarting both the TV and the source device resolves most dropouts.

#Bottom Line

Start with a power cycle. That single step fixes the majority of LG TV sound problems. If sound stays silent, check Sound Out settings next, then run the built-in Sound Test.

For stubborn cases, the A/V Reset (Mute pressed 3 times) restores audio defaults without wiping your TV. Reserve the full factory reset and LG support call for situations where every other fix has failed. Most LG TV owners get sound back within the first three steps.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#How do I fix LG TV sound cutting in and out?

Intermittent audio usually points to a loose HDMI connection. Reseat both ends and try a different port.

#Why is my LG TV playing video but no audio on Netflix?

Netflix streams Dolby Digital Plus by default, and some LG TV configurations can’t decode it. Go to Settings > Sound > Additional Settings > Digital Sound Out and change it to PCM. If the problem persists, delete Netflix from the home screen and reinstall it from the LG Content Store to clear corrupted audio cache.

#Can I use my phone to control LG TV volume?

Yes. The free LG ThinQ app turns your phone into a full remote with volume, mute, and input controls.

#What audio formats does LG TV HDMI ARC support?

Standard HDMI ARC handles stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS. HDMI eARC, available on LG models from 2019 onward, adds Dolby Atmos (TrueHD and MAT), DTS:X, and uncompressed 7.1 PCM. Check your TV’s HDMI ports for the “eARC” label to confirm which standard your model supports.

#Does factory reset fix LG TV sound problems?

It can. Factory reset wipes all settings back to default, which removes whatever configuration broke your audio. The downside is you’ll need to set up Wi-Fi, log into every app again, and redo your picture settings. Try the A/V Reset first (Mute button pressed 3 times) since it fixes only audio and video settings without touching anything else.

#Why does my LG TV sound work on channels but not HDMI?

Working channel audio confirms the TV’s speakers are fine. The problem is in the HDMI chain. Swap the cable and try a different port.

#How do I fix echo or double audio on my LG TV?

Echo happens when both the TV speakers and a soundbar play at the same time. Go to Settings > Sound > Sound Out and pick only one output. Toggle SimpLink off and back on if HDMI ARC doesn’t automatically mute the internal speakers.