No Sound Over HDMI ARC? Here's the Fix

How the ARC handshake actually works

ARC stands for Audio Return Channel. It lets the TV send sound back down the same HDMI cable that carries picture from your soundbar or AV receiver. For this to work, both devices use HDMI-CEC, a control protocol that lets them identify each other and agree on an audio format. If CEC is switched off on either side, or the devices disagree about the format, the handshake fails and you hear nothing at all.

Quick checks before you touch any settings

First, confirm the cable is plugged into the HDMI port actually labelled ARC or eARC on both the TV and the soundbar. Most TVs only support ARC on one specific port, and using any other port will never produce sound. Push both plugs in firmly, because a half-seated HDMI connector is one of the most common causes we see.

Next, try a different HDMI cable if you have one. Older or cheap cables often handle picture fine but fail the extra data channels ARC relies on. For eARC, which carries much more audio data, a High Speed with Ethernet or Ultra High Speed cable is strongly recommended.

Settings that commonly break ARC

Make sure HDMI-CEC is enabled on both devices. Every brand renames it: Samsung calls it Anynet+, LG calls it Simplink, Sony calls it Bravia Sync, and Hisense usually just calls it CEC. Then check the TV's sound output menu and select the ARC, receiver or optical-plus-HDMI option rather than TV speakers.

If sound cuts out only on certain channels or apps, set the TV's digital audio output to PCM instead of bitstream, Dolby Digital or auto. Some soundbars cannot decode every format the TV tries to pass through, and PCM forces a simple signal that almost everything accepts. You can experiment with richer formats once basic sound is working.

The full power-cycle reset

When settings look right but sound still refuses to appear, reset the handshake completely. Unplug the TV and the soundbar or receiver from the wall, not just standby, and wait about two minutes. Reconnect the HDMI cable firmly, power the soundbar on first, then the TV. This forces both devices to renegotiate CEC and ARC from scratch, which clears the stuck handshakes that often follow load shedding or a software update.

When it's time to call a technician

If ARC works briefly and then drops out, or a lightning storm or power surge preceded the fault, the HDMI board or port itself may be damaged. That is a repair job, not a settings job, because HDMI circuitry sits on the TV's mainboard. An accredited repairer can test the port, replace damaged components and confirm the fault properly instead of you buying a new soundbar for nothing.