You’ve set the mood, popcorn in hand, ready to dive into your favorite film when suddenly the actors seem to be miming – The frustration that accompanies this problem is all too familiar.
What makes it even more irritating is when you see the TV isn’t muted, but you still can’t hear any sound.
Trust me, I’ve been through this myself and I’ve guided others through it over the years.
Let me delve into this issue and give you handy solutions to recover your TV’s sound and get your movie night back on track.
Let’s transform your TV’s audio from quiet whispers to heart-pounding explosions.
The Clever Fix:
Restart the TV by navigating to Settings > System > System restart. Alternatively, you can perform a restart by unplugging the TV from the power outlet for 60 seconds and plugging it back in.
Why does my Roku TV have no sound?
Working as a troubleshooter in the tech industry, I’ve encountered countless instances of technological hitches and glitches, including the exasperating ‘roku tv no sound’ issue.
Let me tell you the most common reasons behind this particular problem.
The simplest explanation could be that your TV is silent because someone accidentally hit mute on the remote.
This could happen if your TV remote is kept on the couch where it can easily be sat on and the mute button pressed unwittingly.
Incorrect audio or sound settings could also be causing your TV to go silent.
If you’ve fiddled with your TV’s audio settings recently, it’s possible you unintentionally turned off the sound.
Loose cables can also cause sound issues.
No sound will come out of your chosen speaker or soundbar if the cable connecting it is loose and set incorrectly as the output.
If the cables are securely in place, the issue might lie with the soundbar or the external speaker itself. It could have ceased working after being used for prolonged periods.
Another possible cause of sound issues is a software update bug.
If your sound issues impact the Roku menu and all of your apps on your Roku TV or other Roku streaming devices you own, Roku could be experiencing sound issues.
Lastly, your Roku TV could be suffering from faulty hardware – but that’s too soon to conclude.
If your Roku TV constantly loses sound and needs frequent soft or hard restarts to temporarily fix the issue, it could be malfunctioning and need extra help from the TV manufacturer.
In such a case, you might have to reach out to Roku customer support to delve deeper into the issue and perhaps even get a replacement device.
Do this before moving to fixes
If your Roku TV has gone silent, there’s a simple step you can take before delving into more complex fixes: make sure your TV’s volume isn’t turned down or off.
It might seem a bit obvious, but it’s a common occurrence. After all, who’s to say a mischievous kid didn’t treat the remote like a fun new toy and press all the buttons?
Make sure the volume is not muted or on a 0 volume level.
Use the volume up and mute buttons on your remote control to adjust the level.
If the TV isn’t muted, then let’s get right into the fixes!
How to fix Roku TV no sound
1. Restart the Roku TV
I know you know from your own experience that a restart can do wonders for most tech problems, like when your phone acts up. The same rule applies when your Roku TV loses sound.
If the no sound issue is a result of minor software glitches, restarting the Roku TV can help clear it out and restore your TV’s sound.
To restart your Roku TV, you can either use the remote or simply unplug the power cord.
If you prefer to unplug the power cord, simply unplug the TV from the power outlet or surge protector, wait for 60 seconds, and plug it back in.
If you prefer using the remote, follow these steps:
- Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
- Navigate to the Settings > System > System restart.
- Confirm that you want to restart your Roku TV.
Moreover, a restart can also fix other problems like freezing or buffering. If you’re having any of these issues, a system restart can help get rid of temporary files or processes that might be the culprits
2. Check cable connections
Start by ensuring that the cable doesn’t have any visible signs of damage or worn-out parts.
Next, ensure there are no loose connections that could lead to sound issues. Make sure the cables are plugged all the way in.
It’s also best to unplug and replug the cable to ensure a secure connection of the Roku TV and any external audio devices – do not skip this step!
Doing so resets the connection and might just fix any existing issues.
Additionally, if you’re using component cables, double-check that each cable is connected to the matching color-coded input.
For example, the red cable should go into the red input, the blue cable into the blue input, and so forth.
If you’re still not getting any sound after checking your cable connections, try switching to a different cable to see if that takes care of the problem.
3. Disable audio leveling
Audio leveling is a feature designed to keep a steady volume level across different channels and programs.
It’s especially handy if you notice that some channels are louder than others, or if commercials come across significantly louder than the show you’re watching.
However, audio leveling can occasionally disrupt the sound output on your TV.
Try turning off the audio leveling.
To do this, press the asterisk (*) button on your remote, then turn off Audio Leveling.
If that didn’t work out, don’t sweat it, we’ve got a few more solutions to try.
4. Tweak audio settings
One of the most frequent reasons for your Roku TV losing sound is improper audio or sound settings.
If you’ve recently tinkered with your TV’s audio settings, you might have inadvertently silenced the sound.
Here’s what you need to do:
- On your Roku TV, go to Settings > Audio > Menu Volume.
- Ensure the volume is turned up and that the mute button is not enabled.
- Go back to Audio.
- Set Speakers to TV speakers if you want the sound to come out of the TV.
(Set it to Off if you want the sound to come out of the soundbar or external speakers.)
See if that restores your sound.
If not, go back to Audio, then set the Audio mode to Stereo. But if it’s in Stereo, set it to Auto. See if it fixes your audio problem.
Roku TV is connected to A/V receiver or soundbar
If your Roku TV is connected to an A/V receiver or soundbar through the optical cable, set the HDMI and S/PDIF to Dolby D.
But if your Roku TV is connected to an A/V receiver, soundbar, or TV via an HDMI cable, set the Audio mode to Stereo and HDMI to PCM-Stereo.
After that, restart the TV and see if it works.
5. Update Roku TV’s software
You might be wondering how a software update can fix a sound problem.
Don’t forget that outdated software can cause assorted issues, including missing sound.
Keeping your software up to date ensures that your Roku TV functions smoothly.
So, if your Roku TV has lost sound, one of the first things you should do is check for software updates.
To check for software updates, go to Settings > System > Software Update.
Updating will not only potentially solve your no sound issue, but it will also improve your overall viewing experience.
It’s recommended that you check for software updates regularly as new updates are released periodically.
You can even adjust your Roku TV settings to automatically check for updates and install them when they’re available.
6. Reset audio/picture settings
Keep in mind, this is a “reset”. This implies that all your existing audio/picture settings will be erased, and you’ll need to set them up again afterward.
The good news is that this is less invasive than a factory reset, which completely wipes all data and settings on your TV. Here, you’re simply restoring the audio and picture settings back to their original defaults, just like when you first brought your TV home.
Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Home button on the remote.
- Go to Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset > Reset audio/picture settings.
- Press the Play/Pause button three times.
After the reset, see if your audio is back. If not, our next step would be a factory reset.
7. Factory reset the Roku TV
Make sure you’ve tried all other possible fixes before resorting to this option.
Remember, a factory reset wipes out all your settings and data, making your TV as good as new.
After the reset, you’ll need to set up your Roku TV from scratch, including reconnecting to your Wi-Fi network, re-establishing any streaming accounts, etc. So, make sure to take note of all your login credentials and configurations for a smooth TV setting up after the factory reset.
There are three ways to perform a factory reset: through the TV settings, using the Roku app, or through the TV’s physical reset button.
Through the TV settings
If you have a working remote, then you can follow this reset process.
Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Go to Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset > Factory Reset Everything.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your Roku TV.
Through the Roku app
If you have lost your remote or it is not working, you can still reset your Roku TV to fix the sound issue.
One way to do this is to use the Roku mobile app on your smartphone or tablet.
Take note that this only works if your Roku TV is already connected to your home network.
To reset your Roku TV using the mobile app, follow these steps:
- Download and install the Roku mobile app on your smartphone or tablet.
- Make sure your smartphone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Roku TV.
- Open the Roku mobile app and tap on the Remote icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on the Settings icon at the top right corner of the screen.
- Tap on the Reset button and confirm that you want to reset your Roku TV.
If you have a Roku TV with a physical reset button, you can also use that to reset the TV.
Look for a pinhole Reset button, and then press it for 10 seconds while the TV is powered on.
Usually, the Reset button is on the back of your TV, near the antenna, HDMI, and audio connections. But to be more precise, check the user manual for its exact location.
If you’re still having sound problems even after a reset, it might be a hardware issue.
In this case, it would be a good idea to reach out to Roku support or a professional technician for further help.
8. Contact Roku customer support
If you have tried all the troubleshooting steps and still have no sound on your Roku TV, it might be time to contact Roku customer support.
Here are some instances when you should reach out to Roku’s support team:
- If the issue is not resolved after trying all the troubleshooting steps mentioned above provided.
- If you suspect that the issue is hardware-related and requires repair or replacement.
- If your Roku TV is still under warranty and you need assistance with the repair or replacement process.
- If you are experiencing other issues with your Roku device aside from sound problems.
To contact Roku customer support, you can visit their contact page and choose the appropriate department based on your issue.
You can also reach out to them via phone at 1-877-300-8837.
When contacting Roku customer support, be sure to have your Roku TV’s model number and serial number handy. This information can be found on the back of your TV or in the settings menu of your Roku device.
Roku’s customer support team is available to assist you with any issues you may be experiencing and can provide further guidance on how to resolve the problem.
Wrapping up
In conclusion, ensuring seamless sound on your Roku TV is crucial to your viewing experience.
If you’re experiencing sound issues, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to fix the problem.
Start with checking if the TV is accidentally put on mute, and then perform a power cycle.
If power cycling still didn’t do the trick, here are your options:
- Restart the Roku TV
- Check cable connections
- Disable audio leveling
- Tweak audio settings
- Update Roku TV’s software
- Reset audio/picture settings
- Factory reset the Roku TV
- Contact Roku customer support
Your TV should be blasting by now after these solutions.