Your TV shows video, the volume is up, and mute is off, but audio still stays silent. The usual cause is a wrong output route, a stuck device, one app using an incompatible format, a loose cable, or TV software that needs a restart. Start with the quick output checks, then move through restarts, cable tests, app audio, diagnostics, and software updates.
Check the simple audio path first
This fixes sound that is being sent away from the TV speakers or failing on only one source.
Switch to a different channel, streaming app, or HDMI source and play something with sound.
If another source works, return to the original app, channel, or device and treat the problem as source-specific.
Remove anything plugged into the TV headphone jack, because some Sony TVs stop speaker audio when headphones or another device are connected there.
On Roku, open the Roku mobile app, choose Remote, and tap the Headphone icon again to turn off Headphone Mode.
If you use a Roku voice remote with a headphone jack, unplug the headphones from the remote when the headphone icon is showing on the TV.
Put sound back on the TV speakers
When the picture works but the TV has no sound, the set may be sending audio to a soundbar, receiver, or another output instead of its built-in speakers.
On Sony BRAVIA TVs, press Quick Settings or HOME, then go to Settings > Display & Sound > Audio Out > Speakers > TV Speakers. Another Sony path is Settings > Sound > Speakers > TV Speakers. Sony gives these as examples, so the steps and options vary by model and software version; check your model's manual if your menu differs.
On VIZIO TVs, open Menu or All Settings, then go to Audio > Audio Out > TV Speakers. Also make sure TV Speakers is set to On in the audio settings.
On Fire TV Smart TVs, open Settings > Display & Sounds > Audio Output, then confirm the TV or intended audio output is selected.
Restart the TV instead of just waking it
Hold Power on a Samsung TV remote while the TV is on until the TV turns off and back on.
On Sony TVs, press and hold POWER until Power Off appears, or press and hold POWER until a menu appears and choose Restart.
For a Sony menu restart, use Quick Settings > Settings > System > Restart > Restart.
If that Sony path is not on your model, use HOME > Settings > About > Restart > Restart, or HOME > Settings > Device Preferences > About > Restart > Restart.
For a full Sony power reset, turn the TV off, unplug the TV power cord for at least 60 seconds, plug it back in, and turn the TV on.
On VIZIO TVs, turn the TV off, unplug it from power, wait briefly, plug it back in, and turn it on.
For Fire TV, use Settings > My Fire TV > Restart, or unplug the power cord or adapter and plug it back in after 3 seconds.
For Netflix sound trouble on a Roku, turn off the device, unplug it if it has a power cable, leave it completely off for 15 seconds, then turn it on and try Netflix again.
For a smart TV with Netflix picture but no sound, Netflix instead says to unplug the TV, press its power button once and wait 1 minute, or leave it unplugged for 3 minutes, then plug it back in and try Netflix again.
If sound vanished after standby or after switching apps, a true restart often clears the stuck audio state faster than changing settings.
Inspect cables and inputs that silently break audio
The most common hardware cause is a loose, damaged, or mismatched cable between the TV and the device providing the sound.
Unplug the HDMI or other external-device cable at both ends, then reconnect it firmly to the TV and the device.
Move the cable to another available TV port and test the same source again.
Try a new cable if the sound still drops out or never returns.
On Samsung TVs with the HDMI test, first set the TV source to the HDMI input being tested.
Then go to All Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Signal Information > HDMI Cable Test > Start.
For Roku players, make sure the correct input is selected on the TV, AVR, or soundbar.
If the Roku player uses composite cables, check the red and white audio connectors at both ends.
For Apple TV, unplug both ends of the HDMI cable and plug them firmly back in, then try another HDMI cable.
If the Apple TV runs through an HDMI switch or receiver, connect Apple TV directly to the TV to test.
Send audio to the soundbar or receiver
Use this method when the TV speakers are not your main output and sound should come from a soundbar, AVR, or home theater system. The fix is usually the TV output setting, ARC or eARC, CEC, the soundbar input, or the digital audio format.
On Sony BRAVIA TVs, set output to the audio system with Quick Settings or HOME > Settings > Display & Sound > Audio output > Speakers > Audio system.
Another Sony path is Settings > Sound > Speakers > Audio system.
For HDMI ARC or eARC, connect the TV HDMI IN port marked ARC or eARC to the soundbar HDMI OUT port marked ARC or eARC with a high-speed HDMI cable.
On Sony setups, turn BRAVIA Sync control on, set the soundbar Control for HDMI to On, and set Audio Return Channel or TV Audio Input mode to On or Auto.
Press INPUT or TV on the soundbar remote and make sure the soundbar is set to TV.
On VIZIO HDMI ARC setups, open System settings, turn CEC and ARC functions on, then use Device Discovery in the CEC settings.
On Roku TV, enable ARC or eARC from Home > Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC), highlight ARC or eARC, and press OK to check the box.
In the same Roku menu, check System audio control and 1-touch play.
On a TCL 6-Series Google TV, the hardware Google documents this route for, open Settings > Channel and Inputs, turn on eARC Mode under Inputs and HDMI Control under Control Other Devices (CEC), then go back and use Settings > Display & Sound > Audio > Audio Output > ARC.
If ARC still gives no soundbar audio on that set, open Display & Sound > Audio > Audio output > Advanced Settings > Digital Audio Out and choose Auto. On other Google TV hardware, follow your TV maker's audio-output instructions.
If ARC or eARC still gives no sound, use optical audio and set the Sony TV path Quick Settings or HOME > Settings > Display & Sound > Audio output > Digital audio out > PCM.
On the soundbar, set ARC or TV Input to OFF and choose Optical for TV audio input when that option is present.
Reset only the sound settings
This fixes incorrect sound modes or audio settings without wiping the whole TV.
On Samsung TVs, open Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > Reset Sound > Yes.
On Fire TV Smart TVs, open Settings > Display & Sounds > Audio settings, then use Reset to restore sound settings to default.
After the reset, return to the normal speaker or soundbar output setting and test the same channel, app, or HDMI device again.
Fix one streaming app with no sound
Start a different show, movie, video, or app so you know whether the failure is limited to one service.
In Netflix, change the audio option from surround sound or 5.1 to Stereo when the TV or receiver cannot decode the selected surround format.
On newer Roku models, start the show, press the Down arrow while it plays, open Audio & Subtitles, and choose the non-5.1 audio option.
On older Roku models, use the title's description page instead: select Audio and Subtitles, then choose Stereo under Audio.
In YouTube on a TV, start a video, open the player control bar, go to 5.1 surround sound, and turn it on or off. The control only appears when the video and the device both support 5.1, which YouTube lists as all 2021-and-later TVs, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, and most Fire TV devices; on a 2020-or-earlier TV, check with the TV manufacturer.
For YouTube sound processing, open Settings at the bottom of the video and uncheck Stable Volume.
To test YouTube voice processing, open Settings > Audio and check or uncheck Voice boost.
In Disney+, select the keyboard, audio, or subtitles icon while streaming, adjust the Audio selection, and resume playback.
If only one Netflix title has no audio while others work, use Netflix Viewing Activity, find the title, choose Report a Problem, follow the instructions, and submit Report Problem.
On Fire TV, clear a broken app with Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > the problem app > Clear Cache or Clear Data.
If the Fire TV app can be removed, use Uninstall and reinstall it from the Amazon Appstore.
On Google TV, clear the app with Settings > Apps > See all apps > the problem app > Clear data, then play the video, music, or game again.
Keep app fixes scoped to the service that fails; when several apps are silent, return to the TV output, cable, and external-audio checks.
Run the TV diagnostic tools
Built-in diagnostics separate a TV speaker problem from an HDMI device, app, cable, soundbar, or receiver problem.
On Samsung TVs, run the sound self-test from All Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Sound Test.
Some Samsung models use Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Start Sound Test.
On Sony TVs with the Help diagnostic, disconnect all devices from the TV, press Help on the supplied remote, then choose Problem diagnosis > Picture/Sound symptoms > Start.
On Fire TV devices and Fire TV Smart TVs, open Settings > Display & Sounds > Audio and Video Diagnostics.
If the diagnostic sound plays through the TV, focus next on the app, HDMI source, soundbar, receiver, or cable. If the diagnostic sound does not play, reset sound settings and update the TV software.
Update software before a factory reset
Use this method after output settings, restarts, cables, app fixes, and diagnostics have not restored sound. Updates can fix TV or streaming-platform software issues, while factory reset stays last because it erases data on platforms that support it.
On Samsung smart TVs, go to Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now.
To enable Samsung automatic updates, open Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Auto Update.
On Google TV, open Settings > System > About > System update > Check for update, then install any available updates.
On Roku, use Home > Settings > System > Software update > Check Now.
For TVs that cannot update online, use the official manufacturer download route for your model. Samsung provides firmware and software downloads from Manuals and software, Sony provides model-specific Downloads and Firmware & Software, and Roku TV systems can use tvupdate.roku.com with the TV brand, Hardware ID, and Serial Number from Settings > System > About.
If updates do not fix a Google TV sound problem, use Settings > System > About > Factory reset as the last step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my TV have picture but no sound when it is not muted?
The sound is usually routed to another output, blocked by a headphone feature or Roku Headphone Mode (called private listening in older Roku guidance), failing on one app or source, interrupted by a cable or external audio device, or stuck until the TV restarts.
Should I reset the whole TV to fix no sound?
Use factory reset only after output settings, restarts, cable checks, app audio settings, diagnostics, sound reset, and software updates. On Google TV, factory reset erases data.
Why does only Netflix or YouTube have no sound?
The app may be using an audio format your TV or receiver cannot decode. Change Netflix from 5.1 to Stereo, toggle YouTube 5.1 or audio processing options, then clear app data if the issue stays app-specific.
What should I do if my soundbar has no sound but TV speakers work?
Set the TV output to the audio system, confirm the soundbar input is TV, enable ARC or eARC and CEC, reseat the cable, and use optical with PCM when ARC is unavailable or still silent.