When your Sony Bravia TV has a picture but no sound, it's usually a simple setting or a handshake issue with an external device. The good news is you can almost always fix it yourself without a service call.
Check Your Remote and Volume
First, press the volume up button on your Sony remote. Look for the mute icon on the screen to make sure it's not active. If you're using a soundbar or AV receiver remote, try that one too, as it might be controlling a different volume level.
Also, check if the TV's internal speakers are disabled. Press the Quick Settings button on your remote, go to Sound, and ensure TV Speakers is set to On if you're not using external audio.
Perform a Power Cycle
Unplug the TV power cord from the wall outlet. Wait a full 60 seconds before plugging it back in. This clears the TV's memory and resets the audio processor, which fixes a lot of temporary glitches.
While you're at it, if you have a soundbar or receiver connected, power cycle those devices in the same way. Sometimes the communication between devices just needs a fresh start.
Verify Your Audio Output
Head into the main settings. Press the Help button on your remote and scroll down to select Status & Diagnostics, then Product & System Information. This screen shows your current audio output.
For more control, go to Settings > Display & Sound > Audio output. Make sure the correct output is selected, like TV Speakers, Audio system, or HDMI ARC device.
Inspect HDMI ARC and CEC Settings
If your sound is coming from a soundbar via HDMI, it must be plugged into the HDMI port on your Bravia labeled ARC or eARC. This is often HDMI 3 or HDMI 4, but check your specific model.
Then, enable Bravia Sync. Go to Settings > Watching TV > External inputs > Bravia Sync settings. Turn on Bravia Sync control. This allows proper audio communication over the HDMI cable.
Adjust the Digital Audio Out Format
Some external audio systems can't decode certain high-quality audio signals, which results in silence. In your TV's Settings > Display & Sound > Audio output, find Digital audio out or Dolby Digital Plus output.
Try changing this setting. PCM is the most basic and compatible format. If that works, you can try switching it back to Auto 1 or Dolby Digital to see if your system supports it.
Check for a Software Update
Sony regularly releases firmware updates that fix audio bugs, especially related to HDMI ARC and streaming apps. Go to Settings > System > Software update and select System software update.
Let the TV check for and install any available updates. I've seen updates specifically resolve sound dropouts with popular streaming services.
Test a Different Source or App
Is the sound missing from everything, or just one input? Switch from your streaming app to live TV or a different HDMI input. If sound works on other sources, the problem is isolated.
If it's just one app, like Netflix or Disney+, try force-closing it. Press the Home button, navigate to the app, press the Enter button, and select Close app. Then reopen it.
Examine Your External Connections
For any external device, unplug and firmly re-seat the HDMI cable at both the TV and the device. If possible, try a different HDMI cable altogether, as cables can fail.
Also, try a different HDMI port on the TV. This rules out a problem with a specific port's hardware.
Reset Your Sound Settings
If your audio configurations have gotten mixed up, a reset can help. Go to Settings > Display & Sound > Sound. Scroll down and select Advanced settings, then look for Reset sound settings.
This will return all audio equalizers, balances, and modes to their defaults without affecting any other TV settings.
Test the TV Speakers Alone
To rule out external gear, disconnect everything from the TV's HDMI and optical audio ports. Go back to Settings > Display & Sound > Audio output and set the output to TV Speakers.
Play some content from the TV's built-in apps or tuner. If you get sound now, the issue is with your external audio setup or the connection to it.
