How to Fix It When Roku Sound Is Not Working GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Streaming > Streaming Devices
How to Fix It When Roku Sound Is Not Working
Resolving sound issues with your Roku dongle
By Jon Martindale Jon Martindale Writer Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 8, 2022 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Streaming Devices Roku The Ultimate Guide to Roku Chromecast Fire TV Apple TV If you can't hear anything coming out of your TV, it might be that your Roku is not sending audio correctly. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can fix this problem. Here's how to get your Roku's sound back. Is Roku Having Sound Issues
The first step in fixing a Roku sound problem is making sure it's the Roku causing the problem. There are some fixes for your Roku sound not working that are as simple as pressing a button. Turn up the volume: It might seem simple, but it's easy to forget you turned the volume way down last time you watched something and forgot to turn it back up. If your Roku remembered it, the volume may be too low for you to hear it. If the remote won't let you turn up the volume, pop in some fresh batteries. Is your TV muted? Try checking your main TV remove to see if the mute button has been pressed. If it has, press it again to unmute your TV and your Roku. Check the app: Are you using Roku Private Listening? This is the feature that lets you listen to your shows through the smartphone app. If so, your sound might be coming through your headphones. If you turn off this feature, the audio will be routed back to your TV again. Is everything on? If you're using an external A/V system, surround sound speakers, or a soundbar which have their own power, make sure they're all turned on and the right inputs are selected. Why Is My Volume Not Working on My Roku Remote
If you've tried the above fixes and the remote still isn't working, it may be the Roku itself or some other hardware it's attached to. Here's how to fix them. Turn it off and on again: The simplest way to do this is by using the remote, but you can perform a hard reset by unplugging the Roku and its USB power cable. Wait 10 seconds, then plug them back in and try again. Change port: Try plugging the Roku into a different HDMI port. If it works, the previous TV input may be faulty. Change A/V port: If your Roku is connected to an A/V system, make sure it's connected to the correct port. Either way, change the port and see if that works. If you're using a composite cable connection, make sure they are plugged in to the correct ports too. If your Roku's audio travels through any cables, consider replacing them with ones you know work. Change the sound settings: You can adjust sound settings for the Roku by going to Settings > Audio and then tweaking the options for your particular setup. If you're using an optical cable, you'll want to set HDMI and S/PDIF to Dolby D. Turn off surround sound: Switch to stereo mode in order to double-check if it's your Roku or your surround sound setup. Navigate to Settings > Audio and set Audio mode to Stereo. Then set HDMI to PCM-Stereo. If the stereo setting works, switch back to surround sound. FAQ How do I hook up a soundbar to a Roku TV? You'll use the HDMI ARC port to connect a soundbar to your Roku TV. When you set up a Roku Smart Soundbar, your TV will detect the device automatically and enable default audio settings. With other soundbars, enable HDMI-CEC by going to Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC) > System audio control > 1-touch play. To enable ARC, use System audio control > ARC. Why does my Roku have sound but no picture? If you can hear your content but your screen is black, there may be a problem with the cables hooking up your Roku device to a TV. Make sure your TV's HDMI and power cables are plugged in and working; if you're using an HDMI splitter, try plugging the HDMI cable directly into your Roku device. Also try changing the HDMI input on the TV, testing the Roku device on another TV, and (last resort) resetting the Roku to factory settings. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Fix it When Roku Volume Is Not Working 8 Ways to Fix It When an iPhone Speaker Is Not Working How to Fix It When a Keyboard Won't Type How to Fix It When Your Headphones Aren't Working on Windows 10 No Sounds on Windows 11? Here's How to Fix It How to Fix It When Roku TV Sound Is Not Working How to Fix It When There is No Sound on Your iPhone How to Fix It When Your Roku Remote Is Not Working How to Fix It When WhatsApp Voice Messages Aren't Working How to Fix It When an Apple TV Remote Isn't Working How to Fix it When iPhone Call Volume Is Low How to Fix It When a Lenovo's Mic Is Not Working How to Fix It When a Laptop Microphone is Not Working How to Fix It When a Chromecast's Sound Is Not Working How to Fix It When Sound Isn't Working on Instagram How to Fix It When Spotify Is Not Working Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies