LG Soundbar Not Working? How to Troubleshoot and Reset

LG soundbar is a great home theater addition for immersive audio. However, just like any other audio device, these soundbars can have technical issues, sometimes resulting in the LG soundbar not working.

Let’s look at some problems that your LG soundbar may face, why your LG soundbar would stop working, and how you can resolve the problem.

Basic Troubleshooting Steps

Here are some basic troubleshooting steps to help you resolve your LG soundbar problem.

1. Check the power and audio cables for any signs of damage or breakage. Replace the cable when required.
2. Do power cycling of your devices by turning them off, removing all the power and audio cables, letting the soundbar and the audio source rest for about 1-2 minutes, putting the cables back, and testing the connection.
3. Check the power outlet to see if it’s working all right.
4. Check the volume level of the soundbar. Ensure that it’s not muted.
5. Adjust the Audio output settings from the Audio settings according to the connection type you’re using.
6. Refresh the Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity; disconnect the soundbar from the source and reconnect it.

LG Soundbar Troubleshooting

While the basic troubleshooting steps will likely address many issues, some problems might require more detailed attention. Here is a list of issues you may face with your LG soundbar and quick fixes to resolve them.

LG Soundbar Not Turning On

One of the issues that you may face with your LG soundbar is that it won’t turn on despite all your efforts. Although the cables are appropriately plugged in, the soundbar has no signs of broken or damaged parts; the soundbar won’t turn on. 

Potential causes for this problem include a damaged audio cable, incorrect audio output settings on the device, issues related to malware, or outdated firmware.

Fix#1: Check the Cables

The power cables are the first thing you might want to check when fixing this issue. Ensure the power cable is properly plugged in and the power outlet works perfectly. You can test this by plugging another device into the same power outlet to rule out the possibility of a damaged power source.

Furthermore, you should also check if the power cable is damaged or broken from any side. A broken power cable will also halt the soundbar from turning on. Replace the power cable with a new one to fix the problem.

Fix#2: Resetting The LG Soundbar

Resetting the soundbar can also help fix the problem that you’re facing with your LG soundbar; there are two types of Reset that you can try to fix the problem with your LG soundbar: Soft Reset and Hard/Factory Reset.

Soft Reset

In my experience, the soft reset solves most of the problems and works well in this case, too, where your soundbar turns off.

1. Turn off your LG soundbar and remove the power and HDMI/Audio cables.
2. Let the soundbar rest for a minute or two.
3. Connect the power cable back and turn on the Soundbar. 
4. Connect the audio cables back, set the Audio Output from the Settings, and test the connection.

Hard/Factory Reset

If the soft reset doesn’t solve your problem, you can try factory resetting the soundbar to fix the problem. The steps to reset the LG soundbar vary from one model to the other. Here’s a list of LG soundbar models and the steps to reset them.

LG Model	Steps for Factory Reset
SK8Y, SK10Y	Press and hold the Wi-Fi button on the soundbar for over 5 seconds until you see the E2P CLR message. Let the soundbar turn off automatically as the Factory reset completes.
SK5Y	Press and hold the  [-] button on the soundbar and the Auto Sound Field button on the remote control for about 5 seconds until you see the E2P CLR message.
LAS855, 750,550,450, SH5, SH7, SH8, SJ5, SJ7, SJ8, SJ9	Press and hold the [-] button on the soundbar and the Sound Effect button on the remote control until you see the E2P CLR message on the screen.
NB4530 and NB2430A	Press and hold the Stop button on the soundbar and the [0] button on the remote control until you see the E2P CLR message on the screen.
LAS350B	Press and hold the [-] button on the soundbar and the Treble button on the remote control until you see the E2P CLR message on the screen.

Fix#3: Firmware Update

The last fix for this problem is to update your firmware. If your LG soundbar is running an outdated firmware version, it may be susceptible to malware and could keep turning off.  Here are the steps to update the firmware of your LG soundbar.

1. Press the Home button on the Remote. A message will pop up on the bottom of the screen if there’s any update available.
2. Go to Settings Menu and Navigate to the Others Tab.
3. Choose Software from the submenu.
4. Next, select Update, and the system will check for available Firmware updates.
5. In case of available updates, a message will pop up on the screen with the information of the new firmware version.
6. Select Update to start the firmware installation.
7. Allow the updates to be installed. The Soundbar will turn off automatically as the updates are successfully installed.

LG Soundbar Has No Audio

Another issue you might encounter with your LG soundbar is a lack of sound, even though it’s connected to the audio source. According to my experience and research, this could be because of faulty audio output settings, muted audio, damaged audio cable, or a problem with the audio source.

Fix

Here are a few fixes that I would recommend to resolve this problem.

1. Check the volume settings of your LG soundbar. Ensure that the audio is not muted. 
2. Check the audio cable connection. There are three types of connections that your LG soundbar may support, i.e., HDMI ARC, Digital Optical, and AUX input. Plug the cables properly and replace them if you find any broken or damaged ends.
3. Check the audio output settings according to your Audio cable connection.
4. Press the Select Function on the soundbar’s remote and set the Input Mode as HDMI, Optical, or AUX.
5. Next, use the TV remote head to Settings>Sound>Select Sound Out Speaker>Choose LG Sound Sync.

You can even do this without LG Sound Sync. Here are the steps to do so.

1. Connect the audio cable from your soundbar to the audio source.
2. Press the “Select Function” button on the remote and change the input mode to HDMI ARC/Optical/Aux according to your connection type.
3. It will resolve the problem, but the audio will be heard from the TV and the soundbar.

LG Soundbar Not Connecting To Source and Wi-Fi

The LG soundbar not connecting to the audio source is another issue you may face while connecting to any audio source. There are several reasons behind this, including the interference of other Bluetooth devices, obstructions, loose audio connection, WiFi issues, incompatibility of audio source and soundbar, and outdated firmware.

Fix

Here are my recommendations to fix this problem.

1. If you’re connecting the Soundbar to the source via Bluetooth, you must turn off all the other Bluetooth devices in the same room to avoid interference.
2. Remove any obstructions like vases, chairs, or tables between the line of sight of the soundbar and the audio source for wireless connectivity.
3. If you’re using a wired connection like HDMI ARC, Digital Optical, or AUX, go to the audio settings and adjust the audio output according to your connection type.
4. Check the cables for any type of damage or loose ends.
5. Check the WiFi signal strength, and ensure that the Wi-Fi and soundbar are not too far from each other. 
6. If the audio source is incompatible with the LG soundbar model you’re using, it won’t connect. So, check the compatibility of the two devices before setting up the connection.
7. Update the firmware if required. Follow the steps mentioned above to update the firmware of your LG soundbar version.
8. If nothing else seems to work, you may try a factory reset.

Keeps Disconnecting From Source

Your LG soundbar may continue disconnecting from the source if the devices are too far from each other or not in the connectivity range. It may also result from loose cables or another Bluetooth active device in the same room, interrupting the connection and causing the LG soundbar to connect to the second device. Furthermore, it might be a problem with the streaming platform or the internet connection, making you think the audio is cutting out.

Fix

Here are some solutions that always worked for me when I had this issue with my LG soundbar.

1. Fixing the connection cables to avoid loose ends or replacing them in case of damage.
2. Setting the audio output according to the connection type.
3. If you’re using a Bluetooth connection, try to put the two devices in line of sight and remove obstruction between them.
4. Forget the existing Wi-Fi connection and refresh it for a quick internet connection.
5. Turn off any other Bluetooth devices in the same room to avoid any signal interruption.
6. Change the streaming platform to rule out the possibility of a problem with the soundbar. If changing the streaming platform resolves the issue, then there is no problem with your LG soundbar.

LG Soundbar Blinking Red

Another issue that your LG Soundbar may show up is that the LED light on your Soundbar starts blinking red. This indicates that your LG soundbar subwoofer is turned off or disconnected. You can simply fix this by turning on the subwoofer and allowing it to connect automatically.

If the soundbar doesn’t connect automatically, press the ID Set button at the backside of the subwoofer for about 5-10 seconds and wait for the connection to establish.

Common Problems with LG Soundbar and Solutions

Soundbar not working with LG TV

A user reported that they’ve connected their LG SP2 soundbar to their LG C2 TV using the HDMI ARC port. Despite setting the sound settings to ARC, there was no sound output. A mute symbol appeared on the screen whenever they attempted to adjust the volume.

Suggested Solutions:

1. Unmuting: A simple solution suggested was to press the unmute button on the TV or soundbar.
2. Change Input Source: Ensure the soundbar’s input is set to opt/hdmi arc instead of other options like LGTV or just HDMI.
3. Power Cycle: For some users, unplugging the power cable from the soundbar, waiting, and plugging it back in resolved the issue. This appears to reset the connection.
4. Audio Output Switching: Switching the audio output from the soundbar to TV speakers and then back to ARC sometimes resolved the issue for some users.
5. Factory Reset: In some cases, users found success by factory resetting the TV and then only plugging in the soundbar. After ensuring the soundbar is recognized, other HDMI inputs were then connected to the TV.
6. Check eARC and Simplink Settings: It was suggested to ensure that eARC is turned on and that Simplink (CEC) is enabled on the TV.

ARC connection suddenly not working

Another user mentioned that the ARC connection between their LG OLED TV and LG soundbar suddenly stopped working. The TV’s remote control also wasn’t controlling external devices, hinting at a possible HDMI-CEC issue.

Suggested Solutions:

1. HDMI Cable Replacement: Some users found that replacing their HDMI cable resolved the ARC issue.
2. External Devices Conflicts: It was discovered that certain external devices, when connected to the TV, could interfere with the ARC connection. Unplugging these devices temporarily restored the ARC function.
3. Power Cycle: Unplugging both the TV and soundbar for an extended period (e.g., 10 minutes) and then plugging them back in resolved the issue for some.
4. Update/Downgrade Firmware: In some cases, updating or downgrading the soundbar’s firmware helped resolve connectivity issues.
5. Reset TV and Soundbar: Hard resetting the soundbar and draining all its power, followed by turning off CEC in the TV settings, unplugging everything, and then reconnecting in a particular sequence seemed to solve the problem for some.

General Tips:

• Ensure you are using a quality HDMI cable that supports ARC.
• Regularly check for firmware updates for both the TV and soundbar.
• If you’ve recently added a new device to your setup, consider unplugging it to see if it’s causing a conflict with the ARC connection.
• For persistent issues, consider seeking technical support or visiting online forums for model-specific solutions.

Note: The above solutions are based on user experiences. Effectiveness can vary based on individual setups and specific models.

Final Word

While it’s common to face issues with your LG soundbar, approaching the problem systematically and understanding the underlying cause will help you find a solution.

Troubleshooting the potential causes, such as cable issues, compatibility, firmware bugs, device interference, and faulty settings, can help resolve the issue. In addition, if the soundbar seems broken or damaged and no troubleshooting works, you may contact customer service for a repair or replacement.

Finally, with patience and correct troubleshooting steps, you can easily solve all the problems with your LG soundbar.

Frequently Asked Questions