How To Reset TCL Soundbar?  Step by Step Guide

TCL soundbars have gained popularity with several soundbar manufacturers for their great audio quality and immersive listening experience. However, TCL soundbars may sometimes start facing problems that seem problematic. In this case, you can try to reset the soundbar to solve most of the issues.

Let’s find out why you might have to reset your TCL soundbar and how to reset each model.

When Do You Need To Reset TCL Soundbar?

1. No Sound: One of the problems that you may face with the TCL soundbar is that you can hear no sound, although it’s connected to the source. There could be many reasons, including low volume, wrong audio settings, problems with the source, or even a software bug. In this case, a factory reset can help solve the problem easily. 
2. Glitchy Audio: The TCL soundbar has great audio quality. However, sometimes the audio starts glitching, and you can even hear an audio cut off occasionally. The problem may resolve on its own at times; other times, you’ll have to restore the soundbar to factory settings to fix the issue. 
3. Keeps Turning Off: Another reason why you need to perform a factory reset is when your TCL soundbar keeps turning off. There could be several reasons behind this issue, including outdated firmware, firmware bugs, faulty settings, low charging, and a broken button. If nothing else seems to fix this issue, you may try a Factory reset.
4. Stuck on Standby: Another reason why you need to reset your TCL soundbar to the factory setting is when it’s stuck on Standby mode. The TCL soundbar may turn to standby mode if it’s not connected to the source or not in use for about 10-15 minutes. However, you may face situations when the soundbar remains in standby mode even after it’s connected to the source. You can perform a factory reset to fix this problem. 
5. Software Bug: A software bug could be another potential reason you will have to perform a factory reset. A software bug could be because of an outdated firmware version or a virus in the main memory of the soundbar. Performing a factory reset may help resolve the issue. 
6. Not Connecting to Source: You can connect the TCL soundbar to the source via wired and wireless connections. However, sometimes, the soundbar would only connect to the audio source after all the efforts. In this case, performing a factory reset can solve the problem. 

How to Reset TCL Soundbar?

Alto 8i,  Alto 6+, Alto 9+, 3158 Soundbar

Here’s how to perform a factory reset on the TCL Alto 8i, Alto 6+, Alto 9+ soundbar. 

• Put the soundbar in standby mode. 
• Locate the play/pause/ok button on the soundbar’s remote.
• Press and hold the  Play/Pause/OK button for 5 seconds.  
• Wait until you see the FACTORY RESET option.
• Press the Play/Pause/OK button to start the reset. 
• Wait for the reset to complete and the soundbar to restart automatically. 

Another method to Reset your TCL Soundbar is to locate the RESET button at the backside of the soundbar. Hold this button for about 30 seconds to start the factory reset.

Troubleshooting Steps If Factory Reset Doesn’t Work

If your TCL soundbar is still facing a problem or is not working properly, you may follow the given troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem. 

Updating Firmware:

TCL keeps updating its audio devices by enhancing the software and sending updates through its official platforms. However, suppose you have not updated your TCL soundbar firmware for a long time. In that case, you might face many problems, including glitchy audio, not connecting to the source, the soundbar turning off repeatedly, and many more. 

In this case, you need to update the firmware version of the soundbar to resolve the issue. Here’s how you can update the firmware of your TCL soundbar. 

1. Go to TCL’s official website and check if any updates are available for your TCL soundbar model.
2. Download the file on your Computer.
3. Use an empty USB drive or format it before copying the updated file.
4. Now, turn on the soundbar and insert the USB storage in the soundbar.
5. Switch the soundbar to USB mode using the Source button on top of it.
6. Wait as the updates are installed in the soundbar. The LED lights of the soundbar will turn solid as the updates are being installed. 
7. As the LED lights turn off, the updates are completely installed. Do not remove the USB drive abruptly. 
8. Wait for the soundbar to restart and remove the USB drive.
9. Now, disconnect the soundbar from the power outlet and leave it for about a minute before turning it back on.

Checking the cables:

The soundbar not connecting to the source, not turning on, or having an audio cut out now and then could be because of the broken, loose, and damaged cables. Inspect the audio cable and power cable connection to see if they are intact, in the right ports, and not broken or damaged from any end. 

Check the Power Button:

Sometimes, the TCL soundbar turns off because of a broken power button or if the power button is jammed/stuck. If the button is broken, you’ll have to seek professional help; in the other case, you may use a Bobby pin or a common pin to help release the stuck button. 

Check Audio Settings:

If your soundbar is experiencing no audio or glitchy audio problems even after performing the factory reset, you need to check the audio settings. 

If you have connected via a wired connection, make sure that you have adjusted the audio output settings according to the connection type,  i.e., for HDMI ARC/eARC, the audio output should be set to ARC or eARC. 

In addition, you need to check if the volume is muted or very low. Try unmuting or increasing the volume to fix the problem. 

Final Words

It’s common to have several issues with your TCL soundbar, just like any other electronic device. However, factory resetting the soundbar resolves most of the problems like soundbar not having any audio out, not connecting to source, not turning on or keeps turning off, and producing glitchy audio.

The steps to factory reset all the TCL soundbars are the same, and quite easier to implement. However, sometimes even the factory reset doesn’t resolve the issue that you’re facing. In this case, you need to contact the customer service to guide you about the problem and may as well request a repair or exchange if the warranty is valid.