Experiencing technical issues is a typical problem any soundbar user may encounter. However, if you’re not well-versed in audio devices, troubleshooting it without guidance may cause further issues.
If you found your Vizio Soundbar not working, here are solutions our resident audiophiles would like you to try before taking it to the repair shop.
Issue #1: HDMI ARC Not Working
Most audiovisual devices sold in today’s market feature HDMI ARC, so it’s only natural to encounter issues with it. Fortunately, you don’t need to be an expert to resolve this problem.
Solution
When experiencing HDMI ARC issues, do the following steps:
- Restart your Vizio soundbar and TV.
- Press the power buttons and unplug the devices from the outlet. You must wait for ten seconds before turning it back on.
- If that didn’t work, check the ports. Not all HDMI ports are compatible with ARC. Try to disconnect and reconnect the cables before testing it again.
HDMI ARC could also not work due to a damaged cable. You can confirm if the cable is truly dead when you use it to connect to other devices.
Our team suggests exploring your TV settings to ensure that Consumer Electronics Control (CED) is enabled. If all else fails, resort to hard reset. Turn the soundbar off for ten seconds. Press and hold the input and Bluetooth buttons until it reboots.
Issue #2: Vizio Soundbar is Not Working With the TV
Sometimes, the problem doesn’t lie with your soundbar or cables. For such cases, you must check within your TV configurations.
Solution
Your internal TV speaker settings may interfere with your soundbar’s connection. It could lead to lipsync issues, which you can confirm and resolve by turning the internal audio settings off and on.
Issue #3: Bluetooth Pairing Unsuccessful
It’s no secret that Bluetooth technology uses short-range radio frequency[1]. So if you encounter problems in your soundbar’s wireless connections, it could be the settings or external factors causing signal interference.
Solution
The Vizio soundbar is in pairing mode if the LED lights are flashing. If not, you must long-press the speaker’s Bluetooth button. The TV should also have its Bluetooth settings activated for this to work.
Besides that, remember that Bluetooth will only work if your soundbar is close to the TV.
Issue #4: Surround Sound Not Working
If your Vizio soundbar only produces background noise, there’s a high chance that the surround sound feature isn’t working. Here are options you can try.
Solution
Ensure that the subwoofer is hooked and paired properly. Check if cables are plugged into the designated ports behind the woofer setup.
Issue #5: Soundbar’s Rear Speakers Not Working
Besides surround sound, you may encounter issues with the soundbar’s rear speakers. Typically, it’s resolved by tweaking sound channel settings.
Solution
Your sound setup could be in the wrong configuration, so you must explore the TV’s surround sound settings. Proper subwoofer connections could also align the rear speakers to the right sound channels.
Issue #6: Soundbar Not Working With Apps and TVs
Netflix
If the soundbar works in other streaming apps except for Netflix, go to the platform’s audio settings and check if the configurations match your device.
LG TV
Unplug and reconnect the optical cable from the LG TV and push the soundbar’s “Select Function.”
For the input, click Optical. Afterward, go to the TV settings, find the Sound out Speaker section, and select LG Sound Sync.
Vizio TV
For Vizio TV problems, connecting and reconnecting cables should do the trick. If not, try to see if the soundbar is properly hooked into the TV’s Audio Out port.
Samsung Smart TV
You’ll need an optical cable to connect Vizio soundbars to Samsung TVs.
The settings should also be set to Audio Out. Ensure that the PCM audio is selected in the “Expert Settings” section.
Sony TV
If it’s not a cable issue, all you need to do is change Sony TV’s audio settings from TV audio to Audio System.
Issue #7: Power Button Not Working
Another cause why your Vizio soundbar is not working may due to the power button, so you must unplug the cable from the soundbar and the electric outlet. You could also check if the outlet is working with other devices.
Other Troubleshooting Steps to Try
#1: Inspect the Connections
Before attempting other troubleshooting steps, check if the cables are hooked properly. You can push the wires to the port to ensure everything is secure.
#2: Restart the Soundbar
Rebooting your soundbar is the easiest step to resolve a technical issue. You can do it through the power button or remote.
#3: Re-pair the Soundbar With Your Device
Wireless connections are tricky, so there’s a high chance the device wasn’t detected initially. You can reconnect it by turning the Bluetooth off and on again.
#4: Do a Factory Reset
To restore factory settings, you must disconnect from power the soundbar for ten seconds and reconnect the cable.
When to Contact Vizio
When basic troubleshooting doesn’t work, don’t try to mess with your soundbar’s components if you’re not well-versed in repairing these issues. Contact Vizio through email, phone, or its live agent features.
Conclusion
Finding out that your Vizio soundbar is malfunctioning could be frustrating. However, trust us when we say that solving these issues isn’t as hard as it seems with the solutions we discussed. If all else fails, it’s time to contact their reliable customer support.
