12 fixes for no sound on apple tv!

Streaming movies and TV programs to your TV are easier than ever with Apple TV, but some users have reported having trouble with the audio. The vast majority of Apple TV owners are satisfied with the product because of the ease and convenience it brings to their TV viewing. However, the device has been known to have audio problems, and fixing it may range from simple to technical, based on the source of the issue.

If you’re facing an Apple TV no sound issue, this article will walk you through some troubleshooting methods, step by step. If the audio on your Apple TV isn’t working, this article will tell you why and what you can do about it!

Apple tv no sound?

The best way to fix your Apple TV with no sound is by ensuring you’ve selected the right speaker system and make sure Audio Mode is set to Auto. You must also unplug your modem from its power source and restart the modem. Additionally, make sure that your Apple TV is not on Mute mode and that your audio is not set to Dolby Digital 5.1 because your older TV can’t process it. If there is still no sound from your Apple TV, keep reading.

apple tv
Apple TV

How-to fix apple tv with no sound

The sound on your Apple TV may be driving you crazy for various reasons. You can solve the issue in a couple of minutes if you take a systematic approach to it and eliminate all possible causes. The no sound issue on your Apple can be resolved quickly using the solutions listed below. All of these solutions are less technical and easy to implement.

Check Mute Mode On Your Apple TV

Make sure your Apple TV is not muted before attempting any other fixes. It may seem obvious, but if you check user comments in forums, you’ll see that many people have panicked when they hear no sound from the Apple TV app, only to discover later that their Apple TV was just on mute. All Apple TV remotes include a mute button, so it’s not surprising that it gets accidentally pressed from time to time.

Also Read: Lost your Apple TV Remote? Here’s what to do next

Ensure the volume isn’t turned down on your Apple TV if it isn’t already muted. If the audio on your Apple TV keeps cutting in and out, check your connection speed. Do a speed test and if necessary, reboot your wireless network

If these solutions don’t help, try the next troubleshooting method.

Play Something Else On Your Apple TV

If you are attempting to play a clip or movie on your Apple TV and find that the audio is missing, there is a possibility that the device is not causing the problem. There is a chance that the video you played has an audio issue. 

Before thinking about correcting the sound issue, we suggest our readers verify this option first. Simply watch a couple of other movies or listen to a few more podcasts on your device.

Check The HDMI Cable

If we can enjoy high-definition audio and video today, part of the thanks goes to the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable, which transmits signals between your home theater components. But this also means that you will probably have audio problems on your Apple TV device if there are issues with your HDMI cable. 

HDMI Cable
HDMI Cable

Ensure your HDMI cable is not damaged, broken, or incorrectly connected since this is the most common cause of a poor/inactive connection. To check the audio output of your Apple TV, use a different HDMI cable if you suspect you have a damaged one; otherwise, try a gentle reset of the HDMI connection or a different cable. 

Follow these steps if your Apple TV has no audio when connected through HDMI.

  1. Unplug the HDMI cable from the port
  2. Clean the dust in the HDMI port as it might be blocking the metal contacts
  3. Wait for 30 seconds and replug the HDMI cable

Change The Audio Mode To Auto

Your television won’t have sound until you hook your Apple TV to the correct speakers. Turning the audio settings on your Apple TV to “Auto” should resolve the issue. To adjust the Apple TV’s sound settings, follow these steps. 

Apple TV Audio Mode settings
Apple TV Audio Mode settings
  1. Open the Settings menu on your Apple TV
  2. Choose the Video and Audio option
  3. Change the audio mode to “Auto” 

Reset The External Audio Device Linked To Your Apple TV

Sometimes the source of the problem is not the Apple TV itself but the external audio device connected to it. That’s a problem that may arise with any brand of TV.

It’s possible that the soundbar or external speakers you’ve attached to your Apple TV are to blame for the lack of sound. We suggest a soft reset on all connected audio devices to resolve this problem. Follow the steps below:

  1. Unplug your Apple TV from the external audio device
  2. Test audio on your Apple TV without the external device
  3. Shut down your audio device and wait for 30 seconds 
  4. Turn on the audio device and replug it to your Apple TV and test the audio

Once you have reconnected the Apple TV’s audio system, you should verify that the TV’s sound is functioning properly. If the Apple TV’s audio malfunctions even when no external speakers are plugged in, try the additional methods below. 

Disable Dolby Digital 

Your TV may not be receiving a strong enough signal to play sounds from your Apple TV. By disabling Dolby Digital, the signal strength to your TV will be amplified. 

Apple TV Dolby Digital settings
Apple TV Dolby Digital settings
  1. Go to Settings 
  2. Select the Audio & Video option
  3. Find and click on Dolby Digital Out Setting and switch it from On to Off

Change TV Audio Output To PCM

If you’ve already adjusted the audio settings on your Apple TV  but still don’t hear anything, it may be because of your TV’s audio settings. To switch to PCM audio, you’ll need a TV remote. PCM is an acronym for Pulse Code Modification, which also has a more familiar name — Stereo mode. So how do you activate it? Read on! 

  1. Go to your TV’s Settings
  2. Then go to the Sound Settings option
  3. Select the Audio option and then click Audio Format
  4. Finally, select PCM as the format 

Different manufacturers and models may have different names for the menus where these options are stored. You may use the preceding instructions as a roadmap to help you choose the appropriate options, but you may need to further explore those settings to get the results you want. If changing to PCM does not work, try changing it to Stereo, as shown in the next method.

Change TV Audio Format To Stereo

The Apple TV streaming device will always output audio at the greatest possible quality, whether connected to a stereo or other home audio setup. Dolby Digital provides the best audio quality available today, but if your TV or audio system doesn’t really support this format, switching the audio format to Stereo may resolve any sound difficulties you may be experiencing with your Apple TV. 

Follow the steps below to change the audio format.

  1. Use the Apple TV remote to open the menu 
  2. The second action is to choose the Settings menu 
  3. Now, choose the Audio and Video option and then select Audio Format
  4. Finally, click on Change Format and then choose Stereo 

Following this method, you should be able to restore audio to your Apple TV since the majority of media files are encoded in Stereo.

Software Update

Apple often releases software updates for its various electronic devices. And it’s primary function is to roll out updated features and patch issues. So, if you haven’t updated your Apple TV recently, it might be the cause of your sound problems — it might be due to an error in the software. 

Here’s how to update your Apple TV to the newest firmware and fix the problem: 

  1. Go to the Settings menu
  2. Now, go to System > Software Updates
  3. Click the Update Software option and then Download and Install

Force Restart

If adjusting the Apple TV’s audio settings does not fix the problem, a hard reset of the streaming device might do the trick. Many people have reported that this solution helped them restore the audio on their Apple TV, and they strongly recommend it. 

Apple TV Restart
Apple TV Restart

To force restart your Apple TV device, follow the instructions below. These instructions are also available at the Apple Support center

  1. On an Apple TV remote, press and hold the Menu and TV buttons simultaneously, but if you have a first-generation Siri remote, press and hold the Back and TV buttons simultaneously.
  2. Wait till the Apple TV’s status light begins flashing quickly. 
  3. When the status light begins flashing, unplug the TV from the wall. 
  4. Wait for 5 seconds and then replug your TV. 
  5. Now, go to the Settings > Systems > Restart.

Power Cycle Apple TV 

You may often resolve minor difficulties with your Apple TV by doing a soft reset or power cycle. A soft reset on your device will force-close any open programs and delete any unnecessary data stored in RAM. Follow the instructions below to power cycle your Apple TV: 

  1. Disconnect your TV from the wall. 
  2. Now, wait for 1 minute.
  3. Press and hold the power button at the same time for 10 seconds to discharge the TV’s capacitor, thereby resetting it. 

Factory Reset Apple TV

If you have already tried the solutions above and your Apple TV’s sound still isn’t working, a hard reset may be your only option. If you do a hard reset on your Apple TV, it will return to factory settings and delete all of your data. It’s important to shut down your Apple TV and disconnect it from the network before performing a hard reset. 

To factory reset your Apple TV, follow the following instructions. 

  1. Choose the Menu option using the Apple TV’s remote. 
  2. Go to the Settings > System > Reset.
  3. Now, click the Factory Reset option and then choose the Yes button. 
  4. After this process, before you do anything else — verify that the audio output is set to Stereo.

Get In Touch With Apple TV Support

If the previous solutions fail to fix the no sound issue with your Apple TV, you will need assistance from a professional. To address this issue, We suggest contacting Apple’s support team

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope the above methods help you fix the no-sound issue on your Apple TV. Now, let’s get to answering some FAQs.

How do you get audio on Apple TV?

You can get sound on your Apple TV by going to Settings > Video and Audio > Calibration on your Apple TV and then selecting Wireless Audio Sync. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect your speakers to your iPhone.

Why do I have no sound when streaming?

Check to see if the TV is muted or if the volume is all the way down. Also, verify that your WiFi connection is functioning properly.

Conclusion

Having trouble with the audio on your Apple TV is a common problem. If the audio format is set to Dolby Digital 5.1 and your TV isn’t up to the task of decoding it, your Apple TV may produce no sound. We hope this guide helps you fix the issue and get the sound back on your Apple TV. Let us know in the comments!

If you are facing any streaming issues with your Apple TV, check our guide on fixing it: How to resolve any Apple TV streaming problems

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About Melissa

Hey! I'm Mel, I write the occasional article for Spacehop, amongst other things. I love meeting new people and chatting, so if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

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