TV has a picture but no sound

Start with the source that produced the picture. If the silent content comes from a cable box, game console or streaming device, it has its own audio settings and volume. If the TV’s home screen or another app has sound but one HDMI device does not, the problem is more likely in that source or its connection than in every TV speaker.

1. Press Mute once, then raise the TV volume. If the programme comes from a box or console, raise its volume or check its audio output too.

   Sound returns if the TV or source had been muted or set too low.

   If that does not help: If no sound returns, test another app or source before changing speaker settings.

2. Check whether the TV is set to play through internal speakers, a soundbar, receiver, optical output, HDMI ARC/eARC or a paired wireless device.

   The selected destination should match equipment that is powered on and connected. LG’s sound guidance calls out Sound Out selection and the volume of attached devices.

   If that does not help: If you recently removed or disconnected equipment, select the output you actually use by following the TV manual; menu paths differ by model.

3. If a soundbar or receiver is used, confirm its input matches the TV connection and that it is not muted or in standby.

   The external speaker should show the correct input and produce audio when the TV sends sound to it.

   If that does not help: If the device has no status display, consult its manual and test the TV’s built-in speakers separately where possible.

1. Play another app, channel or HDMI source using the same speakers.

   If the second source has sound, the original app, broadcast, box or content track is the likely branch to investigate.

   If that does not help: If every source is silent, test the TV output and speaker route rather than repeatedly restarting one app.

2. If the TV has a built-in Sound Test or Sound Self-Diagnosis, run it using the intended internal speakers or audio output.

   An audible test narrows the issue toward the original source or external path. A silent test suggests the TV’s own output needs model-specific attention.

   If that does not help: If the test is missing or silent, note that result and check the TV maker’s guide for your model. Do not use another brand’s menu sequence.

3. If a set-top box is involved and the TV’s test works, restart that box and check its audio settings using the box maker’s instructions.

   If other TV sources have sound, recovery here focuses on the device producing the silent signal.

   If that does not help: If that source remains silent but other sources work, contact the service provider or device maker with the source model and connection type.

LG’s documentation is a useful example of why the exact TV matters: it describes different sound-test locations across webOS generations, and says a normal test with a silent set-top box points toward the external source. Those LG menu paths do not apply automatically to other television platforms.

A soundbar can be connected but still silent if it is on the wrong input, the TV is sending sound somewhere else, or the cable connection is loose. Check the output and input at both ends. If practical, temporarily choose the TV speakers; if they work, the issue is narrowed to the external-audio path. Then reconnect the soundbar and follow both manufacturers’ instructions for the chosen connection.

If both the TV test and TV speakers work but the soundbar does not, this is not evidence that the TV has no sound capability. It points to the external path, although the exact fault still needs the device manuals or support teams to identify.

• A TV volume reset cannot unmute a cable box that has its own volume control.
• A factory reset can erase accounts, apps and picture or sound preferences; it is not a diagnostic for a disconnected soundbar.
• A sound test is useful only when you know which output it is using. A test through internal speakers cannot confirm a receiver’s HDMI or optical path.
• If only one channel or programme is silent, check another channel before treating the TV as the cause.

If the manufacturer recommends a reset after the output path has been checked, read what will be erased and make sure the TV can be set up again. Do not use a factory reset as the first step.

If the TV’s own sound test is silent across the intended output and all sources, contact the TV maker with the model and test result. If the test works but one source is silent, contact the app, broadcaster or external-device maker. If internal speakers work but an external speaker does not, contact the soundbar/receiver maker after confirming the TV output and speaker input. This split avoids asking the wrong support team to troubleshoot equipment they do not control.

• What to check if your LG TV has no sound — checked 2026-10-24
• LG TV Audio Problems — checked 2026-10-24

Why is my TV picture working but there is no sound?

The TV or source may be muted, or audio may be routed to a soundbar or receiver that is off or on the wrong input. Compare another source and run a model-specific sound test if available.

How do I know if the problem is the TV or cable box?

If the TV sound test or another app has audio but the cable-box programme does not, focus on the box, its audio settings or service. If the TV test is also silent, check the TV output and contact its manufacturer if the problem remains.

Will a factory reset fix no sound?

It may not, especially if the wrong output or an external device is responsible. Check mute, source volume, selected speaker and the built-in sound test before considering any reset.