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Samsung TV Won’t Connect/Work With Soundbar

Samsung TV Won’t Connect/Work With Soundbar

It’s widely accepted that a soundbar is almost essential for getting good sound from your TV. With the ultra-thin bezels of Samsung TVs, there isn’t any room for decent speakers. Technology can be demanding at times, and pairing a soundbar to a TV doesn’t always go according to plan, so what do you do if your TV won’t connect to your Soundbar?

If your Samsung TV isn’t connecting to your Soundbar, put your Soundbar in Bluetooth pairing mode and select the Soundbar in the TV’s settings by navigating Settings > Sound > Speaker Settings > TV SoundConnect > Add New Device > On. 

We will be going over various issues related to why a soundbar might not be connecting or working with your Samsung TV. If you would like to learn more, read further on!

Samsung TV Won’t Connect to Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

Samsung TV Won’t Connect to Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

If you’re having trouble connecting your Samsung TV to your soundbar, it could be due to a number of reasons such as a faulty HDMI cable, incorrect audio settings, or a software issue. To troubleshoot the problem, ensure that the HDMI cable is properly connected and that the soundbar is turned on. Check the TV’s audio settings to confirm that it’s configured to use the soundbar. Additionally, resetting both the TV and soundbar by unplugging them for a few minutes may help. If the issue persists, it’s best to contact the manufacturer’s customer support for further assistance.

There are several reasons why the Soundbar might not connect to your Samsung TV. Here are the steps you should take to ensure that everything is working correctly. 

Turn On SoundConnect (SoundShare)

First and foremost, SoundConnect needs to be enabled for the TV to detect Bluetooth speakers. The feature will be in the TV sound settings; simply navigate Settings > Sound > Speaker Settings > TV SoundConnect > Add New Device > On. 

It’s also essential to ensure that the TV supports Bluetooth soundbars. If you have an older TV, there is a chance that the TV won’t support Bluetooth connectivity, which would mean that you would have to plug in a soundbar directly – usually in the AUX or HDMI port found in the back. 

Ensure That the TV Is Set to Enable Sound Through SoundConnect (SoundShare)

Next, the TV has to be set to produce sound through SoundConnect. In the same menu where the SoundConnect settings are, you will see Speaker Settings as an option. Change the settings to SoundConnect.

Reset the Soundbar

Suppose the speaker is still failing to connect to your TV. Try factory resetting it. The steps to do this will vary depending on your model. If the Soundbar has an app that you can pair it to, there will usually be an option to reset it there. 

Check if Your Soundbar and TV’s Bluetooth Functionalities Work

You can try to pair your Soundbar to another device, such as your smartphone, to determine the Bluetooth connectivity functions correctly. Similarly, you can test this with your TV as well; if you can pair the TV with other devices, then the issue lies with the Soundbar itself. 

Samsung TV Won’t Work With Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

Samsung TV Won’t Work With Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

If your Samsung TV doesn’t work with your Soundbar, ensure that the Soundbar is in pairing mode. Depending on your model, you’ll have to press a button that allows other devices to find it. 

Next, on the TV, navigate  Settings > Sound > Speaker Settings > TV SoundConnect > Add New Device > On. And on the same menu, make sure that the TV is set to produce sound through SoundConnect. This option should be labeled Speaker Settings. 

It’s also worth mentioning that not all Soundbars are Bluetooth enabled and will have to be plugged in directly to the TV’s AUX or HDMI port. Similarly, older Samsung TVs may not support Bluetooth connectivity.

Samsung TV Won’t Automatically Connect to Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

Samsung TV Won’t Automatically Connect to Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

When you turn on your Samsung TV, you would expect the Soundbar to automatically connect/turn on with it. 

If the TV isn’t connecting to the Soundbar when you power it on. Navigate Settings > Sound > Speaker Settings > TV SoundConnect > Add New Device > On. From there, follow your Soundbar’s pairing instructions; you may have a Bluetooth pairing button that you need to press that allows other devices to find it.

Next, on the same menu on the TV, go to Speaker Settings and ensure that the TV is set to produce sound through the Soundbar. 

Samsung TV Remote Not Working With Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

Samsung TV Remote Not Working With Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

Samsung TV remotes forego infrared technology and instead use Bluetooth. This allows the remote to work with the TV and other devices such as soundbars. 

If the Soundbar is successfully connected to the TV via Bluetooth, optical cable, or HDMI, navigate Settings > Sound > Sound Output on the TV. Next, select the Soundbar that you want to use and exit the settings menu.

From here, you should be able to control the Soundbar with your Samsung remote. 

Samsung TV Not Turning On Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

Samsung TV Not Turning On Soundbar: Causes / How to Fix

If your Samsung TV is not turning on the Soundbar when powering the TV, This could be because the Soundbar isn’t selected as the default speaker. 

If the soundbar has Bluetooth connectivity, using the TV remote, navigate Settings > Sound > Speaker Settings > TV SoundConnect > Add New Device > On. After ensuring that the Soundbar is connected, select Speaker Settings on the same menu and select the Soundbar as the default speaker. 

You can also plug in the Soundbar via HDMI. If this is supported, the TV will automatically use the Soundbar as the default speaker when Anynet+ is enabled. 

You might also be interested in Samsung TV Sound Stuck or not working.

Pro Tip: Samsung Soundbars Work Best With Samsung TVs

Pro Tip: Samsung Soundbars Work Best With Samsung TVs

If you recently bought a new Samsung TV and found that your current Soundbar isn’t playing well with it and none of the troubleshooting tips above have worked, consider a soundbar upgrade (after ensuring that your TV is functioning correctly first).

Samsung makes soundbars at various price ranges, and they all sound great. The Samsung HW-T450 is an excellent value sporting Dolby Audio and a dedicated subwoofer for a powerful, clean sound. Here is a video review if you are curious about this Soundbar:

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on November 30, 2020.

Additionally, the remote it comes with is designed to play well with Samsung TVs and comes with useful features such as dedicated buttons to boot up Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. 

If you want an even better sound system, the Samsung HW-Q60T will offer you an authentic surround sound experience. This particular kit comes with the Soundbar itself, a Bluetooth subwoofer, and two wireless speakers designed to act as a rear speaker kit. 

You’ll also get to enjoy DTS Virtual:X, which is a 3D audio technology that makes the sound seem like it is surrounding you rather than simply being blasted in front of you. This is coupled with Samsung’s Acoustic Beam Technology, which transmits sound where the action is happening. For example, a plane that is flying above will sound like it is actually above you. 

Final Thoughts

Most users have difficulty pairing their Samsung TV to a soundbar due to settings related errors. The Soundbar will need to be in pairing mode, and you’ll have to navigate to Samsung SoundConnect. 

You’ll also need to set the Soundbar as the default speaker; otherwise, the TV might go back to using the built-in speakers after you have turned it off. If connecting via HDMI, you’ll need to enable Anynet+.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on November 30, 2020.

Samsung soundbars will work the best with a Samsung TV since they are designed to play well together. It isn’t necessary, but you benefit from a smoother connectivity process. 

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on November 30, 2020.

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