Is your Soundbar not working with Firestick? There are many reasons your Soundbar may be malfunctioning.
In this article, you will figure out the most common causes and the best solutions to fix them.
Many users claim they can’t get any sound from their Soundbar, which can be infuriating.
This common Firestick audio issue seems to cause all media and apps to play zero sound no matter what you do.
If your Soundbar is not working with your Firestick, we got you covered!
To fix a Soundbar not working Firestick problem, try turning up the volume or unmuting your devices. If this doesn’t work, change the surround sound settings on your Firestick. Simply go to Settings and select Display & Audio. Then, click Audio > Surround Sound and select “Best Available” from the menu.
Before moving on to the solutions, let us discuss why your Soundbar is not working with your Firestick.
Why Is My Soundbar Not Working with My Firestick
It can be annoying when your Soundbar works with your Firestick sometimes, then doesn’t the other times.
You may have accidentally turned down your Firestick and TV volume or muted them completely. It’s also possible that the issue is due to the following:
1. Incorrect Input Source
You have the wrong cables running from your sources, and not one of them connects your Soundbar and your TV.
2. HDMI Connection Problems
A loose HDMI connection may lead to sound issues with your Firestick. Faulty and damaged cables can also cause this issue.
3. The Soundbar is Incompatible
Your TV’s eARC/ARC port does not connect to the HDMI output. You may have to interchange the cables to your ports.
4. Using Wrong Settings
Your Firestick has settings that allow you to control every aspect of your entertainment experience, including the audio.
Not setting these properly can cause your soundbar to not work with your streaming device.
These are the main problems you will face if your soundbar does not work with your Firestick.
Now that you have a better idea, we can now proceed to the complete fix guide so you can take your entertainment to the next level.
How to Fix Soundbar Not Working with Firestick
Before we go ahead to the full fix guide, we want to eliminate the easy fixes as soon as possible.
If these simple steps take care of your issue, you’re going to save a lot of time and headaches.
Since we’re dealing with audio, we recommend turning up the volume on your Firestick and TV. Select the unmute button just to make sure.
If your soundbar still doesn’t work even after performing these steps, let’s look into the other solutions:
Solution #1: Secure the HDMI Cables on Your Firestick and TV
Loose HDMI cables are one of the most common causes when the audio does not work with your Firestick.
You might think they’re plugged in properly, but they’re actually not. Plugging them in behind your TV also makes it hard for you to make sure they’re secure.
Here are the steps you need to take to make sure your HDMI cables are tight and secure:
- Plug the HDMI cable from your Firestick to your TV’s HDMI port.
- Push it into the port for a secure fit.
- Secure the HDMI cable between your soundbar and TV.
- Check the HDMI cables for signs of damage.
Note: For a more secure fit, consider getting an HDMI locking cable.
Solution #2: Set the Input Source on Your TV
Another reason your soundbar does not work with your Firestick properly is that you have not set your TV’s input source.
It’s possible that even though all your cables are connected the right way, your audio still comes out of your TV’s speakers.
You can set your TV so that it routes the audio out of your soundbar instead of its speakers.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Plug your soundbar’s HDMI cable into the HDMI ARC port.
- Go to your TV’s settings menu.
- Navigate to the Input Source.
- Select the HDMI input for your soundbar.
Note: Doing this also reduces the number of cables plugging into your devices when using the HDMI ARC port.
Solution #3: Change the Surround Sound Settings on Your Firestick
Your Firestick can be a little sensitive to your audio settings.
Content that you’re streaming can come with its specific audio technology like Dolby Digital. If this is not set properly, your Firestick cannot play audio from any source.
You want to change this setting so everything becomes compatible, and your Firestick should send the audio signals to your soundbar.
Here’s how to change the audio settings on your Firestick:
- Open your Firestick’s settings menu.
- Select Display & Audio.
- Go to Audio, then Surround Sound.
- Select the Best Available option.
Note: Setting this should give your Firestick and entertainment setup versatility in terms of what content it can play.
Solution #4: Fix the AV Sync Tuning Feature on Your Firestick
Another way to resolve audio issues with your Firestick is to enable the AV Sync Tuning option.
Even though it’s a fix for off-sync content, it can still force the audio out so you can check where your Firestick pushes out the sounds.
Here’s how to activate the AV Sync Tuning feature:
- Go to your Firestick’s settings menu.
- Select Display & Audio.
- Choose Audio.
- Click on the AV Sync Tuning option.
Note: Your Firestick will open a media player that will allow you to fix the audio on your soundbar.
Solution #5: Link Your Soundbar to Your Firestick Manually
There are instances when your Firestick is unable to detect your soundbar successfully.
It’s not that there is a compatibility issue, but there could be bugs or malfunctions that can occur that are stopping their connection.
If this is your experience, you can manually link your soundbar to your Firestick.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Open your Firestick’s settings, then select Equipment Control.
- Go to Manage Equipment.
- Choose Add Equipment, then Soundbar.
- Select your soundbar from the list.
- Click on Enable Audio Output from TV.
Tip: We recommend going through this step so you can explicitly set your Firestick to enable audio output from your TV to the soundbar.
Solution #6: Reset Your Firestick
If none of these solutions fix your soundbar problem, there may be an issue with the Firestick’s software.
Bugs and glitches can occur that can block it from detecting your soundbar right away.
You can choose to reset your Firestick to start setting it up with your soundbar from scratch.
Here’s how to reset your Firestick:
- Go to your Firestick’s settings.
- Navigate to My Fire TV.
- Scroll down and choose Reset to Factory Defaults.
- Click on Reset.
Tip: Resetting your Firestick can take a few minutes, and you’ll have to reconfigure it after completing the process.
These steps should get your soundbar up and running with your Firestick.
It doesn’t take a lot, but if you continue to experience issues with your setup, feel free to contact Amazon customer support, as they can help you diagnose the actual error of your Firestick.
Read Next: Firestick Won’t Fit In HDMI Port?
Bottom Line
Now that you know how to fix your soundbar not working with Firestick, you can take the necessary steps to resolve it.
The solutions are easy, and you should be able to get your entertainment set up and working in no time.
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites.