TiVo No Sound on Recordings? – Fix in Minutes!

Are you having trouble with TiVo no sound on recordings? You are not alone, and the good news is we have the answers!

Whenever you watch any of your recordings, you can’t hear anything. However, switching to live TV or a different source, the sound comes up just fine.

If this is the case, you know there’s something wrong with your TiVo, and it needs some fixing.

To fix your TiVo’s sound when you’re watching your recordings, you want to make sure your TV’s volume is not set to low or mute. Switching sources also helps so your DVR can reload the recording properly. If this doesn’t work, you’ll have to go into the audio settings and change it to the PCM option.

Let’s take a closer look at this particular issue so we can move on to the complete fix guide to resolve this as soon as possible.

Why I Get No Sound on DVR Recoding

The problem with your DVR not recording the audio properly could come from several sources.

We recommend checking your volume settings as that’s usually the cause.

Loose cables and connections can also be a reason why you do not hear a thing from any of your recordings.

Here are the causes that have occurred to your DVR that are causing this annoying problem:

1. Volume Set To Mute

This is easy to overlook, but you may have set your TiVo or TV to mute. Make sure you check that, as it will save you a ton of time.

2. Audio Settings

Certain audio settings can cause your DVR to not playback recorded audio. The file will still be intact, so you’ll still have it in the system.

3. Connection Problems

Loose connections between your TiVo and TV can cause this issue. When your wiring is not secured properly, it can cause a loss of audio.

4. Damaged Speakers

The speakers attached to your DVR could be damaged and might need replacement. Make sure you look at other causes before suspecting this.

5. Software Bugs And Glitches

Your TiVo is also prone to bugs and glitches. The good news is that it will be temporary, so you’ll be able to fix it in no time.

Now that you have a good understanding of the causes, we can now proceed to the troubleshooting steps so you can resolve this error in the next few minutes.

How to Fix TiVo No Sound on Recordings

Before you go ahead and attempt troubleshooting this particular error with your entertainment setup, we recommend rebooting your TiVo and TV.

You want to make sure that the cause of the issue is not just a temporary glitch.

Doing this covers the bases, so you won’t need to waste a lot of time if you find out this works.

However, if after rebooting and the sound does not come back, you can proceed to the rest of these steps:

Solution #1: Rewind Your Recording

Apart from a reboot, this is the next easiest step you can take to resolve the audio issues with your TiVo.

Rewinding your recording should give your DVR a chance to search for the components of your file and play it back when it becomes available.

Here’s how to rewind your recording:

1. On your TiVo, select the recording you want to watch.
2. Press Play on the remote.
3. Push the Rewind button for a few seconds.
4. Hit Play again.
5. Turn your TV off and on again.

Note: You can try this a couple of more times if it doesn’t work on your first attempt.

Solution #2: Switch to Live TV, then Back to Your Recording

Another way to resolve the audio issue with your TiVo would be to switch modes. You can choose to go to Live TV mode or your recordings.

Doing this will allow your DVR to refresh its software and playback the audio once it figures it out.

Here’s how you switch in and out of your recordings:

1. Look for the Live TV button on your TiVo remote.
2. Press it to switch to Live TV.
3. Push the TiVo button to watch your recordings.
4. Select the one you want to watch.
5. Press Play and check for the audio.

Tip: Similar to rewinding your content, you may need to perform this a couple of times to determine if this step works.

Solution #3: Check Your Cables and Connections

Now that you’re sure it’s not a TiVo software issue, you want to focus your attention on the connections.

If you have an extensive entertainment setup, you can be sure that there are a lot of cables involved.

You want to make sure these are in order, as loose audio cables can affect your viewing experience.

Here’s how to check your connections on your TiVo:

1. Make sure that there is no service outage in your location.
2. Check that the cables on the TiVo are secure.
3. Check the cables running between your TiVo and TV are secure.
4. Make sure the coaxial cable is plugged into the CABLE connector.

Note: It’s recommended that the HDMI cable you’re using for your TiVo and TV is HDMI 2.0 so you can watch high-definition content.

Solution #4: Check Your Volume Controls

The cause of your TiVo not playing back audio can be as simple as your volume controls are set to low or mute.

To make sure, you want to program your TiVo remote to work with your TV. This way, you’ll know that your volume is controlled by one remote.

Here’s how to program your TiVo remote to control the volume:

1. Go to your TiVo’s Remote Control Setup.
2. Select Set TV Power, Volume, and Mute.
3. Choose your TV brand.
4. Enter the code that will be flashed to your TV.
5. Test the remote if you can control the volume.

Note: Don’t forget to press the Mute button, too. Even pressing the Volume + button will not turn on your sound if it's set to mute.

Solution #5: Change the Audio Settings on Your DVR

There are instances when nothing works to restore the audio on your TiVo recordings. A setting on your TiVo can help you with this particular issue.

It’s not usually the first thing you look at, but if you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work, this is an option worth checking out.

Here’s how to change the audio settings on your TiVo:

1. Press the Home button on your TiVo remote.
2. Go to Help & Settings.
3. Select Settings, then Audio.
4. Choose Dolby Digital.
5. Select the Dolby Digital to PCM option.

Tip: This setting also works even if you’re using an HDMI input on an external audio device like a soundbar or an AV receiver.

If none of these steps help restore the loss of audio on your recordings, we recommend contacting TiVo support for additional assistance.

It’s possible that you’re dealing with hardware malfunctions that can require repair or replacement.

Read Next: How to Connect Virgin TiVo Box to TV?

Bottom Line

Now that you know the cause of TiVo no sound on recordings, you can follow these steps to fix it successfully.

It’s easy and does not require any technical expertise, so anybody can do it and restore the sound of your favorite content.