Troubleshoot no audio on Roku Streambar when watching cable or other sources
If you are having trouble hearing audio when watching cable or using an external source with your Roku Streambar, you may need to adjust the settings on your TV.
What to do first: Check if your TV has the right connection
To play sound from your TV and connected devices through the Roku Streambar, your TV must have an HDMI port labeled ARC (Audio Return Channel).
Here’s how to check:
- Look at the HDMI ports on the back or side of your TV
- Find one labeled HDMI ARC
- If none of your TV’s HDMI ports say ARC or eARC, your TV may not support audio return, and the Streambar won’t receive sound from cable boxes or other external devices connected to your TV
Troubleshoot no audio from Roku Soundbar
- Enable ARC on your TV - If your Streambar is connected to the ARC port, check your TV settings to make sure ARC is enabled. ARC may be disabled on your TV by default. If ARC is disabled, your Streambar will not play sounds from your TV or other devices connected to your TV.
- Enable CEC on your TV - HDMI-CEC (or just CEC) lets you control basic functions, like power and volume, of different devices without having to juggle remotes. If CEC is disabled, you will not be able to use your Streambar remote to turn your TV on and off. You also won't be able to use your TV remote to control volume on your Streambar. Review the detailed article describing how to enable ARC and CEC on several popular TV brands.
- Change your TV audio output format to PCM - Your Streambar cannot play Dolby Audio or DTS audio formats. Make sure your TV audio output format is set to PCM-Stereo (or Stereo).
When you are looking for these settings on your TV, keep in mind that some manufacturers refer to ARC and CEC by their proper names, while others may use brand-specific trade names. Some manufacturers combine ARC and CEC into a single setting.
Last updated at 2/25/2026 4:44:10 AM
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