LG Soundbar Not Turning On With TV? (Quick Fix Guide)

LG soundbar not turning on with TV and you’re wondering why? This guide will help you!

Most soundbars participating in audio systems are designed by default to turn on with the TV or connected device simultaneously.

On LG, you must set up the “Auto-Power On” function to turn on the soundbar and the TV or use “HDMI-CEC” to power both devices using the same remote.

Let’s quickly go through the solutions:

If the LG soundbar isn’t turning on with the TV, set up “Auto-Power On” and reconnect the device’s wired or wireless connection.

If the fault persists, set up “HDMI-CEC” in the TV’s settings and force a factory reset of the system.

Let’s learn more!

Why My LG Soundbar Won’t Turn On?

Here are all possible causes why the LG soundbar isn’t turning on with the TV:

That’s it. Not much, so let’s get started!

LG Soundbar Not Turning On With TV – Solved in 6 Methods!

Tip: Follow the solutions in consecutive order!

1. Activate the “Auto-Power On” Function

All LG soundbars come with an equipped “Auto-Power On” function, allowing them to turn on with the connected device simultaneously.

The “Auto-Power On” works on both wireless and wired connections, so you don’t have to worry whether your soundbar uses an HDMI, Optical, or Bluetooth connection.

How to Enable “Auto-Power” with Button?

1. Press the “AUTO POWER” button on the remote’s lower right.
2. Wait until the LG’s display lights up with the current settings.
3. Then, keep pressing the button until the display says “ON – AU.”

How to Enable “Auto-Power” On SL4F Soundbar?

1. Long press the “Info” button on the lower end of your remote.
2. Next, press “Info” again, while “OFF – AUTO POWER” scrolls.
3. Lastly, check if the LG soundbar’s display now says “ON – AU.”

Note: The SL4F soundbar’s remote doesn’t have an in-built “Auto-Power” button!

How to Enable “Auto-Power” Without Display?

Well, if the LG soundbar does not have a built-in display and there is no way to check what’s the current power mode.

So, press “AUTO-Power” until the front LED blinks.

If the LED does not blink upon pressing the buttons, the feature has been deactivated and must be turned on again.

Note: The soundbar’s display will light up into “ON – AU” every time the unit is turned on!

2. Enable “HDMI-CEC” In the TV Settings

If “Auto-Power On” doesn’t help and the LG soundbar won’t turn on with the TV, an alternative is to activate “HDMI-CEC” within the TV’s settings.

The feature allows the TV and the soundbar to turn on at the same time without having to press “Power” on the soundbar’s remote control.

Notice: The soundbar must be connected via HDMI cable to use HDMI-CEC!

Let’s learn how to enable “HDMI-CEC” on most TV brands!

How to Enable “HDMI-CEC” On an LG TV?

1. Navigate to the “[General]” menu in your TV settings.
2. Select “[Devices]” and navigate to “[HDMI Settings]”
3. Highlight the “[Simplink (HDMI-CEC)]” menu feature.
4. Optional: Find “Auto Power Sync” for other models.

How to Enable “HDMI-CEC” On a Samsung TV?

1. Press the “Home” button on the remote control.
2. Next, navigate to “(All Settings)” from the menu.
3. Select “General (Connection)” from the section.
4. After that, select the “External Device Manager”. 
5. Lastly, enable “Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)” in the list.

How to Enable “HDMI-CEC” On a Sony TV?

1. Press “Home” on the Sony TV’s remote control.
2. Highlight “Settings” using the directional buttons.
3. Select “Watching TV” and go to “External Inputs.”
4. Next, select “BRAVIA Sync Settings” from the list.
5. Finally, enable the “BRAVIA Sync Control” feature.

If you don’t see your TV model, simply look through the options for the “HDMI-CEC” feature or open up the manual to find detailed instructions.

The future’s name could be different though.

Tip: If it’s now working, verify that the soundbar is plugged into the HDMI-ARC TV output port!

3. Set LG as “Default Audio Device”

If the LG soundbar has not been specified as the default audio output device within the TV’s settings, you will be unable to regulate both device’s power at the same time.

Each TV has its audio settings, so use the “Search” function in the settings to find the feature.

Universally, here’s how to specify “LG” as the default audio device:

1. Press the “Home” button on your TV’s remote control.
2. Navigate to the “Audio” or “Sound” menu configuration.
3. Next, scroll down and highlight “Default Audio Device.”
4. Press the “OK” button to enter the audio device selection.
5. Select the “LG Soundbar” menu option and press “OK.”

Note: By default, the TV will be set to use the “In-Built Speakers” or “Default Audio” output!

4. Reconnect your LG Soundbar

The LG soundbar may be facing connection faults, preventing the auto-power or “HDMI-CEC” function from working properly.

That’s why the next step is to re-establish the wired or wireless connection of the soundbar from the TV.

Let’s learn how to reconnect the LG soundbar’s Bluetooth first!

How to Reconnect LG Soundbar From Bluetooth? (Wireless)

1. Press the “Function” or “Bluetooth” button to unpair the soundbar.
2. Deactivate the “Bluetooth” feature within the TV’s wireless options.
3. Reactivate the TV’s Bluetooth and set the LG to “Bluetooth” mode.
4. Check if the pairing status of your LG has changed to “Connected.”

How to Reconnect LG Soundbar’s Audio Cable? (Wired)

1. Unplug the Optical or Coaxial cable from the soundbar’s rear.
2. Next, disconnect the other end from the back of the TV device.
3. Optional: Connect the audio cable to a different TV input port.
4. Plug the other end of the audio cable back to the LG soundbar.

Tip: You can track the soundbar’s connection status within the TV’s settings!

5. Power Cycle the Audio Equipment

Well, there could be an underlying issue with the power supply of the LG soundbar or the TV, preventing the “Auto-Power On” or “HDMI-CEC” function from working. 

The power cycle is a highly effective solution, allowing the device to discharge from all power and start-up freshly.

In many cases, such a type of soft reset solves most issues quickly!

Let’s start with the LG soundbar!

How to Perform a Power Cycle on LG Soundbar?

1. Hold the soundbar’s “Power” button for ~10 seconds.
2. Unplug the supplying cord from the back of the unit.
3. Wait for ~30 seconds and reconnect the power cable.

How to Perform a Power Cycle on TV?

1. Press the “Power” button on the TV’s remote control.
2. After the TV shuts down, unplug the power adapter.
3. Wait for 45–50 seconds and reconnect the adapter.

Tip: Inspect the TV or soundbar’s power cord for peripheral damage!

6. Restore the LG Soundbar’s Software

So, if you’re still experiencing issues with turning on the LG soundbar and the TV together, there could be an underlying misconfiguration of the soundbar’s settings.

One of the most effective solutions is to erase all existing settings of the soundbar by starting a complete System Reset.

Here’s how to perform a factory reset on the LG soundbar:

1. Ensure the LG soundbar is powered on and connected to the TV.
2. Unplug the soundbar’s HDMI, optical, or Bluetooth connection.
3. Press the “Bluetooth” and “Input/Select” buttons simultaneously.
4. Release the buttons after your soundbar’s display says “RESET.”
5. Wait for 10 seconds and unplug the soundbar’s electrical adapter.
6. Next, reconnect the device’s supplying cable and press “Power.”
7. Reconnect your soundbar’s Bluetooth or wired cable connection.

Warning: All configured system settings of the LG soundbar will be erased irreversibly!

Quick Recap

If the LG soundbar not turning on with TV, ensure “Auto-Power On” is activated and set up the “HDMI-CEC” feature within the TV’s settings.

If the issue persists, specify the soundbar as the default audio device and force a factory reset.

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