Samsung Soundbar Won’t Connect To TV? (Best Ways to Fix!)

Samsung soundbar won’t connect to TV and you’re wondering why? Well, continue reading!
While most Samsung TVs and soundbars feature a seamless integration, the potential causes for connection issues remain consistent.
So, this guide will help you discover what’s preventing the soundbar from connecting securely with your TV.
If the Samsung soundbar isn’t connecting to the TV, check if the correct source mode is selected, re-establish the soundbar’s connection, and perform a power cycle.
If the fault persists, change the TV’s default audio output and force a soundbar factory reset.
Keep reading further to uncover all effective solutions!
Why the Samsung TV Won’t Connect to Samsung Soundbar?

Let’s review all possible causes why the soundbar won’t pair to the TV:
Proceed further with the guide to explore proven solutions for the soundbar’s connection!
Samsung Soundbar Won’t Connect to TV – Here’s the Fix
Note: Have you tried powering off the TV and the soundbar simultaneously?
1. Set the Soundbar to the Correct Source

If the soundbar is not set to the correct source mode, the TV will not recognize its input.
The source must be adjusted according to the Samsung soundbar’s connection method, selected from HDMI, Optical, or wireless Bluetooth.
You can adjust the input mode of the soundbar by pressing the “Source” button on the remote control to cycle through the available modes.
The current mode will be shown on the soundbar’s built-in display, allowing you to track the current input accurately.
2. Re-establish the Soundbar’s Connection

The next solution is to unpair and reconnect the Samsung soundbar from the TV to refresh the connection and eliminate issues with the Bluetooth or audio cable.
In some cases, the audio transmission of the soundbar may become congested, preventing the TV from reading the signal accurately or establishing a secure connection.
First, let’s start with resetting the soundbar’s wired connection!
How to Re-establish Soundbar Wired Connection?
Here’s what to do If the soundbar is physically connected via HDMI or Optical:
- Unplug the HDMI or Optical cable from the soundbar’s rear panel.
- Disconnect the other end of the cable from the Samsung TV’s back.
- Next, wait for a total of 60 seconds while the cable is disconnected.
- Ensure the Samsung soundbar is configured to the correct input mode.
- Reconnect the audio cable on both ends and test the TV’s connection.
How to Re-establish Soundbar Bluetooth Connection?

If the Samsung soundbar is paired over a wireless Bluetooth connection, follow these steps:
- Access the “Bluetooth” settings of the Samsung TV.
- Next, locate the soundbar’s tile and forget the profile.
- Ensure the soundbar is set to the “BT” source mode.
- Discover and reconnect the soundbar to the TV device.
- Test the wireless Bluetooth connection of the soundbar.
Tip: Test the soundbar with a replacement HDMI or Optical cable if the connection is wired!
3. Power Cycle the Samsung Soundbar
Conducting a power cycle on the Sasmsung soundbar is another effective solution for connection issues with the TV.
A potential fault with the power equipment or insufficiency of the A/C supply may prevent the TV from securely connecting with the soundbar.

Follow these steps to drain the Samsung soundbar’s power supply:
- Press the soundbar’s “Power” button to power off the device.
- Unplug the power cord from the A/C port of the soundbar unit.
- Wait for 60 seconds while the soundbar’s power is discharging.
- Next, reconnect the supplying cord back to an electrical outlet.
- Press the “Power” button to turn on the soundbar and pair the TV.
Warning: Check if there are any physical faults on the soundbar’s power supply equipment!
4. Change the TV’s Output Selection
The next step is to check whether the soundbar is specified as your Samsung TV’s default audio output.
- All TV devices, including your Samsung TV, are set to use the built-in speakers by default.
Connecting a third-party audio device may require manual adjustments to the output settings if the TV does not update the selection automatically.

Here’s how to alter the audio output selection of your Samsung TV:
- Press the “Home” button on the Samsung remote control.
- Navigate to “Settings” and enter the “Sound” menu tab.
- Go to “Sound Output” and check the list of audio devices.
- Highlight the “Soundbar” or “Samsung Soundbar” option.
- Lock in the selection by pressing the “OK” remote button.
- Ensure the changes are applied and exit the configuration.
As long as the soundbar has established a secure connection with the TV, it will automatically be selected as the default output each time the TV is turned on.
Notice: If the soundbar does not appear as an option, there’s a fault with the connection!
5. Update the TV & Soundbar’s Firmware
Another solution whenever the Samsung TV won’t connect to soundbar is to update both the soundbar and the TV’s firmware version.
Updating the soundbar requires performing the Wi-Fi-protected setup within the SmartThings app available for Android and iOS.
Alert: Starting the update for both the TV or soundbar requires a stable internet connection!
Let’s start with updating the firmware of the soundbar!
How to Update Samsung Soundbar Firmware Version?

- Unplug the soundbar, subwoofer, and speakers for 30 seconds.
- Open the SmartThings app on your phone and plug in all devices.
- Next, tap the three vertical dots at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Go to “Information” → “Firmware Update” and tap “Update Now.”
- Wait until the update starts and wait until the process is finalized.
How to Update Samsung TV Firmware Version?
- Press “Home” on the TV remote and select “Settings.”
- Next, navigate to “Support” → “Software Update.”
- Select “Update Now” if there’s an available version.
- Wait until the TV’s update starts and then finalize.
An alternative to updating the soundbar through SmartThings is conducting the update over a USB connection.
You can install the latest firmware through Samsung’s Download Center, upload it on a USB stick, and set the soundbar to the “USB” input after plugging in the stick.
6. Activate HDMI-CEC On the Samsung TV
An alternative to testing and operating the soundbar is by activating the Samsung TV’s “HDMI-CEC” feature which allows for controlling external devices over HDMI.
For this purpose, the Samsung soundbar must be connected over a wired HDMI connection with the TV and must also be set as the default audio output.

Here’s how to activate the “HDMI-CEC” feature of the Samsung TV:
- Press “Home” on the Samsung TV’s remote control.
- Access the “Settings” tab and navigate to “General.”
- Select “External Device Manager” from the menu.
- Select “Anynet +” (Samsung’s CEC interpretation)
- Select “On” and exit the TV’s configuration menu.
Now, the Samsung soundbar will also respond to the TV’s remote control, as long as the HDMI connection is secure.
Basic soundbar functions such as “Power,” Volume” and “Input” can be controlled through the TV’s remote without additional programming.
7. Reset the Soundbar to Default Settings
In case you were unable to restore the communication between the TV and the soundbar, you should perform a factory reset of the soundbar.
So, the next step is to restore all settings and configurations of the soundbar to default values and set up the device’s interface from scratch!

Here’s how to perform a factory reset on the Samsung soundbar:
- Turn off the soundbar by pressing the “Power” button.
- Unplug Samsung’s power cord for up to 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the soundbar and hold the “Power” button.
- Release the button after the “INT” message is shown.
- Wait while the soundbar finalizes the reset and test.
An alternative way to reset the soundbar would be by holding the Volume Down + Volume Up for 7 seconds until you see the “INT” message on the screen.
Notice: If the connection fault persists, perform a factory reset on the connected Samsung TV!
Quick Recap
So, if your Samsung soundbar won’t connect to TV, re-establish the connection, update the device’s firmware, and adjust the TV’s default audio output.
If the fault persists, power reset the Samsung soundbar and restore both devices to factory defaults.
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Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.