Your Sonos Beam Won't Connect To TV? (Proven Fixes!)

Sonos Beam won’t connect to TV and you’re wondering why? Wonder no more and read on!

If the Sonos Beam soundbar does not appear in the TV’s settings and cannot be selected as a default output, the fault is typically cable or settings-related.

So, continue reading to uncover all possible solutions for the recognition failure of Sonos Beam, and easy-to-apply instructions.

So, if the Sonos Beam soundbar is not connecting to your TV, plug the unit’s HDMI into an “ARC” or “eARC” port, switch the TV’s default source, and update the system.

If the issue persists, activate “HDMI-CEC” on the TV and reset the soundbar.

Keep reading to uncover more details about the issue!

My Sonos Beam Won’t Connect to My TV – Here’s Why!

The soundbar is not connected to an “ARC” or “eARC” input.
“HDMI-CEC” has not been activated within the TV’s settings.
There’s a fault with the Sonos Beam’s HDMI or Optical cable.
The soundbar has encountered a temporal A/C supply issue.
There’s a malfunction of the soundbar or the HW components.

Keep reading to discover reliable solutions for Sonos Beam’s TV recognition!

How to Fix When Sonos Beam Won’t Connect to TV?

Note: The Sonos Beam does not support wireless Bluetooth pairing so it must be connected over a physical HDMI or Optical cable!

1. Plug Sonos to an “ARC” or “eARC” Port

A potential reason why the TV does not recognize Sonos Beam could be that you haven’t installed the audio device in an audio-return channel input for the TV.

One or a maximum of two of the TV’s supports are designed for audio devices and typically have an “ARC” or “eARC” sticker anywhere around the port.

How to Recognize “ARC” or “eARC” TV Input?

The easiest way to identify an audio-return channel port on the back of your TV is by looking for a sticker or a label.

Alternatively, you can consult the user manual or look up the specifications of your TV model online and check which HDMI ports use “ARC” or “eARC.”

The primary difference between the standard “ARC” and the “eARC” (Enhanced Audio-Return Channel) is the quality of the connected device’s playback.

Sonos Beam supports both types of audio channels and can deliver a high-quality output on either one.

Note: eARC inputs are typically supported by newer TV models!

2. Activate “HDMI-CEC” On the Connected TV

Well, enabling “HDMI-CEC” allows the TV’s remote control to communicate with all peripheral devices with an interface connected over HDMI.

You can determine if the TV recognizes Sonos Beam by connecting the soundbar over HDMI and activating HDMI-CEC within the TV settings.

Here’s how to set up “HDMI-CEC” on most TV devices:

Press the “Home” or “Menu” button on the TV’s remote control.
Next, access the “Sound” or “Audio” tab from the settings menu.
Search for a “Default Output” or “Default Device” menu option.
Highlight the tile with the remote control to view all of the devices.
Select the Sonos Beam soundbar after it shows up in the menu.
Use the TV’s remote control to operate the Sonos Beam soundbar.

You can use the TV’s remote to operate basic functions of the soundbar, such as the power state or the volume level.

Conduct testing to determine which features of the Sonos Beam soundbar respond to pressing a button on the remote control.

3. Set Sonos Beam as a Default TV Output

There’s a possibility that your TV does not re-configure the default output automatically and you must specify Sonos Beam as the new default output.

So, as long as the TV has recognized the soundbar, it will appear as a selectable output within the “Audio” or “Sound” options of the TV.

Here’s how to set Sonos Beam as the default output of the TV:

Access the TV’s “Settings” tab or application from the menu.
Scroll down to “Sound Output,” “Audio” or the “Sound” tab.
Locate the menu with all output devices available for the TV.
Next, highlight and select the tile of the Sonos Beam soundbar.

Note: Your TV’s audio output is set to “TV Speakers” or “Built-in Speakers” by default.

4. Unplug Sonos Beam from the Power Supply

The next solution is conducting a power circulation of the soundbar’s hardware, by temporarily suspending the power supply.

Hence, unplugging your soundbar supplying adapter for a couple of minutes will drain all of the residual power and re-launch all the system services and settings.

Follow these steps to properly power cycle the Sonos Beam soundbar:

Unplug the power jack from the back of the Sonos soundbar.
Disconnect the other end of the adapter from the A/C outlet.
Press and hold the Infinity button on the rear Sonos panel.
After 20–30 seconds, reinstall the soundbar’s power cable.
Wait until the Sonos Beam turns on and check the TV status.

Tip: Inspect the soundbar’s power adapter for signs of wear and tear!

5. Replace the Audio Cable of Sonos Beam

Hence, if Sonos Beam not connecting to TV after performing a power cycle, you should test the soundbar with a replacement Optical or HDMI.

So, a fault or damage with the cable may cause issues with the soundbar playback and even prevent the TV from detecting the Beam soundbar.

How to Identify a Faulty HDMI or Optical Cable?

Here are the symptoms of a malfunctioning wired connection of Sonos Beam:

Intermittent dropouts of the soundbar’s sound.
Extended audio lag or delay of the output audio.
Distorted or poor audio quality of the playback.
The TV does not recognize the soundbar’s input.

You can quickly tell if there’s damage to Sonos Beam’s HDMI or Optical by inspecting for visible signs of wear and tear on the cable.

However, keep in mind that physical damage to your cable may prevent the TV from recognizing the Sonos Beam at all.

6. Update the Software of Sonos Beam

If Sonos Beam is still unable to establish a secure connection with your TV, it could be because of an outdated version of the soundbar’s software.

If you’re running an outdated build, it’s likely that there is something with your Beam system that is impacting the connection to the TV.

Sonos App For iOS or Android:

Open the Sonos application and tap on the “Settings” menu.
Select “Manage” next to the Sonos pre-configured system.
Press on “System Updates” and select “Check for Updates.”
Wait until the application verifies the recent software updates.

Sonos S1 Controller Application:

For iOS and Android, go to “Settings” → “System” → “System Updates” → “Check for Updates” and follow the instructions.
For macOS and Windows, Open the app (Windows) or hover over “Manage” (macOS) and select “Check for Updates” to identify newer versions.

Tip: You can also schedule updates automatically at “Settings” → “System Updates” → “Update Automatically” within the controller app.

7. Reset Sonos Beam’s System Settings

If the TV still does not recognize the soundbar, there’s a strong possibility that the system settings of the audio device have been misconfigured.

Well, you can revert the changes and adjustments to the Sonos Move system by performing a software factory reset, which will erase everything!

Here are the complete instructions to factory reset Sonos Beam:

Unplug the Sonos Beam from the A/C power supply.
Hold the “Play/Pause” button on Sonos’s periphery.
Keep holding while plugging the soundbar back in.
Release the button once the LED flashes in green.
Wait until Sonos Beam finalizes the reset procedure.

Note: The factory reset typically lasts for up to 2–3 minutes after the LED flashes in green!

Quick Recap

Whenever the Sonos Beam won’t connect to TV, first perform a power cycle on the soundbar, replace the HDMI cable, and enable “HDMI-CEC” in the TV’s settings.

If your problem persists, specify the soundbar as a default output and force a factory reset.

Finn Wheatley

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.