TCL Soundbar Not Connecting to TV? (Working Solutions)
Whenever a TCL soundbar not connecting to TV, there are quite a few possibilities to check!
The soundbar might fail to establish a secure wired or wireless connection to the TV because of a cable fault, power issues, or even an outdated firmware version.
Fortunately, there’s an onset of solutions to attempt, such as:
Keep reading for an in-depth breakdown of the solutions above!
TCL Soundbar Not Connecting to TV – Proven Ways to Fix!
Tip: Have you tried rebooting the TV and soundbar simultaneously?
1. Verify the Soundbar’s TV Connection
The first and most important step is to verify that the TCL soundbar has established a secure physical or wireless connection to your TV.
The TCL soundbar supports the following connection types:
- HDMI ARC Connection (Audio Return Channel)
- Optical Connection (Wired / Optical cable)
- Bluetooth Connection (Wireless / 2.4 GHz)
So, based on whether you prefer to connect the soundbar wirelessly or over a cable, there are, respectively, different setup instructions.
1.1 How to Connect TCL Over HDMI ARC?
HDMI ARC is perhaps the most reliable and popular method for connecting a soundbar to your TV.
One of the potential reasons why the soundbar has failed to connect via HDMI is that you’ve accidentally connected the cable to a standard HDMI input on your TV.
Search for the HDMI input that says “ARC” above or below it and plug the soundbar’s cable there.
Wait for the automatic calibration and test the audio functionality.
1.2 How to Connect TCL Over Optical?
When it comes to audio connections, Optical is the next best method after HDMI ARC of course.
To connect the TCL soundbar over Optical, locate the “Opt-Out” port on the soundbar and the “Opt-In” port on your TV.
So, secure the cable on both ends and wait for automatic adjustment.
1.3 How to Connect TCL Over Bluetooth?
For this step to work, ensure your TV natively supports Bluetooth and the feature has been set to “ON.”
- For most TVs, you can access the Bluetooth options by going to Settings → Wireless → Bluetooth.
The next step is to activate the TCL soundbar’s Bluetooth mode by pressing the “Bluetooth” button on the right/left side panel.
Now, find the soundbar’s connection in your TV’s settings, select it, and follow the necessary instructions to finalize the setup.
2. Check the “Volume” and “Mute” Status
Before proceeding with more in-depth solutions, it’s recommended to check simple things such as the soundbar’s “Volume” and “Mute” status.
Lowering the sound to a minimum or muting the TCL soundbar leaves no opportunity for determining if the connection was successful or not.
- Use the “Mute/Unmute” button to change the mute status of the soundbar.
- Use the “Vol +/-” buttons on the soundbar or remote to regulate the volume.
Important: Check the Audio Source!
Additionally, ensure that the TV app or channel you’re playing audio from has not sustained any issues with the sound either.
It’s recommended to test through popular and established sources, such as YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, or well-known TV channels.
3. Specify TCL as the TV’s Default Output
The default audio output selection must be regulated manually on an abundance of TV devices, meaning that simply plugging the soundbar in won’t do anything.
The feature might go under a different name on your specific TV, so it’s best to either check online or consult the user manual.
Nonetheless, let’s review how to adjust the default output on popular TV brands!
| How to Adjust TV’s Default Audio Output? | |
| Samsung TV | Press “Home” on the remote and go to “Settings” → “Sound” → “Sound Output.” |
| Sony TV | Press “Home” and go to “Settings” → “Display & Sound” → “Audio Output.” |
| Hisense TV | Press “Menu” on the remote and go to “Settings” → “Sound” → “Audio Output.” |
| Roku (Roku OS) | Press “Home” then go to “Settings” → “Audio” → “Audio Preferences.” |
| TCL TV (non-Roku) | Press “Settings” on the remote then go to “Audio” → “Audio Output.” |
| Vizio TV | Press “Menu” on the remote and navigate to “Audio” → “Digital Audio Out / Speakers.” |
As for the input selection, pick the input that connects your TCL soundbar to the TV.
If the TCL soundbar is connected over HDMI, pick the respective “HDMI ARC” input and if it is connected via Optical, pick the “Optical” input.
4. Inspect the TV & Soundbar’s Power
If the TCL sound bar won’t connect to TV even after verifying that the correct output is selected, proceed with a complete inspection of the TV and soundbar’s power supply.
Well, frequent disruptions in the power supply of either the TV or the TCL soundbar could lead to imminent issues with the connection, whether it is wired or wireless.
Let’s start with a soundbar inspection first!
4.1 How to Inspect TCL Soundbar Power?
- Check if the power adapter is secured on both ends.
- Hold the soundbar’s “Power” button for ~15 seconds.
- Connect the soundbar to a different electrical outlet.
- Remove all third-party equipment from the TCL setup.
4.2 How to Inspect TV Power Supply?
- Check if there’s an obstruction in the TV’s power port.
- Connect the TV’s power cable to an alternative outlet.
- Unplug the TV from the power supply for 30 seconds.
- Check if there’s a fault with the third-party equipment.
Note: You can often notice underlying faults with the TV or soundbar’s supply from recurring rebooting, powering off, or inconsistent functionality.
5. Update the TCL Soundbar’s System
There’s a strong likelihood of an outdated soundbar protocol version, causing issues with the TV connection.
Consequently, the next step is to ensure the TCL soundbar is up-to-date with the most current version of the TCL firmware.
You will require the following to update the soundbar’s OS:
- A functional 3GB+ USB flash drive.
- An internet-connected computer.
- An available USB on the soundbar.
Once you have all of these, proceed with the following steps:
- Launch a browser on your internet-connected device.
- Now, go to TCL’s Product & OS page on your browser.
- Next, extend the menu containing your soundbar’s model.
- Click on the “Here” button to download the firmware file.
- Move the file to your PC’s desktop and plug the USB drive.
- Ensure the drive is formatted and upload the file to the USB.
- Turn on your soundbar and plug the drive into a USB port.
- Wait until the soundbar processes the file and updates the OS.
Note: The update should begin automatically shortly after plugging the USB flash drive!
6. Restore the Soundbar to Factory Settings
If neither of the solutions so far had any effect with the TCL soundbar not connecting to TV problem, it’s time for a factory reset.
As the name suggests, this procedure restores the default configuration of your soundbar and any audio problems or inconsistencies along with it.
However, this method will erase ALL of your custom settings, and Bluetooth connections/profiles.
Follow these steps to factory reset the TCL soundbar:
- Wait until the soundbar enters standby mode (white blinking LED.)
- Hold the Play/Pause/OK button on the remote for up to 5 seconds.
- Release the button once “FACTORY RESET” shows on the screen.
- Wait until the TCL soundbar has successfully finalized the restoration.
For the soundbar to enter the “Standby mode,” you must not interact with the device for longer than 15 minutes.
Playing audio or increasing/decreasing the volume will immediately cause the soundbar to exit this mode.
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.