Worried With TCL Subwoofer Not Working? (Let’s Fix!)

Are you riddled with why the TCL subwoofer not working? Wonder no more and keep reading!

Your TCL subwoofer might not be working due to a range-related issue, power insufficiency, or even misconfiguration of the TV’s audio settings.

Try the following for wireless connection issues:

Try the following for wired connection issues:

Now, proceed with the guide to understand each of the solutions in detail!

How To Fix When A TCL Subwoofer Not Working?

Tip: Proceed with the respective solutions based on the soundbar and subwoofer’s connection.

1. Conduct Subwoofer Repairing (Wireless)

The first step is to reconnect the TCL subwoofer by reactivating the soundbar’s “Pairing” mode.

For both devices to connect successfully, the TCL subwoofer should be discoverable by the soundbar and the soundbar must also be in Bluetooth “Pairing” mode.

Before proceeding, ensure both the soundbar and subwoofer are connected to the power supply and the devices are fully functional. 

1.1 How to Activate “Pairing” Mode on TCL Soundbar?

To place the TCL soundbar in “Pairing” mode, press and hold the “Bluetooth” button found on the side panel for approximately 3–4 seconds.

Then, the soundbar’s LED should start blinking as an indication that it is currently searching for nearby devices. 

1.2 How to Know if a Subwoofer is Paired Successfully?

If the connection was a success, the flashing LED light on your TCL soundbar must turn solid and remain that way.

If the indicator’s status does not change throughout the process, you might have failed to activate the pairing of the TCL soundbar, so repeat the instructions from above.

2. Shorten the Device’s Range (Wireless)

As you probably assumed, the TCL soundbar with subwoofer not working could be a complex result of a distance insufficiency between the devices.

Positioning the subwoofer too far apart from the soundbar could prevent the devices from recognizing and connecting with each other.

For optimal wireless connection, the subwoofer must be within a 25–40-foot radius from the soundbar at all times.

How to Check for Nearby Wireless Interference?

Regardless of the range, existing interference could prevent the subwoofer from establishing and maintaining an uninterrupted connection.

Dislocate any potential wireless device from the radius of the subwoofer and soundbar that could possibly be causing an aerial signal conflict. 

3. Reset the Power Supply of the TCL Devices

If you’re still experiencing issues with establishing a wireless (or wired) connection between the TCL soundbar and subwoofer, it is recommended to perform a power supply reset.

This simple procedure involves draining the electricity from both of your devices simultaneously and then reconnecting them to power to eliminate functionality discrepancies. 

So, let’s begin with a power supply reset of the TCL soundbar.

3.1 How to Power Cycle the TCL Soundbar?

1. Press the “Power” button on the remote to power off the unit.
2. Disconnect the power cable from the back of the TCL device.
3. Hold the “Power” and “Bluetooth” buttons on the TCL soundbar.
4. Release the soundbar’s buttons after approximately 15 seconds.
5. Wait for an extra minute or two while the soundbar is unplugged.
6. Reconnect the power cord of your soundbar back into the outlet.

3.2 How to Power Cycle the TCL Subwoofer?

1. Locate the power switch on the back of the subwoofer.
2. Push it to “OFF” and unplug the device from the power.
3. Wait for a total of 60 seconds while the power drains.
4. Now, reconnect the subwoofer and test the functionality.

Tip: Try connecting the subwoofer to a different outlet if the device is powering off or rebooting!

4. Cycle the Connection Mode (Wired)

Yet, another reason why the TCL soundbar subwoofer not working could be due to improperly specified input.

Like other modern soundbars, the TCL soundbar also has a built-in “Input” button that cycles through the audio channels of the device.

If not specified correctly, neither will your TCL soundbar nor subwoofer work when connected to your input device. 

If connected over Optical or USB, press the “Input” button found on the side of the soundbar and keep checking what the display says.

So, stop pressing once the display shows the correct audio input that matches the cable of your soundbar. 

Note: When connecting wirelessly, you don’t have to cycle the modes as the input adjusts automatically.

5. Activate Input Device’s PCM Feature (Wired)

The Pulse-Code Modulation feature of your TV or input device is designed to convert analog signals into digital audio through Optical or analog connections. 

It is possible that your soundbar is sending out an unrecognizable input to your TV or device, resulting in consistent issues with the audio of both devices.

How to Adjust the PCM On Popular TV Brands?
Samsung TV	Go to “Settings” → “Sound” → “Sound Output” → “Audio Out/Optical” → “Expert Settings” -_> “Sound” → “Digital Output Audio Format” → “PCM.”
Sony TV	Go to “Settings” → “Display & Sound” → “Audio Output” → “Speakers” → “Audio System” → “Audio Output” → “Digital Audio Out” → “PCM.”
Philips TV	Go to “Settings” → “Device Preferences” → “Sound” → “Sound Style” → “Advanced” → “Digital Output Format” → “PCM.”
Hisense TV	Go to “Settings” → “Sound” → “Digital Audio Out” → “PCM.”
Vizio TV	Go to “Menu” → “Audio” → “Digital Audio Out” → “PCM.”
TCL TV	Go to “Settings” → “Audio” → “S/PDIF and ARC” → “PCM-Stereo.”

Note: You must be using a wired subwoofer connection in order for these steps to work.

6. Change the Subwoofer’s Connection

If you’ve already tried all of the steps, but the TCL subwoofer not working problem persists, it’s recommended to switch up the connection method. 

If you were attempting to pair the subwoofer wirelessly until now, we recommend connecting it over an Optical or, respectively, the other way round. 

6.1 From Wireless to Wired Connection

To ensure the TCL soundbar is currently not searching for devices, reconnect the device from the power and do not press the “Bluetooth” button.

Locate the “OPT-OUT” port on the back of your subwoofer, connect an Optical cable, and plug the other end into your TCL soundbar.

6.2 From Wired to Wireless Connection

First, disconnect the audio cable you used for physically connecting the soundbar and press the “Bluetooth” button found on the side of your soundbar.

Then, wait for the device’s LED to start blinking and ensure the subwoofer is in the 10–15 feet range during the procedure.

Note: The subwoofer will be automatically synced with the soundbar after a successful pairing. 

7. Restore the Soundbar to Factory Defaults

Perhaps, a factory reset will eliminate all of the TCL soundbar and subwoofer’s issues, allowing the devices to connect securely over wired or wireless connection.

To reset the TCL soundbar, wait for 10–15 minutes until the device enters Standby mode and press the “Play/Pause/OK” button on the remote for about 5 seconds. 

Wait until the display says “FACTORY RESET” and press the “Play/Pause/OK” button again to confirm.

• Once the device starts the reset, cease all interactions for the upcoming 2–3 minutes to allow the factory reset to finalize without any errors. 

Note: If your TCL Subwoofer is still not working, seek professional assistance or claim your warranty!