If your Apple TV has no sound, it’s most likely due to an audio setting issue. The easiest way to get the sound working again is to check your audio settings. You may be using the wrong audio format, or your TV may need to be calibrated. Here, I’ll discuss several possible fixes.
If your Apple TV doesn’t have any sound, you can’t watch movies on Hulu and other streaming platforms.
Needless to say, this can get frustrating!
While some of these fixes are Apple-specific, sound issues can happen on any TV.
Much of what I’m about to say applies just as much to a Samsung or Vizio device.
Table of Contents
1. Check Your Audio Settings
First things first: check your audio settings.
Here are a few settings that could cause you trouble, along with how to fix them.
Change Your Apple TV Audio Format
Your Apple TV can use different audio formats.
By default, it will use the highest possible quality.
That’s normally what you’d want, but it can sometimes cause trouble with playback.
If you’re not getting any sound, open your TV menu.
Select “Audio Format,” then choose “Change Format.”
You’ll be able to choose from three options
- Auto is the default option. It will use PCM multichannel audio, which is completely uncompressed. But while it’s the best quality, it also requires an HDMI cable.
- Dolby Digital 5.1 is a 5.1-channel surround sound mode that’s more compatible than Auto mode.
- Stereo 2.0 is a simple 2-channel stereo. It’s compatible with any audio input but provides the lowest audio quality.
To get the best quality, work your way down.
If the Auto mode doesn’t work, try Dolby 5.1.
Use Stereo 2.0 only as a last resort.
Check Your Audio Output
Go to your TV’s audio options and see what speakers you’re using.
You may have selected an external speaker that’s turned off.
Your external speaker may also have separate volume settings.
You won’t hear anything if the speaker volume is set to zero.
Adjust Your Audio Mode
Apple TVs can use different audio modes to get the best possible output.
In most cases, “Auto” mode will get you the best results.
But some audio sources require a 16-bit output.
Try changing your output setting to “16-bit” and see if that fixes things.
Re-calibrate Your Apple TV Audio
If you connected your Apple TV to an external speaker, you might have to account for latency.
Latency is an echo effect that happens when some speakers are out of sync with other speakers.
It happens all the time when you combine wired and wireless speakers.
Thankfully, you can fix this with your iPhone.
- Open your TV’s Settings menu, and select “Video and Audio.”
- Select “Calibration,” then “Wireless Audio Sync.”
- Follow the instructions to sync your speakers by using your iPhone.
Keep in mind that calibration won’t fix your problem if you have zero audio.
But if you’re hearing an echo, you’ll quickly resolve the issue.
2. Power Cycle Your Apple TV & Speakers
Unplug your TV, wait for 10 seconds, and plug it back in.
If you’re using external speakers, do the same thing with them.
This can clear up any issues that were caused by minor software glitches.
3. Restart Your Internet
If your audio is coming from a streaming service, your TV might not be the issue.
Your internet connection may be the real culprit.
Unplug your modem and router, then plug them back in after 10 seconds.
Wait for all the lights to come back on, and see if your TV audio works.
4. Ensure All Cables Are Working
Double-check all your cables to make sure they’re plugged in.
Inspect them, especially near the tips.
If any are worn or have permanent kinks, replace them.
Pay extra attention to HDMI cables, since they carry your audio signal.
Try swapping yours with a spare, and see if your sound comes back.
5. Use a Different Speaker
If you’re using an external speaker, the speaker could be faulty.
Try using a different one, or even wearing a set of Bluetooth headphones.
To pair a new Bluetooth device, follow the following steps:
- Read the device’s manual and put it into pairing/discoverable mode.
- Open your Apple TV settings, select “Remotes and Devices,” then click “Bluetooth.”
- Select “Other Devices,” then choose your speaker or headphones.
If your sound suddenly works, you know your speaker was to blame.
6. Enable Subtitles
Subtitles aren’t a long-term solution, but they’re a workable short-term fix.
To do this, go to your Settings menu, then select “Subtitles and Captioning.”
Turn on Closed Captions, along with SDH if you want audio descriptions.
In the same menu, you can also change the subtitles’ appearance.
Select “Style,” and you’ll be able to change the font size, color, background color, and other visual features.
7. Contact Apple Support
Even the best products sometimes fail.
If nothing has worked, your Apple TV’s speakers might be broken.
Your TV may also have a serious software problem.
Contact Apple support and see what they can do to help.
Who knows? You might even get a new TV!
In Summary
Fixing your Apple TV’s audio is usually as simple as changing your audio settings.
If not, you can usually fix things with a new cable.
Only rarely is it more complicated than that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Apple TV have no sound?
There are many possible reasons.
Most likely, there’s something wrong with your audio settings.
There may also be trouble with your hardware.
You’ll have to do some troubleshooting to figure things out.
How to fix no sound on my 4k Apple TV through HDMI?
You can try a couple of mechanical fixes.
Sometimes, a new cable will fix your problem.
You may also want to try an external speaker.
