LG TV No Sound — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

No sound on an LG TV while the picture works normally is almost always a settings issue, not a hardware fault. The TV may be muted, the volume may be at zero, or the audio output may be set to an external device that is off. Check the mute button and audio output settings first — these fix the vast majority of LG TV no-sound issues.

Affected Models

LG OLED C2
LG OLED C3
LG QNED85
LG NanoCell 75
LG UHD UP7670

Common Causes

TV is muted or volume is set to zero
Audio output is set to HDMI ARC or optical — an external device that is off or disconnected
Incorrect audio format selected — the TV is receiving a format its speakers cannot decode
HDMI cable carrying audio has a fault or is connected to the wrong port
webOS audio driver has crashed — requires a power cycle to restore

How to Fix It

Press the Mute button on the remote to unmute, and turn the volume up using the volume keys.

The mute button is easy to press accidentally — this resolves the issue instantly if the TV was muted.
Go to Settings > All Settings > Sound > Sound Out and set it to TV Speaker.

If Sound Out is set to HDMI ARC or Optical, the TV expects an external speaker that may be off or disconnected.
Unplug the TV from the wall for 30 seconds, then plug it back in.

A webOS audio driver crash causes no sound — a power cycle restores audio in most cases.
Go to Settings > All Settings > Sound > Additional Settings > HDMI Input Audio Format and try switching between PCM and Auto.

Some HDMI sources send audio formats that LG's speakers cannot decode — PCM is universally compatible.
Test a different app or input source — for example, try the built-in LG smart TV apps if using HDMI.

If sound works in some sources but not others, the issue is with the source device, not the TV.
Run the Sound Test via Settings > All Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis > Sound Test.

LG's built-in sound test plays audio through the TV speakers — if it works, the TV hardware is fine.

When to Call a Professional

Contact LG support if no sound persists after all steps below and the TV's internal speakers test as silent. Internal speaker replacement is possible but involves opening the TV — a technician is recommended. If using an external soundbar or receiver, the fault may be with that device rather than the TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

My LG TV has no sound on one app but works on others — why?

The app may be sending an audio format that the TV's speakers cannot decode. Try setting the audio output in that specific app to Stereo or PCM rather than Dolby Digital. This is a common issue with streaming apps — it does not indicate a TV hardware fault.

Why did my LG TV suddenly lose sound after a software update?

Firmware updates occasionally reset audio settings, change the Sound Out selection, or introduce audio driver bugs. Check Sound Out is set to TV Speaker and run the built-in Sound Test. If the issue started with a specific update, LG usually releases a follow-up patch — check for updates.

My LG soundbar is connected but I get no sound — is that a TV problem?

It may be the soundbar, not the TV. Check that Sound Out is set to HDMI ARC or Optical (whichever matches your soundbar connection). Test the TV speakers directly by temporarily setting Sound Out to TV Speaker — if that works, the issue is in the soundbar connection or settings.