Vizio TV No Sound — How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Press the Mute button on the remote and check the on-screen volume indicator. Go to Menu → Audio → TV Speakers → On — the audio output may have been switched to an external device. Unplug the TV for 60 seconds to clear a SmartCast audio process crash.

Affected Models

Vizio V-Series
Vizio M-Series
Vizio P-Series
Vizio OLED
Vizio E-Series

Common Causes

TV muted via remote
Audio output switched to Bluetooth or optical device that is off
HDMI ARC handshake failure with a soundbar
SmartCast audio service crash
Headphone jack occupied — plugging in headphones silences the TV speakers

How to Fix It

Check mute and volume

Press Mute once to toggle off. Then press Volume Up several times. Confirm the on-screen volume bar is visible and moving.
Check audio output setting

Menu → Audio → TV Speakers → set to On. If it is set to Off, the TV is routing audio to an external device. Also check that no headphone cable is plugged into the TV's 3.5mm port.
Restart the TV

Unplug from the wall for 60 seconds. A SmartCast audio crash is a common cause of sudden silence and always clears on a full power cycle.
Check HDMI ARC (if using a soundbar)

If your soundbar is connected via HDMI ARC, ensure the soundbar is on and set to its ARC input. Menu → Audio → Digital Audio Out → try switching between Dolby Digital and PCM. Toggle CEC off and on to force a new ARC handshake.
Factory reset

Menu → Admin & Privacy → Reset TV to Factory Defaults → enter PIN (default 0000). This resolves corrupted audio settings. After reset, go to Menu → Audio → TV Speakers → On.

When to Call a Professional

If no sound comes from TV speakers after a factory reset with TV Speakers set to On, the internal audio amplifier has failed — contact Vizio support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vizio TV has sound on some apps but not others — why?

Some apps use Dolby Atmos audio that requires the correct passthrough setting. Menu → Audio → Digital Audio Out → try setting to Auto or PCM. PCM works universally; Auto passes Dolby to a compatible soundbar.

Vizio TV audio cuts out every few seconds — why?

Intermittent audio drops are usually an HDMI ARC cable or handshake issue. Try a different HDMI cable for the soundbar connection. Also check that CEC is enabled on both the TV and the soundbar.

Vizio TV no sound after update — how to fix?

A SmartCast update can reset audio settings. Go to Menu → Audio → TV Speakers → On. If you use a soundbar, re-pair it via HDMI ARC or optical.