Quick Answer
If your LG TV has no sound, open Settings, Sound, Sound Out and switch the source to Internal TV Speakers. If audio returns, the issue is your soundbar handshake. Toggle SIMPLINK off and on under General to force a fresh HDMI CEC link.
If a soundbar still gives no audio, change Digital Sound Output from Auto to PCM. That fixes the Dolby decode bug that silences most non Atmos speakers.
Most cases clear in under five minutes without a service call.
Where webOS audio actually breaks
LG TVs route audio through one of three pipelines:
- The internal speakers built into the TV chassis.
- HDMI ARC or eARC to a soundbar or AV receiver.
- Optical (Toslink) or Bluetooth to a wireless speaker.
Each pipeline has its own handshake protocol. Most no sound errors trace to the handshake breaking, not the speakers failing.
Step 1: confirm the TV can produce sound at all
- Press Settings on the Magic Remote.
- Open All Settings, Sound, Sound Out.
- Pick Internal TV Speakers.
- Open YouTube on the TV and play any clip.
If the internal speakers play normally, the TV itself is fine and the problem is downstream. If even the internal speakers stay silent, the issue is webOS itself.
Step 2: hard reset webOS
For total silence from the internal speakers, unplug the TV from the wall, hold the physical power button on the bottom bezel for 30 seconds, wait one minute, and plug back in. This drains residual current and reloads the audio driver from a cold start.
Step 3: fix the HDMI ARC handshake
If a soundbar over HDMI ARC has gone silent, the most likely culprit is SIMPLINK, LG's name for HDMI CEC. The handshake gets stuck and audio stops routing.
- Settings, All Settings, General, SIMPLINK (HDMI CEC).
- Toggle it off.
- Wait 10 seconds.
- Toggle it on.
- Unplug the HDMI cable from the soundbar and the TV.
- Plug it back in on the ARC labeled HDMI port on both ends.
Power both devices off and on. Audio should resume.
Step 4: switch Digital Sound Output to PCM
If you stream from an Apple TV 4K, PS5, or Xbox Series X and the soundbar still has no sound, the source is sending a Dolby or DTS bitstream the soundbar cannot decode. PCM forces the TV to downmix to a universal stereo or 5.1 format.
- Settings, All Settings, Sound, Advanced Settings.
- Open Digital Sound Output.
- Change from Auto or Pass Through to PCM.
Atmos and DTS X owners should leave it on Pass Through and switch to PCM only as a troubleshooting step.
Step 5: rule out a phantom headphone jack
If something is plugged into the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the back of the TV (or even a piece of debris is jammed inside), the TV believes headphones are connected and routes all audio there.
- Unplug any cable from the headphone jack.
- Inspect the port with a flashlight.
- If a foreign object is stuck, gently remove it with non metallic tweezers.
Step 6: test the optical output
If you use a Toslink optical cable, the cable itself fails more often than people expect.
- Unplug both ends and inspect the red laser tips for dust.
- Try a different optical cable.
- Inside Sound Settings, set Digital Sound Output to PCM. Many soundbars over optical cannot decode Dolby Digital streams reliably.
Step 7: clear app specific audio bugs
If picture and sound work everywhere except inside a single app like Netflix or Prime Video, the issue is that app's own audio cache, not the TV.
- Long press the app icon on the home screen.
- Tap the X to remove the app.
- Reinstall it from the LG Content Store.
- Sign in again.
Step 8: full reset to initial settings
As a last resort, Settings, General, Reset to Initial Settings wipes every audio profile and forces a clean handshake. You will lose every saved app and every paired device, so leave this for last.
When it is the soundbar, not the TV
If only the soundbar is silent and the internal TV speakers work, also try the soundbar with a different source like a phone over Bluetooth. If the soundbar plays from the phone but not from the TV, the issue is the HDMI cable, the ARC port, or the CEC handshake. If the soundbar refuses every source, it needs its own factory reset (consult the soundbar manual).
The takeaway
LG TV audio almost always fails at the handshake layer, not the speaker layer. Run through the chain in order. Confirm internal speakers work, toggle SIMPLINK off and on, switch to PCM, clear the headphone jack, and reinstall the offending app. The fix is almost never a new TV or a new soundbar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my LG TV have picture but no sound?
The audio output is routed to a disconnected device or the HDMI ARC handshake is stuck. Switch Sound Out to Internal TV Speakers to test, then reset SIMPLINK.
What does PCM do on an LG TV?
PCM forces the TV to send uncompressed stereo audio. Almost every speaker can decode it, so it is the safest fallback when Dolby or DTS produces silence.
Why does sound work on cable but not on Netflix?
The Netflix app's audio cache is corrupt. Uninstall and reinstall it from the LG Content Store.
Will a factory reset fix LG TV sound issues?
Yes for software bugs. It will not fix a blown speaker or a damaged HDMI port. Try the handshake fixes first.
