They say Charlie Chaplin was the pioneer of silent films…
I say my LG TV is the pioneer of being silent. Period.
But, you know what?
Unlike films, fixing an LG TV without sound doesn’t take decades.
You just have to follow my lead.
Keep reading to discover:
- 11 swift ways to fix your LG TV that has no sound.
- The 10 best speakers for your TV for every budget.
- How your TV can tell you what’s wrong with its audio.
- 3 effortless methods to settle your audio issues by fixing your TV’s HDMI.
- And so much more…
Why has my LG TV got no sound?
Your LG TV has no sound because it’s muted or it has outdated firmware. There’s also a chance that you’re outputting the audio to a different source. Broken internal speakers, loose HDMI connection, and settings changes can cause this issue.
LG TV no sound: 11 ways to fix it
#1: Power cycle
Whatever problem your TV has…
Do you know the first thing that you should do?
Power cycle it.
Or, in other words, restart your LG.
This process gets rid of all stuck charges on your TV.
Thus, allowing the TV to be fully reset.
But, wait. Power cycling isn’t as straightforward as a quick restart.
Why?
Because turning your TV off and then on just puts it in Standby Mode.
Instead, what you have to do is:
- Shut off your TV.
- Remove it from the socket.
- Leave it alone for 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in.
- Turn your TV back on.
#2: Unmute your TV
What if the solution is so simple that…
You simply haven’t thought about it yet?
In this case, have you checked if your TV’s on mute?
Funnily enough, this happens a lot more than you think.
Why?
Because there’s a Mute button on your remote.
And it’s easy to accidentally press it while you’re moving around the couch.
#3: Update firmware
The next thing you should do?
Ensure that your TV’s up to date.
How?
Easy. You just have to update its firmware.
You might ask:
“Wait, what’s firmware?”
Firmware is often referred to as the “software for your hardware.”
It’s like the drivers on your PC.
With outdated firmware, your TV is prone to software glitches.
And that includes glitches with its audio.
That’s why you need to update your firmware…
And this is how:
Through the Settings menu
- Go to your Settings menu.
- Head to All Settings.
- Press Support.
- Tap Software Updates.
- Select Download and Install.
Note: The method above is only for webOS 6.0 or higher. For versions older than that, follow these directions:
Settings > All Settings > General > About This TV > Check for Updates > Download & Install.
Using a flash drive
For this method, you’ll need a:
- PC connected to the internet.
- Formatted flash drive with at least 2 GB of free space.
Got both? Great.
Now, you need to:
- Go to LG’s Download page.
- Download the latest firmware for your TV.
- Extract the download into your flash drive.
- Create a folder called “LG_DTV” inside the drive and copy the extracted file.
- Turn your TV off.
- Insert the flash drive into your LG’s USB port.
- Open your TV.
- Select Install to confirm.
#4: Factory reset
Was your sound working correctly before?
If so, do you know what you could do?
Turn back the clock.
Not literally, of course…
However, you could always reset your TV to a point in time when it was still working properly.
How?
By factory resetting it.
This type of reset gets rid of all the data in your TV…
But that’s not always a bad thing.
In fact, I encourage you to do that when there’s a problem on your TV that you can’t solve.
Like, for example, having no sounds coming from it.
To do so, just follow these easy instructions:
- Press the Settings button on your remote.
- Go to All Settings.
- Scroll down to General.
- Tap Reset to Initial Settings.
- Select OK to confirm.
You may also be interested in: How To Reset LG TV
#5: Change sound out settings
Your LG TV can output its audio in 2 different ways:
- Internal: LG’s own speakers
- External: A 3rd-party hardware.
To switch between them, you need to edit your TV’s settings.
Here’s the thing:
The settings on your TV can default to external even though no audio device is connected.
And that could be the reason why your TV has no sound:
Because it’s trying to find an audio device where there isn’t.
You need to edit your LG’s Sound Out settings to fix this.
How? Simple, you just have to:
- Press the Settings button on your remote.
- Head to All Settings.
- Go to Sound.
- Tap Sound Out.
- Select the correct audio output.
#6: Do a sound test
If you can’t tell what the problem with your TV’s audio is…
Why not let your TV tell it to you?
How?
Via a sound test.
This test reveals any potential problems with your audio.
And don’t worry. It wouldn’t take more than a minute to:
- Press the Settings button on your remote.
- Go to All Settings.
- Scroll down and select Sound.
- Tap Sound Test.
Now, all you have to do is follow the instructions on your TV.
#7: Perform an AV reset
Do you suspect that the problem with your sound is its settings?
If so, you should just reset it.
“Wait, I can do that?”
Yes, through an AV reset.
This reset is like a factory reset, but only for your audio and video settings.
Although the reset itself can take a couple of minutes…
The process isn’t a hassle. At all.
Here’s all you need to do:
- Hold your LG TV remote.
- Press the Mute button thrice.
- Select AV Reset.
Need visual instructions to do this? No shame in that.
Here’s a short video for you to watch:
#8: Buy an external speaker
Here’s a random fact for you:
Your electronics can die.
Not in a literal sense—but the hardware inside of it can corrode.
And that includes your TV’s internal speakers.
When your TV’s own speakers won’t work anymore, what should you do?
Buy external ones, of course.
I know. The market’s confusing, and there are too many speakers and soundbars to choose from.
Don’t fret. I curated the best choices:
Soundbars
- Vizio V21: $159.99.
- Sony HT-G700: $599.99.
- Klipsch Cinema 400: $349.99.
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2): $549.99.
- Samsung HW-Q900A: $999.99.
Speakers
- Sony HT-A9: $1999.99.
- Klipsch Reference Theater Pack: $479.99.
- Q Acoustics 3050i 5.1 Cinema Pack: $1419.99.
- Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package: $1299.99.
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Home Cinema Pack: $1227.0.
#9: Remove interference
Are you using a wireless speaker? Maybe Bluetooth?
In that case, there might be something blocking your Bluetooth connection.
Which objects can block Bluetooth, you ask?
- Wi-Fi.
- Microwave.
- Power lines.
- Security camera.
- Satellite and cable.
- Cordless telephones.
And, of course, the biggest obstacle for Bluetooth:
Distance.
To avoid having distance problems, ensure that your speaker is within 33 ft of your TV.
#10: Check HDMI connection
Are you using your TV as a screen for a:
- Mirrored display?
- Gaming console?
- Streaming device?
If so, you’re likely using an HDMI cable to connect it to your TV.
Audio can travel through your HDMI port…
But, for that to happen smoothly, you must ensure that the HDMI connection is strong and secure.
Because, if it isn’t, your audio can become distorted…
Or, worse, you may have no audio. At all.
To fix this, you can try these 3 methods:
Clean HDMI port
- Drop a small amount of pure alcohol into the port.
- Wrap a microfiber cloth around a thin object.
- Use the cloth to clean around the crevices of your port.
- Straighten any bent pins with a tweezer.
- Let the port dry.
- Repeat steps until it’s spotless.
Replace HDMI cable
Not all HDMI cables are created equal.
In fact, each of them is unique and has different purposes.
To ensure that your HDMI connection won’t produce any error…
You need to buy the correct 1 for your TV.
How will you know?
Simple. Check the specs of your TV and the external device.
And then, use this list to find out which one’s best for you:
- Category 1: 720p to 1080p, 60 Hz.
- Category 2 (High Speed): 1080p to 4K, 30 to 60 Hz.
- Category 2 (4K): 4K, 60 Hz.
- Category 3: 4K to 8K, 60 to 120 Hz.
Splice HDMI cable
Lastly, what if your HDMI cable’s broken?
Well, you could easily swap the cable with a newer one.
But that requires spending a little cash.
Do you know what you could do to avoid spending money?
Splice your broken cable.
This is how you can do so:
Note: Use electricity-dissipating safety gloves.
- Look for the exposed part.
- Measure 1 inch to both sides of the damage.
- Unsheath your cable using that measurement.
- Cut the cable into 2.
- Do the same for the smaller wires inside the cable.
- Connect the smaller wires over a heat shrink tubing using their color.
- Seal the connection using a heat gun.
- Repeat steps #6 and #7 for the main cable.
#11: Contact LG
Did any of those work? No?
Then, there’s a big chance your TV’s hardware has a problem.
I could tell you how to fix it but…
You should leave this part to the professionals to avoid getting hurt or worsening the issue.
In this case, you can contact LG for a personal consultation here.