Vizio Sound Bar HDMI ARC Stopped Working: Here’s How to Fix It

Why did my Vizio soundbar stop working? What Are the Most Common HDMI ARC stopped Causes, and What Should I Do If My Soundbar Isn’t Working?

We’ll troubleshoot some of the most common causes of HDMI ARC problems and offer solutions to get your soundbar working again.

What Are the Most Common causes HDMI ARC Vizio soundbars stop working?

There are several reasons your Vizio soundbar might stop working with HDMI ARC. Here are some of the most common:

1. The HDMI cable is not plugged in all the way. The power cord is not plugged in. The wrong input source is selected on the TV. The TV’s audio output is muted.
2. More than one HDMI ports are not uncommon on Vizio soundbars, but all aren’t ARC compatible. Make sure you’re using the proper HDMI ARC connection. You should also double-check that both ends are secure and that the HDMI cable is functional. If nothing helps, use a different cable may be necessary.
3. Some users have found that their Vizio soundbar will not work with HDMI ARC after a firmware update. If this is the case, you’ll need to downgrade the firmware.
4. If your TV doesn’t have an optical audio output, or if you’re using an older receiver without HDMI ARC, you can use the provided digital coaxial cable to connect the soundbar to the TV. This might require a bit of jiggling to get it to fit correctly.

How do I turn on HDMI ARC on Vizio?

1. There is usually a button on the soundbar itself to enable or disable HDMI ARC. Check your Vizio soundbar’s manual for the specific location of this button. If you can’t find it, or if your soundbar doesn’t have a manual, you can try pressing the power button and volume up simultaneously. This will often bring up a hidden menu where you can enable/disable HDMI ARC.
2. If all else fails, there may be a reset button located somewhere on the soundbar. Again, consult your Vizio soundbar’s manual to locate this button, then press and hold it for a few seconds until the LED light turns off. This will reset your soundbar to its factory settings.
3. Hopefully, one of these solutions will get your Vizio soundbar up and running again with HDMI ARC. If not, please reach out to us for more help.

What Should I Do If My Soundbar Isn’t Working?

Here are the solutions to solve the HDMI ARC issue on your Vizio Soundbar.

Disconnect other HDMI Devices

HDMI ARC is the best way to connect your Vizio Soundbar to your TV. But, when there are multiple devices connected to your TV via HDMI ARC, the HDMI CEC issue pops up when one device interferes with the functioning of the other.

So, if you have other devices apart from the Vizio Soundbar connected to your TV via the HDMI ARC, disconnect them from your TV and check again.

 This is often a simple but effective solution and you will start hearing sound from your Vizio soundbar via the HDMI ARC connection in no time.

Right HDMI ARC Port

There are multiple HDMI ports provided on some of the Vizio soundbars and not all of them support ARC connection. It is quite possible that you have plugged in the HDMI cable to the wrong HDMI port which lacks ARC functionality.

The same goes for your TV too as it can have multiple HDMI ports and only one of them is for HDMI ARC connection. So, you should check the port on both ends and make sure that you have connected to the correct ports.

If the connection is correct, the HDMI cable might be faulty and you should check with another HDMI cable as well to resolve the issue.

Enable CEC

HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is a modern HDMI feature that allows your TV to work better with other peripheral devices. While this feature can be useful, it is often disabled by default.

While it is not compulsory to enable HDMI CEC to get sound output from your Vizio soundbar, sometimes it does create an issue. There is no harm in enabling it and checking the output from your soundbar.

So, you can go to the settings menu on your TV and enable the HDMI CEC if it is toggled off by default. You can consult the instruction manual that came with the TV for better assistance.

Updating the Firmware

If you have not updated the software or the firmware on your TV or Vizio Soundbar for a long time, the outdated software might cause the issue of HDMI ARC not working properly. You should make sure that the devices are updated with the latest software version.

These devices update themselves if they have WiFi connectivity but if there is no WiFi connectivity available to them, they will fail to update from time to time. You can download the latest stable firmware version from the official web page of your TV and the Vizio soundbar, load it on a flash drive, and plug it into the devices. They will scan the flash drive and upgrade the firmware automatically.

Resetting the soundbar and TV

Resetting your Vizio soundbar and the TV is the ultimate way to fix any problem with the HDMI ARC not working. It also fixes minor issues that you have been facing for a while now.

To reset your Vizio soundbar you can follow the steps and get it done quickly –

1. Locate the Bluetooth button on your Vizio soundbar. It is provided on the control panel of your Vizio soundbar.
2. Now, find the volume down button. Once you find both the buttons, press them together and hold the press for around 5 seconds.
3. The lights on the soundbar will flash and you will know that the reset has been successfully completed.
4. In some Vizio soundbar models, you will need to press the volume up or input button with the Bluetooth button. You can refer to the instruction manual for better help.

In order to reset your TV, refer to the official website of the TV manufacturer or the manual that came with the TV in the box.

Connecting to another TV

If the HDMI ARC is not working then the problem could be either with the TV or the soundbar. You can confirm the same by connecting the Vizio soundbar with another TV. if it works fine with another TV, then the soundbar is working fine and it is your previous TV that has issues.

The HDMI ARC port might be damaged on your TV or there is some problem in the settings that is stopping the HDMI ARC from working. You can check all of these by following the troubleshooting guide provided in the TV manual.