Samsung TV eARC Not Working

eARC Not Working On Samsung TV? (Ultimate Quick Fix)

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Many Samsung TV users have reported problems with eARC, including audio dropouts, lip sync issues, and total loss of audio. 

It can be frustrating to have your TV and soundbar not working properly, especially when you’ve invested in expensive equipment. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the common causes of eARC issues on Samsung TVs, and provide some troubleshooting steps you can try to fix the problem. 

I’ll also explain how to set up eARC correctly to ensure a stable and high-quality audio experience. If you’re tired of dealing with eARC issues on your Samsung TV, keep reading to learn how to get the perfect eARC setup.

If you’re experiencing an eARC issue on your Samsung TV, you might notice a few frustrating symptoms. Here are a few things you might experience:

  • Audio randomly drops out when switching channels or changing the volume. This can be particularly frustrating when you’re trying to watch a TV show or movie and the audio suddenly cuts out.
  • Significant audio delays when switching channels or apps. This can make it difficult to enjoy your favorite content, as the audio and video may not be in sync.
  • Total loss of audio when switching channels or apps. This can be a real bummer, as it makes it impossible to hear what’s happening on screen.
  • No audio on the TV startup. This can be a real pain, especially if you’re trying to quickly watch something.
  • Random AVR source change at TV startup, and when changing channels or apps. This can be confusing and annoying, as it may cause the audio to come out of the wrong speakers or device.
When I faced it with my Samsung TV, I tried a couple of things like bypassing eARC with an optical cable and Bypassing eARC with Apple TV using HDMI interconnects, although doing it eARC related problems were solved, the video quality was lower than before.

So without further ado, let’s proceed and see how to turn on eARC on Samsung TV as that is a basic requirement and then we will proceed with troubleshooting.

How do I turn on eARC on Samsung TV?

Here’s how to turn on eARC on Samsung TV:

  1. Press the Home button on your remote control.
  2. Go to Settings (All Settings).
  3. Navigate to General, and then select External Device Manager.
  4. Enable Anynet+ (HDMI CEC).
  5. Go back to Settings (All Settings) > Audio (Sound) > Expert Settings.
  6. Select HDMI eARC Mode and turn it “ON“.

How To Fix Samsung TV eARC Not Working?

If you’re having trouble with your eARC connection on your Samsung TV even though you’re using compatible HDMI cables and have the connection set up properly, it’s possible that there are other factors at play.

One thing to keep in mind is that any device connected in the chain, which has CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) enabled can break the eARC handshake. CEC allows devices to communicate with each other and control each other over the HDMI cable. But sometimes, it can cause conflicts that disrupt the eARC connection.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you’re using a Samsung universal remote, it may not leave the appropriate delays when turning on devices, which can cause the eARC handshake to break.

So, when troubleshooting eARC connection issues, it’s important to check if any device connected in the chain has CEC enabled, and if you’re using a Samsung universal remote, try to use the original remote control of the devices to avoid this issue.

Main Troubleshooting:

If you want to get the perfect eARC set up on your Samsung TV, here are a few steps you should follow:

  1. As a first step, turn off the CEC or HDMI control on all of your connected devices. This includes devices like Apple TV, Sky Q, Xbox, PS5, etc. You need to make sure that CEC is disabled on all devices.
  2. Next, unplug all the devices from your TV and soundbar and give them a hard reset. To reset the soundbar, hold the volume up and down button until you see “INT” and then “BYE” displayed.
  3. When you’re setting up your Samsung TV, plug all the devices back in (nothing into the soundbar, all into the TV). During this process, the TV will pair everything with the smart remote, but it also defaults eARC to ‘off’, which is helpful for the next step.
  4. Once the TV is set up, don’t turn on eARC yet. Head to the “Sources” and “Universal Remote” settings and delete all the sources created by Samsung, so they default to HDMI 1, 2, etc. You can still rename them and add them to your home, just don’t use the universal remote.
  5. Turn off all the HDMI inputs and the soundbar.
  6. Now, turn on eARC in the menu. If the soundbar doesn’t turn on automatically, do it manually. It should detect eARC for the first time.
  7. Finally, turn on your Xbox or PS5. You’ll have to change the input manually on the Samsung remote. In the Samsung sound settings on the TV, once the input is selected, choose “passthrough” and leave it. This will ensure that the audio is being passed through without any additional processing.

By following these steps, you’ll have an eARC connection that’s stable and provides high-quality audio. You’ll be able to enjoy your TV shows, movies, and games without any audio dropouts or lip sync issues.

If the above steps don’t work, I have provided further troubleshooting which is important because if you have followed the above steps but still cannot get eARC working properly, you will also need to update the firmware, change the HDMI cable, and configure the TV settings.

Additional Troubleshooting

Even if you have considered and taken care of the above points but are still not able to get the eARC working properly on your Samsung TV, here are further troubleshooting that you need to follow to get that sorted:

Update Firmware

Another possible reason for HDMI eARC not working on your Samsung TV is that the TV’s firmware may be outdated.

This can cause compatibility issues with newer devices and may prevent the ARC/eARC function from working properly.

To check if there is a firmware update available, navigate to the “Support” or “Settings” menu on your TV and check for updates.

Replace HDMI Cable

Additionally, the HDMI cable itself could be the issue. Make sure the cable is securely connected to both the TV and the audio system, and that it is an HDMI 2.1 or higher cable.

If the cable is damaged or not compatible, it may not transmit the audio signal properly.

Check TV Settings

It’s also worth checking your TV’s settings to ensure that the eARC feature is enabled.

On Samsung TVs, you can do this by going to the “Settings” menu, selecting “General,” and then selecting “External Device Manager.”

From there, you should see an option to enable “Anynet+ (HDMI CEC),” which is what allows the eARC feature to work.

Note: It’s also possible that the audio system you are connecting to does not support eARC. It is best to check the specifications of your audio system to ensure it has eARC support.

In summary, there could be a variety of reasons why HDMI eARC is not working on your Samsung TV, from outdated firmware to incompatible cables, external devices, or audio systems. By trying the above-mentioned steps, you will be able to identify the root cause and get it sorted out easily.

Further in case of any temporary issues, here’s how eARC connections can be reset easily.

How To Reset HDMI eARC on Samsung TV?

Here’s how to reset the HDMI eARC connection on Samsung TV:

  1. Unplug the power cords and HDMI cables from both your TV and audio system.
  2. Leave everything disconnected for 2 minutes.
  3. Plug the HDMI cable back into the HDMI IN (ARC or eARC) input on your TV and the HDMI OUT (ARC or eARC) on your audio system.
  4. Plug the power cords back into both devices.

That’s it! This should reset your HDMI eARC and get temporary glitches removed and everything works properly again. 

Conclusion

Well, there you have it! If you’re experiencing eARC issues on your Samsung TV, there are a few things you can try to troubleshoot the problem. From disabling CEC on all connected devices, to hard resetting both the TV and Soundbar, to updating the firmware, there are several steps you can take to get the perfect eARC setup. 

By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you will be able to fix the eARC issues and enjoy high-quality audio on your Samsung TV. 

To quickly wrap it up for you, here are important things to consider when you face eARC issues on any Samsung TV:

  • Check your TV and soundbar’s eARC compatibility
  • Make sure HDMI cables are connected properly
  • Ensure firmware is up to date on your TV and soundbar
  • Enable HDMI ARC/eARC on your soundbar’s settings
  • Check if you need a special adapter for older TVs
  • Try resetting the TV and soundbar to default settings

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special HDMI cable for eARC?

No, you don’t need a special HDMI cable specifically for eARC. However, it is important to use an HDMI 2.1 or higher cable, as earlier versions of HDMI are not compatible with eARC functionality.

Does Dolby Atmos work without eARC?

Yes, Dolby Atmos can work without eARC and ARC. eARC is specifically designed to handle high-bandwidth audio formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and others. Without eARC, you may experience issues such as audio dropouts or lip sync problems, however, over optical cable Dolby Atmos and Digital Plus like high channel latest audio formats won’t work.

Can I use ARC instead of eARC?

Yes, you can use ARC (Audio Return Channel) instead of eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) on your TV and audio system. However, there are a few key differences between the two that you should be aware of.

ARC is an older technology, and its main purpose is to transmit audio from the TV back to the audio system. It is limited to a maximum bandwidth of about 340Mbps, which is enough for most basic audio formats like Dolby Digital, but not enough for more advanced formats like Dolby Atmos.

On the other hand, eARC is an updated version of ARC, which supports higher bandwidth and more advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. It also allows for more control over audio settings and can transmit multiple audio channels in one stream.

So, if you’re using an older audio system that doesn’t support advanced audio formats, then you can use ARC. But if you have a newer audio system that supports advanced audio formats and you want to get the best audio quality, then you should use eARC.