You recently got a TCL Smart TV, but the joy of owning it isn’t lasting due to the annoying lip-sync or audio delay problem, do you know what to do?
Well, before you consider replacing it or changing the mainboard, I strongly recommend that you do not panic, and you are not alone. There are a large number of TCL TV users who have faced similar issues just like you and me.
In my case, I got a brand new TCL Android TV and I was quite happy with the price, but when it came to watching Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and other streaming apps, the audio started going out of sync.
As a TV enthusiast, I started to find out why this is happening and what is the reason behind it, even though I knew the soundbar settings can cause this, I wasn’t using any soundbar with it. However, the lip sync was still getting noticed and ruining the experience.
Multiple TCL TV users have reported problems with audio going out of sync and sound lag on multiple forums and social media sites due to two main causes, conflicted software updates and incorrect sound settings.
In addition, I found a couple of other factors which can also trigger this issue and that is why I have created this complete guide, which will explain what is causing it, as well as how to fix it.
With that said, let’s find out what is causing the audio delay on your TV and how it can be fixed so it syncs perfectly with the video.
Why Is My TCL TV Audio Out Of Sync?
The out-of-sync audio to video problem occurs most frequently with TCL TVs while using a soundbar or audio receiver while playing games, and when using streaming apps like Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu, etc.
When the sound and video are out of sync, audio delays or lip-sync errors occur.
In addition to the sound delay experienced when using a soundbar with your TCL TV and playing video games through PlayStation or Xbox, many users also reported that they were not using any audio receiver and still experienced audio out of sync.
Audio Delay or Out of Sync issues on your TCL TV can be caused by incorrect sound settings, software glitches, or outdated applications, to solve the problem, you will need to reboot your TV, adjust the audio settings, and update the TV firmware.
Most of the time, the difference is not noticeable, but it can still be distracting.
Here are some scenarios where a sound delay might happen and what the cause may be:
Audio Delay while using a soundbar or external audio receiver.
- Incorrect Audio Settings/Faulty cables
Lip sync issue while using streaming apps and without a soundbar.
- Incorrect TV Audio Settings/Outdated Application or TV Firmware
Out of sync sound while using the gaming console and playing games.
- Incorrect audio set up or game sound is not correctly configured
Now that we know the possible reasons why this might occur, let’s see what needs to be done to fix it.
How To Fix Audio Delay, Lip Sync Issue on TCL Android TV?
Initial Troubleshooting
As outlined by official TCL TV support, here is an initial step-by-step troubleshooting guide that can help prevent and correct delay or sync issues.
Verify that the “S/PDIF and ARC” is set to “Auto Passthrough” in your TV’s audio settings.
You can ensure the audio settings on your TCL Android TV are configured correctly by following these instructions:
- On the Home screen of the TCL Android TV, press the Settings button to open the TV Settings menu.
- In the Audio tab, click Advanced Settings.
- Choose Digital Audio Out, and make sure Pass Through is selected.
- Click on the Back button on your TCL Android remote. You will be brought to the Audio menu.
- You can select either “Live” (best for most content) or “Movie” (adds more bass to all content).
- Once you’ve done this, press the Home button to exit the menu or wait for it to time out.
It is recommended that the settings are switched between even if they are already configured correctly. This will clear temporary conflicts and the new settings will be applied.
Note: Make sure your TCL TV software is up to date, if you wish to you can check the official website to ensure the firmware on your TV is the latest.
Almost 80% of audio sync issues on TCL TV get resolved by following the above steps.
Despite carefully following the above steps, if you still experience the issue, proceed to the next troubleshooting.
Wait it out
While troubleshooting, make sure to replay the video after each step to confirm the issue has been resolved.
You ought to wait some time if you have made changes to your audio setup or connected any devices to your TV recently.
The best thing to do before you jump to main troubleshooting or contacting any technician is to wait some time if you have made changes to your audio setup or connected any devices with your TV recently.
Several users reported that when they turned off their devices before sleeping, the next morning when they turned them on, the audio was perfectly synchronized with the video.
Hard reset TV
TCL TV’s internal settings conflict or a half-updated software or application can also cause audio lags or delays while streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, etc. In that case, you need to perform a manual reset.
No worries, I am not referring to resetting your whole TV to factory default like a new one. This is a hard reset that does not affect your apps or settings that were saved manually.
- Turn Off TV from remote or button on TV panel.
- Remove the power cable from the main source.
- Press and hold the power button on TV for about 20-30 seconds.
- After that, remove the batteries from the remote and press each button on the remote once before putting batteries in again.
- Lastly, plug the TV to the power source and turn it on manually or either via remote.
Afterward, play some video and check a couple of streaming apps to ensure audio is perfectly synchronized with the video and there are no lip-sync issues.
Note: If you are experiencing issues with HDMI or ARC cables, check your soundbar or another connected audio receiver. You can also try using optic cables or getting an HDMI splitter to separate audio and video for the soundbar or receiver.
Wrapping It Up
Lip sync and audio delays on your TCL smart TV ruin the viewing experience, and I’ve faced them on my TCL android TV myself. I’ve solved it, and I hope this guide helps you resolve the issue too.
To conclude it quickly, TCL TVs’ audio can get out of sync due to incorrect audio settings, incorrect soundbar setup, or a temporary glitch. If it happens to you, here are the steps you should take.
- Ensure audio settings on your TV are correct.
- Check Soundbar, Dolby, DTS, HDMI, ARC setup is correctly configured.
- Hard Reset TV.
- Update TV Firmware
Bro I thought this was a joke at first based on the removing the remote batteries and clicking each button (still not convinced that part wasn’t) but THIS WORKED. My TV has been out of sync for weeks and it drives me insane and this fixed it right away. Thank you!
Right, Zoe, these small fixes sometimes look silly but they work, I am glad it helped you.
I was ready to throw my 5 month old TCL in the trash until I read your post . Crazy as it seemed, it worked. Sound and picture now in sync. Thank you!
Hey Joy, thank you so much, I am glad. 🙂
Stay Blessed!!