If your Onkyo receiver suddenly stopped sending sound over eARC or ARC from built-in TV apps, you're not alone—this happens more often than you'd think. HDMI-CEC, eARC, and app updates all interact in strange ways, so a small change in one place can mute the whole setup.
Quick answer
- Power cycle both devices — Unplug TV and receiver for 60 seconds, disconnect HDMI cable during downtime
- Check the HDMI connection — Use eARC/ARC port on TV, ARC-labeled input on receiver
- Reset HDMI-CEC handshake — Turn HDMI-CEC off and back on in both device menus
- Test with certified cable — Replace HDMI cable if sound cuts in and out
Symptoms
- Sound worked before but now built-in TV apps are silent
- Receiver shows "TV Audio" but no actual audio comes through
- Intermittent sound that cuts in and out during streaming
- External devices work fine but TV apps don't send audio to receiver
Quick checks
- Confirm the HDMI connection — Make sure the HDMI cable from the TV is plugged into the ARC or eARC-labeled HDMI input on your Onkyo receiver. On many sets it is only one specific port.
- Use a certified high-speed cable — Old or damaged HDMI cables are a very common cause of eARC drop-outs. Swap in a known-good, certified cable if you have one.
- Set TV audio to eARC/ARC — In the TV sound settings, select the option that sends audio to an external receiver or soundbar rather than the TV speakers.
- Turn the volume up on the Onkyo receiver — It sounds obvious, but if the receiver was muted or set to a different input, you will not hear anything from TV apps.
Step-by-step fix
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Power everything off fully — Turn off the TV and the Onkyo receiver, then unplug them from power for 30-60 seconds. This clears the HDMI control state.
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Unplug the HDMI cable during the power off — Disconnect the cable between the TV eARC/ARC port and the Onkyo receiver. Waiting a few seconds helps the devices forget the old link.
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Plug the HDMI cable back in firmly — Re-connect the cable to the eARC/ARC port on the TV and the ARC-enabled input on the Onkyo receiver. Avoid adapters or wall plates for this test.
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Power on the TV first, then the Onkyo receiver — Let the TV boot to the home screen before turning on the receiver. Many HDMI-CEC systems are picky about power-on order.
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Open a simple TV app and test — Launch a built-in app like Netflix or YouTube and play a video. Give it a few seconds to negotiate audio. Watch the front panel of the Onkyo receiver for Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, or PCM indicators.
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Toggle HDMI-CEC / ARC off and on — In both the TV and Onkyo receiver menus, temporarily disable HDMI-CEC and ARC/eARC, then turn them back on. This often forces a fresh handshake.
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Check audio formats and app settings — Some Onkyo models are picky about multichannel PCM or Dolby Atmos. If you get silence, try forcing the TV to output Dolby Digital or "Auto" instead of PCM only.
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Test with multiple apps — Try at least two or three streaming apps. If only one app has no sound, open its internal audio or playback settings and confirm surround sound is enabled.
If it still isn't working
Simplify the setup — Temporarily disconnect all other HDMI devices from the TV and Onkyo receiver, then repeat the power-cycle and eARC setup. This strips the system down to one TV and one receiver, making it easier to see whether a game console or streaming box was confusing HDMI-CEC.
Check for firmware updates — If eARC works from external devices but not from built-in apps, the TV firmware may be at fault. If the Onkyo receiver never shows an ARC/eARC input, look for a receiver firmware update.
Document the exact behavior — Note your TV model, which HDMI port is in use, what the Onkyo receiver display shows, and which apps fail. Support teams can do much more with that detail than with "no sound from apps."
FAQ
Why does eARC work with my streaming stick but not TV apps? Built-in TV apps and external devices use different audio processing paths. TV firmware bugs often affect the internal apps while leaving external HDMI inputs working normally.
My receiver shows "TV Audio" but there's no sound. What's wrong? The receiver is detecting the TV connection but not receiving actual audio data. Try the full power cycle with HDMI cable disconnect—this usually forces a fresh handshake.
Should I disable HDMI-CEC completely? Not permanently. HDMI-CEC enables useful features like volume control. Instead, toggle it off and back on in both devices to reset the connection without losing the functionality.
How do I know if my HDMI cable is the problem? If sound cuts in and out, or only works after you wiggle the cable, replace it with a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Intermittent audio is a classic cable issue.