No sound from a Samsung TV is rarely a blown speaker. It's almost always the Sound Output pointed at the wrong place, a muted/zero volume, or an audio-format mismatch. Samsung even builds in a test to settle whether it's the TV's own speakers or something downstream — use that first.
Run the Sound Test
Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Sound Test. This plays a melody through the TV's own speakers, independent of any source.
- You hear the test tone → the TV's speakers work. The problem is the input/source or your Sound Output setting (below).
- No test tone → the TV's audio hardware or a software glitch — power-drain the TV (unplug 30+ seconds), then re-test; if still silent, it may need service. A TV that's otherwise misbehaving alongside the audio fault is covered in the broader Samsung TV not working walkthrough.
Fix the Sound Output
The most common cause of "no sound" — the audio is being sent somewhere you're not listening:
- Set Sound Output correctly. Settings > Sound > Sound Output. For the TV's own speakers, choose TV Speaker. For a soundbar/receiver, choose the HDMI (eARC) or Optical option. If it's set to a Bluetooth device or an external output that's off, the TV goes silent.
- Check mute and volume. Obvious, but a muted TV or a connected device with its own volume at zero is a frequent culprit.
- Disconnect a paired Bluetooth speaker. If the TV is paired to Bluetooth headphones or a speaker, it routes sound there instead of the TV.
If it's only some sources
If the TV speakers work (Sound Test passes) but a specific input is silent:
- Set the Digital Output Audio Format to a compatible value. Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > Digital Output Audio Format → PCM to test (rules out a Dolby/DTS format the connected device can't decode).
- Reseat the source's cable and confirm the source is actually outputting audio (a console set to the wrong audio output, etc.).
- For a soundbar over ARC, confirm the cable's in the eARC/ARC port, Anynet+ is on, and Sound Output is set to the soundbar. If the soundbar stays silent specifically over that connection, work through Samsung TV eARC/ARC not working next.
FAQ
How do I know if it's the TV or the source? Run the Sound Test (Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis). If you hear the tone, the TV's speakers are fine — the issue is the Sound Output setting or the source.
The Sound Test plays but my show is silent. Sound Output is pointed at an external device that's off (or Bluetooth). Set it to TV Speaker, or to the right soundbar/optical output.
No sound on one input only. Set Digital Output Audio Format to PCM, reseat that source's cable, and confirm the source is outputting audio.
No Sound Test tone at all. Power-drain the TV (unplug 30+ seconds) and re-test. If it's still silent, the audio hardware may need service.