For a lot of us, our TVs are very important. I use it as a way to work and indulge in everything from gaming to media consumption. However, there have been situations when I run into issues where the TV is displaying pictures and no sound. I know this issue is widespread as a lot of people have experienced this and growing up around televisions, I know this happens to older TVs, too.
But what causes it and how do we fix it, in the first place? Well, there are a number of reasons that can cause this issue and that is why, in this guide, we are going to look at how to fix a TV with no sound but picture.
It is worth noting that this issue is widespread but the causes can be different for everyone. That is the reason why we are covering as many ways as we possibly can.
What Causes the TV to Have No Sound but Picture?
Before you freak out and start calling the manufacturer, it would be better if you double-check everything to see that your TV is working as it should.
There can be a number of reasons as to why the TV is displaying a picture but there is no sound and we are going to have a look at how you can check.
- Check if the TV is muted or the volume turned all the way down.
- Check what the audio output is.
- Check for a loose HDMI connection.
- Plug a different audio source to your TV.
- An interrupted software update.
How to Fix a TV with No Sound but Picture?
Now that we have talked about some basic issues that can result in the sound not coming. The next step is to look at how to fix them. It is not rocket science, so you do not have to worry about it all that much. But still, I am going to talk about all the methods with as much simplicity, so you do not have to beat around the bush.
Method 1: Checking the Volume Levels
Ideally, the rule of thumb would say that before you freak out and call a technician, you should check if your TV is muted or maybe the volume is turned all the way down.
Now, if you are using a modern TV like LG’s smart TV lineup, the TV actually displays a mute icon on the screen when you have muted. However, if you manually turn the volume all the way down, there is no indication that the volume is turned down.
Simply check if you have turned the volume all the way down and if you have, set the volume again and you are good to go.
Method 2: Selecting the Right Audio Output
Almost all modern TVs come with a number of ways to output audio. In addition to that, you can actually output audio from a single TV to two devices. However, there are situations where the output could be set to something that might not be available.
So, if you are running into the issue where there is no sound but picture, you should go into your TV’s settings, check the audio output tab, and see what it is set on. Ideally, it should be set to the internal TV speaker. If you have a soundbar connected via an HDMI ARC cable, then it should be set to HDMI ARC. Same goes for Bluetooth device, or any other wired/optical device.
Method 3: Checking HDMI and Other Wired Connections
I love HDMI cables, to be honest. This technology is amazing, especially the latest HDMI 2.1 that allows for 4K at 120Hz. However, the one gripe that I have always had with HDMI cables in general is the implementation or the design of the connector. You see, it is really easy to have the connecter get loose even by a small tug; a cat can unplug your HDMI connector.
What happens when the connector is loose or there is dust in them? Well, you are going to start seeing a deterioration in the overall quality of the picture, and in some cases, you will lose the audio, as well. For instance, recently, my LG C9 started displaying severe burn-in marks on the grey areas, and while I was worried, it occurred to me to clean the HDMI port/connection, and plug the cable back in.
Doing so resolved all the issues and I figured out that my TV was still good as new, it was just the cable had gone loose and needed some cleaning.
Method 4: Checking a Different Audio Source
If all the methods above are not being helpful in any sense, then I would highly suggest that you check a different audio source. Simply plug a pair of wired headphones, Bluetooth headphones, or a soundbar to your TV and see if that helps in the audio coming back.
If that is the case, there might be some other issue like an internal damage or malfunction. Most TVs that are available in the market come with a sound test in the settings, you can run a sound test to see if that works.
Method 5: Updating the Software
Sometimes, an interrupted software update can cause the audio to stop coming from the TV. The reason behind that is rather simple, when your TV is updating, it goes through various stages in which all the aspects of the update are initiated one by one and if the update is interrupted, there is a high chance that one or the other thing might stop working.
You can go ahead and update the software of your TV. Almost every modern TV has software updates available on the manufacturer website. However, if you are not sure how you can do it, get in touch with a technician and they should help you with it.
Conclusion
I fully understand just how annoying it can be whenever you are trying to enjoy content on your TV only to realise that the TV has no sound and only picture. The causes can be a lot more serious and we must be prepared for that. However, before you go ahead and get your TV fixed, you should go through this guide and look into every possible way you can fix a TV with no sound but picture.
I have been gaming for almost 24 years with extensive knowledge of all platforms and the gaming industry, in general. With interests in literature, art, gaming, and PC hardware.
