How to Connect an LG Soundbar to an LG TV

The fastest way: HDMI ARC or eARC

The simplest connection method is HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC, which lets your TV send sound to the soundbar through a single HDMI cable. Most LG soundbars and LG TVs made in the last five years support this. You need one HDMI cable, your TV remote, and about five minutes.

Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on the back of your soundbar labeled ARC or eARC. Plug the other end into the HDMI port on your TV that also says ARC or eARC — this is usually HDMI 3 or HDMI 4, but check your TV manual if you are unsure which port. Then turn on both devices and go to your TV's sound settings to select the soundbar as the audio output.

HDMI ARC works with any input on your TV — cable box, streaming device, antenna — because the TV handles the sound routing. You control volume with your TV remote or the soundbar remote. This is the method LG recommends for most setups.

Key Takeaways

HDMI ARC or eARC is the fastest method and requires only one cable plugged into the matching ports on both devices.
Bluetooth is a backup option if your soundbar and TV both have it, but it does not work with all TV inputs and can drop connection.
Optical audio (TOSLINK) works on older LG models and requires a separate optical cable, but does not support newer surround sound formats.
After connecting, go to your TV's sound settings and select the soundbar as the audio output device.
If the soundbar does not appear in your TV's settings, restart both devices and check that the cable is fully seated in the ARC port.

Setting up HDMI ARC in your TV menu

Once the cable is plugged in, turn on your TV and soundbar. Pick up your TV remote and go to Settings — the path varies by LG model, but it is usually on the home screen or under a gear icon. Look for Sound or Audio, then find Sound Out or Speaker Settings.

You should see a list of audio outputs. Select HDMI ARC/eARC or the name of your soundbar if it appears. Some LG TVs label this as External Speaker or Soundbar. Once selected, test the sound by playing something on your TV — you should hear it from the soundbar, not the TV speakers.

If the soundbar does not appear in the list, unplug both devices, wait 30 seconds, plug them back in, and try again. The TV needs to detect the soundbar on the HDMI port before it shows up in the menu. If it still does not appear after a second restart, the HDMI cable may not be fully inserted or the port may not support ARC.

Bluetooth as a backup connection

If your soundbar and TV both have Bluetooth, you can pair them wirelessly. This is useful if you do not have an available HDMI ARC port or if the HDMI method is not working. Bluetooth is less reliable than HDMI — the connection can drop, and it does not work with all TV inputs — but it is straightforward to set up.

On your LG TV, go to Settings > Sound and look for Bluetooth or Wireless Speaker. Turn Bluetooth on. On your soundbar, press the Bluetooth button (usually on the remote or the back of the unit) to put it in pairing mode — you will see a light blink or hear a tone. The TV should find the soundbar within 10 seconds. Select it from the list and confirm pairing.

After pairing, the soundbar will connect automatically when you turn it on. However, Bluetooth audio can lag slightly behind the picture on some LG models, and the connection may drop if the soundbar is more than 20 feet from the TV. If you notice sync issues or frequent disconnects, switch back to HDMI ARC.

Optical audio for older LG models

If your LG TV or soundbar is more than five years old, it may not have HDMI ARC. In that case, optical audio (also called TOSLINK) is a common alternative. You will need an optical audio cable, which is inexpensive and widely available. Optical does not support newer surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos, but it works reliably for standard stereo and 5.1 surround sound.

Locate the optical audio port on the back of your TV — it is a small square opening, usually labeled Optical Out or SPDIF. Plug one end of the optical cable into that port. Plug the other end into the optical port on your soundbar, usually on the back. Turn on both devices.

Go to your TV's Settings > Sound and select Optical Out or Digital Audio Out as the audio output. The soundbar should begin playing sound from your TV. Optical cables are durable and do not require pairing, but they carry only one audio signal at a time, so you cannot use them alongside other audio outputs.

Troubleshooting when the soundbar does not appear

If you have plugged in the HDMI cable but the soundbar does not show up in your TV's sound settings, start with the basics. Make sure the cable is pushed all the way into both the TV and soundbar — a loose connection is the most common cause. Check that you are using the ARC or eARC port on both devices, not a regular HDMI port. If you are unsure which port is which, look at the labels on the back of each device or check the manual.

Restart both devices completely. Unplug the soundbar and TV from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug them back in. This clears temporary connection errors that prevent the TV from recognizing the soundbar. Once both are powered up, go back to your TV's sound settings and check again.

If the soundbar still does not appear, try a different HDMI cable if you have one available — some cables are faulty or do not support ARC. If a different cable works, the original cable is the problem. If neither cable works, the HDMI port on your TV or soundbar may be damaged. In that case, use Bluetooth or optical audio as a workaround, or contact LG support with your TV and soundbar model numbers.

Controlling volume and switching inputs

Once your soundbar is connected and set as the audio output, you can control volume with either your TV remote or your soundbar remote — whichever you pick up first. Most LG soundbars respond to both. If you use your TV remote, the volume buttons will adjust the soundbar. If you use the soundbar remote, it will adjust the soundbar volume independently.

When you switch inputs on your TV — from cable to a streaming device, for example — the soundbar automatically switches with it because it is receiving audio from the TV, not directly from the input device. This is one reason HDMI ARC is better than Bluetooth: you do not have to re-pair or manually switch the soundbar when you change what you are watching.

If you want to use the TV speakers instead of the soundbar temporarily, go back to Settings > Sound > Sound Out and select TV Speaker. The soundbar will stay connected but will not play audio until you switch back to it in the same menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special HDMI cable for ARC?

No, a standard HDMI cable works fine for ARC. You do not need an expensive "ARC cable" — any HDMI cable will carry the ARC signal. The only requirement is that both the TV and soundbar have ARC or eARC ports, and you plug the cable into those specific ports, not regular HDMI ports.

Can I use the soundbar with a cable box or streaming device directly?

Not with HDMI ARC — the soundbar receives audio only from the TV. If you want to connect a cable box or streaming device directly to the soundbar, you would need to use optical audio or Bluetooth on that device instead. For most setups, it is simpler to plug the cable box or device into the TV and let the TV send audio to the soundbar through HDMI ARC.

Why does my soundbar keep disconnecting over Bluetooth?

Bluetooth can drop if the soundbar is too far from the TV, if there are obstacles between them, or if other wireless devices are interfering. Move the soundbar closer to the TV or remove obstacles. If the problem continues, switch to HDMI ARC, which is more stable. Bluetooth is best used as a backup, not a primary connection.

What if my TV does not have an ARC port?

Older LG TVs without ARC can use optical audio or Bluetooth instead. Optical requires an optical cable and works well for most content. Bluetooth is wireless but less reliable. Check your TV manual to see which ports it has, or look at the back of the TV for an optical port labeled SPDIF or Optical Out.

Do I need to update my soundbar or TV software?

LG sometimes releases updates that improve soundbar compatibility. Check the LG support website for your soundbar and TV model numbers to see if updates are available. Updates are usually optional but can fix connection issues. Most updates install through a USB drive or over the internet if your TV is connected to WiFi.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.