Connect the soundbar to power and your TV

Start by placing your Samsung soundbar on a flat surface directly below or above your TV. Plug the power cable into the back of the soundbar and into a wall outlet or power strip. The soundbar will power on automatically—you'll see a light on the front panel turn on.

Next, connect the soundbar to your TV using one cable. Samsung soundbars typically come with an HDMI cable in the box. Plug one end into the HDMI port on the back of the soundbar labeled "HDMI IN (eARC/ARC)" and the other end into an HDMI port on your TV. If your TV has an eARC or ARC port (usually labeled), use that one—it lets the soundbar and TV talk to each other two ways. If your TV doesn't have eARC, a regular HDMI port works fine, but you'll need to also connect an optical cable for sound to travel from the TV to the soundbar.

If you're using an optical cable instead of HDMI, plug one end into the optical port on the back of the soundbar and the other into the optical audio output on your TV. Optical cables are thinner and carry only sound, not picture.

Key Takeaways

  • Connect power first, then use an HDMI eARC cable to link your soundbar to your TV—this is the simplest setup and lets both devices communicate.
  • Turn on Bluetooth on your TV and soundbar, then search for the soundbar by name in your TV's Bluetooth settings to pair them wirelessly.
  • read the SmartThings app on your phone, create a Samsung account if you don't have one, and add your soundbar to the app for remote control and updates.
  • Test sound by playing a show or movie on your TV; if you hear nothing, check that the TV's audio output is set to send sound to the soundbar, not the TV speakers.
  • Subwoofers and rear speakers pair automatically to the soundbar if they're Samsung models designed for your soundbar—turn them on and they'll connect within a minute.

Pair the soundbar with your TV using Bluetooth

Even though you've plugged in an HDMI or optical cable, pairing via Bluetooth gives you a wireless backup and lets the soundbar respond to your TV remote. On your TV remote, go to Settings, then Bluetooth or Connected Devices. Look for a Bluetooth option and turn it on.

On the soundbar itself, press and hold the Bluetooth button on the back (or on the remote if one came in the box) for three seconds until you see a blue light blink on the front. This puts the soundbar in pairing mode. Go back to your TV's Bluetooth menu and look for a device named something like "Samsung Soundbar" or the specific model number. Select it. The light on the soundbar will stop blinking and stay solid blue when the pair is complete—this usually takes 10 to 15 seconds.

read the SmartThings app and sign in

The SmartThings app is Samsung's control center for all your Samsung devices. On your phone or tablet, go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) and search for "SmartThings." read and open the app.

When you open SmartThings for the first time, you'll be asked to create or sign into a Samsung account. If you already have a Samsung account from buying a phone or TV, use that. If not, tap "Create Account" and enter your email and a password. Once you're signed in, the app will search for nearby Samsung devices. Your soundbar should appear in the list. Tap it to add it to your account.

From the SmartThings app, you can adjust volume, change input sources, turn the soundbar on and off, and receive notifications when software updates are available. The app also lets you control multiple Samsung devices from one place if you have other Samsung speakers or a Samsung TV.

Set your TV to send sound to the soundbar

This is the step most people miss, and it's why they don't hear anything. Your TV is probably still set to play sound through its own speakers. Go to your TV's Settings menu and look for "Sound" or "Audio Output." In that menu, find an option called "Speaker Output," "Audio Output," or "Sound Output."

You should see a list of options. Select "External Speaker" or "Soundbar" or the name of your soundbar model. Some TVs call this "HDMI eARC" or "Optical Out." Once you've made this change, sound from your TV will go to the soundbar instead of the TV's built-in speakers. Test it by turning up the volume on the soundbar remote or in the SmartThings app and playing a video on your TV. You should hear sound come from the soundbar.

If you still don't hear anything, go back to this menu and double-check that the soundbar is selected. If it is, unplug the soundbar for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and try again. Sometimes the connection needs to reset.

Connect a subwoofer or rear speakers if you have them

Samsung sells subwoofers and rear speaker kits designed to work with their soundbars. If you have a Samsung subwoofer or rear speakers that match your soundbar model, setup is automatic. Turn on the subwoofer and place it near the soundbar. Within 30 to 60 seconds, the subwoofer will find the soundbar and connect wirelessly. You'll see a light on the subwoofer turn solid, meaning it's paired.

Do the same for rear speakers if you have them. Place them in the back corners of your room, turn them on, and they'll pair to the soundbar automatically. You don't need to press any buttons or go into a menu. If a subwoofer or rear speaker doesn't pair within two minutes, turn it off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on.

If you're using non-Samsung speakers or a subwoofer from another brand, it won't pair automatically. You'll need to check that device's manual for pairing instructions, as the process varies by brand.

Update the soundbar software

Samsung regularly releases software updates for soundbars that add features and fix problems. The easiest way to update is through the SmartThings app. Open the app, tap your soundbar, and look for a "Device Info" or "Settings" option. If an update is available, you'll see a button that says "Update" or "read." Tap it and let the update run—don't unplug the soundbar while it's updating.

Updates usually take 5 to 10 minutes. The soundbar will restart on its own when it's done. You can also check for updates by connecting the soundbar to your home Wi-Fi network first. In the SmartThings app, tap your soundbar, go to Settings, and select "Wi-Fi." Choose your home network and enter your password. Once connected to Wi-Fi, the soundbar will check for updates automatically.

Troubleshoot common setup problems

If your soundbar powers on but you hear no sound, the most common cause is that your TV is still sending audio to its own speakers. Go back to your TV's Sound settings and make sure the soundbar is selected as the audio output. The second most common problem is a loose cable—unplug the HDMI or optical cable, wait five seconds, and plug it back in firmly.

If the soundbar pairs via Bluetooth but won't stay connected, move your phone or the source device closer to the soundbar. Bluetooth works best within 30 feet and without walls between the devices. If the soundbar still disconnects, forget the pairing on your TV and pair again from scratch. On your TV, go to Bluetooth settings, find the soundbar in the list of paired devices, and select "Forget" or "Remove." Then repeat the pairing steps above.

If the SmartThings app won't find your soundbar, make sure both your phone and the soundbar are on the same Wi-Fi network. The app needs Wi-Fi to discover devices. Restart your phone and the soundbar, then open the app again and tap the plus sign to add a device. If it still won't find the soundbar, check that your Wi-Fi network is 2.4 GHz—some Samsung soundbars don't connect to 5 GHz networks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to use both HDMI and Bluetooth, or just one?

HDMI or optical is the main connection that carries sound from your TV to the soundbar. Bluetooth is optional and works as a backup. Most people use HDMI eARC because it's one cable and lets the soundbar and TV control each other. Bluetooth is useful if you want to play music from your phone through the soundbar without turning on the TV.

Can I use the soundbar with a TV that's not a Samsung?

Yes. Samsung soundbars work with any TV that has an HDMI eARC port, an optical audio output, or Bluetooth. You won't be able to use the SmartThings app to control the soundbar from your TV remote, but you can still use the soundbar's own remote or the SmartThings app on your phone.

What if my soundbar remote doesn't work after setup?

Replace the batteries in the remote first—they're usually under a sliding panel on the back. If that doesn't work, point the remote at the soundbar and press a button while watching the front panel light. If the light doesn't blink, the remote batteries are dead or the remote is broken. If the light blinks but nothing happens, the soundbar may not be responding. Unplug the soundbar for 30 seconds and plug it back in.

How do I know if my soundbar is connected to Wi-Fi?

Open the SmartThings app and tap your soundbar. If it shows a Wi-Fi icon or says "Connected," it's on your network. You can also look at the front panel of the soundbar—some models show a Wi-Fi symbol when connected. If the app says "Offline," the soundbar has lost its Wi-Fi connection. Go to the soundbar's Bluetooth settings in SmartThings, select your Wi-Fi network, and enter your password again.

Can I move the soundbar to a different room?

Yes, but you'll need to set it up again in the new room. Unplug it from the old location, plug it in the new one, and pair it to the TV in that room using the same steps above. If you're moving it to a TV that's also a Samsung and already in your SmartThings app, the soundbar may pair automatically. If not, add it as a new device in the app.