The fastest way to connect your Samsung soundbar

Most Samsung soundbars connect to your TV using a single HDMI cable plugged into the HDMI ARC (or eARC) port on the back of your TV. This is the simplest method because one cable carries both picture and sound, and your TV remote will control the soundbar's volume. If your TV has an eARC port—usually labeled as such, or sometimes it's HDMI 3 or HDMI 4—use that one first. If your TV is older and has only ARC, that works too, though eARC is faster and more reliable.

Before you plug anything in, turn off both your TV and soundbar. Locate the HDMI ARC or eARC port on your TV (check your TV's manual if you're unsure which port it is), then connect one end of an HDMI cable to that port and the other end to the HDMI OUT port on the back of your soundbar. Turn both devices back on. Your TV should recognize the soundbar automatically within a few seconds. If it doesn't, go into your TV's sound settings and make sure HDMI ARC is turned on.

Key Takeaways

  • HDMI ARC or eARC is the easiest connection method because one cable carries both audio and video, and your TV remote controls the volume.
  • If HDMI doesn't work or your TV lacks an ARC port, Bluetooth is the next simplest option and requires no cables.
  • Optical (TOSLINK) cables work with older TVs and soundbars but require you to manually switch inputs on the soundbar.
  • After connecting, check your TV's sound settings to confirm the soundbar is selected as the audio output device.
  • If sound still doesn't play through the soundbar, restart both devices and try unplugging the soundbar for 30 seconds before plugging it back in.

Connecting via Bluetooth if HDMI doesn't work

Bluetooth is a wireless option that works well if your TV doesn't have an HDMI ARC port or if the HDMI connection isn't working. The soundbar must be in pairing mode—usually this means pressing and holding a button on the soundbar or its remote until a light blinks blue. Check your soundbar's manual for the exact button, as it varies by model.

Once the soundbar is in pairing mode, go to your TV's Bluetooth settings (usually under Sound or Connections in the main menu), search for available devices, and select your soundbar from the list. The two devices should pair within a few seconds. The downside of Bluetooth is that your TV remote won't control the soundbar's volume—you'll need the soundbar's remote for that. Also, Bluetooth can occasionally drop the connection if something is blocking the signal between the TV and soundbar, so keep them within 10 feet of each other and clear of large metal objects.

Using an optical cable for older TVs

If your TV has a TOSLINK optical port (a small square opening, usually labeled "Optical Out" or "Digital Audio Out"), you can connect an optical cable from your TV to the soundbar's optical input. This method works with almost any TV made in the last 15 years and is more reliable than Bluetooth over longer distances.

Turn off both devices. Plug one end of the optical cable into your TV's optical port and the other end into the optical input on the back of the soundbar. Turn both devices back on. Unlike HDMI ARC, the soundbar won't automatically know it's receiving audio, so you may need to press the Input button on the soundbar's remote and select "Optical" from the menu. Your TV remote still won't control the soundbar's volume with this method—you'll use the soundbar's remote instead.

Checking your TV's sound settings after connecting

After you've plugged in the cable or paired via Bluetooth, your TV needs to be told to send sound to the soundbar instead of its built-in speakers. Go into your TV's main settings menu and look for Sound, Audio, or Speaker settings. You should see an option that says something like "Sound Output," "Audio Output," or "Speaker Selection." Select the soundbar from the list.

If you used HDMI ARC, also look for a setting called "HDMI ARC" or "eARC" and make sure it's turned on. Some TVs have this setting under a separate Connections or HDMI menu. Once you've made these changes, test the connection by playing something on your TV—a streaming app, a broadcast channel, or a disc. You should hear sound from the soundbar, not from your TV's speakers. If you don't, move to the troubleshooting section below.

What to do if the soundbar isn't producing sound

The most common reason sound doesn't come through is that the TV is still set to use its built-in speakers. Go back into your TV's sound settings and double-check that the soundbar is selected as the audio output. If it is, restart both devices: turn off the TV and soundbar, wait 10 seconds, and turn them back on in this order: TV first, then soundbar.

If restarting doesn't work, try a factory reset on the soundbar. Unplug it from the wall outlet, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. This clears any pairing or connection issues. If you're using HDMI, make sure the cable is pushed all the way into both ports—a loose connection is a common culprit. For Bluetooth connections, "forget" the soundbar from your TV's Bluetooth settings and pair it again from scratch. If you're using an optical cable, make sure you've selected "Optical" as the input on the soundbar itself using its remote.

Connecting multiple devices to your soundbar

Your Samsung soundbar can stay connected to your TV via HDMI ARC while also being paired to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. This is useful if you want to play music from your phone through the soundbar without unplugging anything. When you want to switch from TV audio to phone audio, just start playing something on your phone—most soundbars automatically switch to the Bluetooth input when they detect an incoming signal.

If the soundbar doesn't switch automatically, press the Input button on the soundbar's remote and select "Bluetooth" from the menu. To go back to TV audio, either turn off Bluetooth on your phone or press Input again and select "HDMI" or "Optical," depending on how your TV is connected. You can pair multiple phones or tablets to the same soundbar, but only one device can play audio at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special HDMI cable for ARC?

No. Any standard HDMI cable works with ARC and eARC. You don't need to buy an expensive "ARC cable"—the difference between a $5 cable and a $30 cable won't matter for audio. Just make sure the cable is in good condition and fully inserted into both ports.

Why does my soundbar keep disconnecting from Bluetooth?

Bluetooth can drop if something is blocking the signal between your TV and soundbar, or if another device is trying to connect at the same time. Move the soundbar closer to the TV, away from metal objects, and make sure no other phones or tablets are trying to pair with it. If it keeps dropping, try the optical or HDMI connection instead—they're more stable.

Can I use the soundbar with a different TV later?

Yes. If you move the soundbar to a different TV, just unplug it from the old TV's HDMI or optical port and plug it into the new TV's port. For Bluetooth, forget the old TV from the soundbar's pairing list (check your soundbar's manual for how to do this) and pair it with the new TV. The soundbar itself doesn't store any TV-specific settings.

What if my TV doesn't have HDMI ARC or an optical port?

Bluetooth is your best option. If your TV is very old and doesn't have Bluetooth either, you may be able to use a 3.5mm audio cable from your TV's headphone jack to the soundbar's audio input, though this is less common on newer Samsung soundbars. Check your soundbar's manual to see what ports it has.

Should I use HDMI ARC or optical if my TV has both?

Use HDMI ARC or eARC. It's faster, more reliable, and lets your TV remote control the soundbar's volume. Optical is a good backup if HDMI stops working, but there's no reason to choose it if ARC is available.