LG TV picture but no sound: checks for 2023–2025 webOS models

Start with LG’s Sound Self-diagnosis

If a 2023–2025 LG webOS TV shows a picture but you hear nothing, first run LG’s built-in Sound Test (Sound Self-diagnosis), which checks whether the TV’s sound signal output is normal. If the test sounds normal, LG says to check the connected device or the broadcast signal: the programme, the box feeding the TV, or where the TV is sending its sound (a soundbar, Bluetooth headphones or wired headphones). If the test sounds wrong too, check that Sound Out is set to the TV speakers, then contact LG support.

These checks come from LG’s 2023–2025 webOS user guides. A 2014 LB-series TV has different menus.

Run the Sound Test

1. Press the Settings (gear) button on the remote and select All Settings.
2. Open the Sound Self-diagnosis for your TV’s guide:
   • 2024 and 2025 guides: Support → Sound Self-diagnosis.
   • 2023 guide (C3 and other OLEDs): General → OLED Care → Device Self Care → Sound Self-diagnosis. This 2023 guide covers OLED TVs; it doesn’t show where the test sits on a 2023 LCD or QNED model, so if your TV has no OLED Care menu, check the user guide for your model.
3. Start the Sound Test, listen, then answer on screen whether there was a problem.

What you hear decides the next step:

• The test sounds normal: LG says to check the connected external device or the broadcast signal. Work through the sections below.
• The test plays no sound or sounds wrong: LG’s guides don’t give a next step for this result. As a check of our own, set Sound Out to Use TV Speaker (see “Send the sound back to the TV speakers” below) and run the test again. If it still fails, contact LG support.

Check the programme and the volume

1. Try another programme or app. If only one channel or app is silent, the problem is that content, not the TV.
2. Turn the volume up with the TV’s remote.
3. If you watch through a set-top box, check the box’s own volume. LG says the TV plays no sound when a set-top box’s volume is at 0 or muted. Raise it with the volume button on the box’s remote.
4. Restart the set-top box (turn it off and on again) and make sure it’s connected to the TV properly. LG lists this as the first check when a box is involved.

Send the sound back to the TV speakers

A setting that’s easy to miss is where the TV sends its sound. To rule out external speakers, LG suggests switching back to the TV’s own speakers:

1. Press Settings (gear) → All Settings → Sound → Sound Out.
2. Select Use TV Speaker.
3. Listen again.

• You now hear sound: the TV is fine. The problem is the soundbar, receiver or headphones, their connection or their settings. LG’s guides tell you to check the external speaker’s connection and settings at this point. For setup steps, see our guides to connecting a soundbar to an LG webOS TV and connecting Bluetooth headphones or a speaker to an LG TV.
• Still no sound from the TV speakers: continue below.

Two LG behaviours can switch the sound away from the TV speakers without you choosing it:

• Wired headphones: if you plug headphones into the TV while it’s on, LG says the TV detects them and sends the sound to them. Unplug them to get the TV speakers back.
• LG Sound Sync Bluetooth devices: if one was the last device connected, the TV tries to reconnect to it when it turns on. If that speaker is on, the sound may go there.

If only one speaker is silent

If you hear sound from one side only, check Settings → All Settings → Sound → Advanced Settings → Balance and adjust it with the arrow buttons. LG says Balance applies only to the TV’s own speakers.

If some programmes play only music or no voice

LG says some programmes have no sound, or only background music, when the wrong audio language is selected. Change it in More Actions → Audio Language while the programme is playing. If your remote has no More Actions button, LG says to press and hold the Yellow button instead.

If the sound is there but wrong

These aren’t “no sound”, but LG lists them in the same troubleshooting section:

• The TV speaks menu names, channels or volume changes: Audio Guidance is on. Turn it off in Settings → All Settings → General → Accessibility → Audio Guidance. The 2024 and 2025 guides also say to turn off Audio Description in the same menu.
• Sound is out of step with the picture or breaks up: if this happens on only some programmes, LG says the broadcaster’s signal may be the cause; ask your TV provider. If every programme is out of sync, adjust Sound → Advanced Settings → Match Screen and Sound. With a set-top box, LG says to consult the box’s supplier.
• The volume jumps between programmes: turn on Sound → Advanced Settings → Automatic Volume Adjustment.

When to contact LG

Contact LG support if the Sound Test fails with Use TV Speaker selected, or if the TV speakers stay silent on every source after the checks above. The 2025 guide also offers Support → Quick Help, which can check the TV’s overall status and recommend settings; its LG Remote Service option is arranged through LG’s customer service. These checks narrow down where the sound is lost; they don’t prove which part has failed.

Common questions

Is it the TV or my soundbar?

Switch Sound Out to Use TV Speaker. If the TV speakers work, the TV is producing sound and the soundbar, its cable or its settings need attention.

Why does the Sound Test pass but the cable box is silent?

The test checks the TV’s own output. LG says that if the test finds no problem, the connected device or the broadcast signal is the next thing to check, starting with the box’s volume and mute.