YouTube TV No Sound? Check the 5.1 Audio Setting First

A silent picture on YouTube TV is maddening because everything looks fine. The video plays, the channel changes, and there's just nothing coming out. Before you blame the TV, check one YouTube TV setting that causes a lot of these cases: 5.1 surround audio. YouTube TV switches to it automatically when it thinks your set-up supports it, and when the speakers or soundbar don't agree, you can end up with silence, missing dialogue or sound from only some speakers.

Fix 1: turn off 5.1 audio

1. Open the YouTube TV app on your TV.
2. Select your account avatar.
3. Go to Settings.
4. Open 5.1 audio and switch it off.
5. Play the channel again.

YouTube TV itself suggests this when you have any issue with a 5.1 surround set-up. If sound comes back straight away, you've found it. You lose surround on the programmes that offer it, but stereo through the TV speakers or a soundbar works reliably.

Why 5.1 can cause silence or missing voices

To get surround sound, YouTube TV says you need four things at once: a compatible TV device, a compatible speaker system, the YouTube TV app running Cobalt version 20 or higher, and a programme that carries 5.1 audio. If any link in that chain is weak, for example a soundbar that only handles stereo, or an older HDMI connection, the audio can go wrong. A typical symptom is music and effects but quiet or missing voices, because dialogue usually sits in the centre channel.

There's a second catch. YouTube TV says turning on 5.1 audio turns off any secondary audio selection, which may carry descriptive audio or additional languages. So if you're expecting audio description and hearing nothing extra, 5.1 is the likely reason.

Check whether a programme even has surround

Certain channels don't offer 5.1 at all. To check what you're getting, open Stats for nerds:

1. Play the programme in the YouTube TV app on your TV.
2. Bring up the player controls and select More.
3. Select the bug icon.
4. Look at the Codecs line. AC-3 or EAC-3 means surround sound is available.

Fix 2: the standard YouTube TV restart routine

Step	How
Restart the device	Hold the power button, wait 30 seconds, turn it back on
Restart the router	Unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in
Update	Install the latest YouTube TV app and system updates
Reinstall	Uninstall the app, reinstall and sign in again

Fix 3: check it isn't the TV or the device

Open another app on the same TV or streaming stick. If Netflix or regular YouTube is silent too, YouTube TV says it may be a manufacturer issue, and the device maker's support is the right place to go. Also check the obvious: mute on the TV remote, the soundbar input, and the TV's own audio output setting if you recently plugged in new speakers.

Only one channel or show is silent

• On-demand is quieter. YouTube TV says audio on some on-demand programmes may be quieter than live ones, so turn up the volume before assuming it's broken.
• Multiview. Only one of the screens plays sound. The active audio icon shows which one, and you change it by selecting a different view with your remote.
• A single bad feed. If one channel is silent and every other one works, the problem is likely that channel's feed. Report it from inside the video player and try again later.

Soundbars and AV receivers: what to check

If your sound goes through a soundbar or receiver, the problem is often the handshake between it and the TV rather than YouTube TV itself. A few checks worth doing before you give up on surround:

• Make sure the soundbar is on the right input, the one connected to your TV or streaming device.
• Try the TV's own speakers for a minute. If YouTube TV plays sound there, the app is fine and the issue is the speaker chain.
• Unplug and replug the HDMI cable at both ends, then restart the soundbar as well as the TV.
• If you want surround back later, turn 5.1 audio on again and test one programme that shows AC-3 or EAC-3 in Stats for nerds.

No sound on a phone or computer

On a phone, check the phone isn't on silent or connected to a Bluetooth speaker in another room, then close and reopen the app. On a computer, check the browser tab isn't muted and that the right speakers are selected in your system sound settings. 5.1 audio is a TV-app feature, so it isn't the cause on these devices.

If you're also having trouble with regular YouTube on the same TV, my guide to YouTube videos not playing covers the main app, and if playback stutters as well as going quiet, thumbnails not loading is often a sign the connection is the real problem.

My verdict

Switch 5.1 audio off in YouTube TV's settings first. It's the quickest fix and solves most silent or voiceless YouTube TV sound on TVs with soundbars. If that does nothing, restart the device and router for 30 seconds each, then test another app to rule out the TV itself.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no sound on YouTube TV?

Often it's 5.1 surround audio being sent to a TV or speaker that can't play it. Switch 5.1 audio off in YouTube TV's Settings.

How do I turn off 5.1 audio on YouTube TV?

Open YouTube TV on your TV, select your account avatar, go to Settings and switch 5.1 audio to off.

Why can I hear music but not voices on YouTube TV?

That's a common 5.1 symptom when the speaker set-up can't handle surround. Turning off 5.1 audio usually brings dialogue back.

How do I know if a show has surround sound on YouTube TV?

Open Stats for nerds from the player's More menu. AC-3 or EAC-3 in the Codecs line means surround is available.

Why is only one screen playing sound in multiview?

Multiview plays audio from one view at a time. Select another view to switch the sound.