Vizio Soundbar Not Syncing With TV? – Complete Fix Guide

Is your Vizio soundbar not syncing with the TV? We understand how frustrating that is when you are watching that highly-anticipated show, so we will help you fix that.

A Vizio soundbar that’s out of sync with the TV can be fixed by resetting the connection, investigating the cables, or checking if the transmission source (the internet) is good enough.

Other ways of fixing it include updating the software on both devices or changing some audio settings on the TV.

There are many options you can try when you check that the soundbar is delivering the audio a bit too late.

Below we will fill you into all the methods you can apply.

Vizio Soundbar Not Syncing With TV – Reasons

Sometimes you notice the Vizio soundbar not syncing with the TV.

As a result, the audio and video are off even though you have followed all the steps to set up everything tightly.

The main causes behind such an inconvenient issue include:

✅ Bad Bluetooth Connection

Sometimes, the Bluetooth component on the TV or soundbar might fail, and the audio transmission gets delayed.

✅ An Issue With the Cable

If you are transmitting the audio through cable, it is possible that the cable used does not have enough speed for the audio quality or is damaged.

✅ Issues With the Video

In this case, the issue is not your soundbar or your TV but the video source, such as the YouTube channel or the streaming platform.

✅ Network Errors

Since most of the content on our TVs comes from the internet nowadays, it is safe to assume that some audio syncing errors are attributable to the network.

✅ Incorrect Audio Settings

Depending on your TV, it is possible that many audio settings are at play, and the slightest wrong configuration will spoil the entire experience.

How To Fix Vizio Soundbar Out Of Sync With TV

Considering all the probable causes we’ve just glossed over, you might be eager to learn the solutions.

Below we will tackle all the best-rated methods for solving the sync issue. 

1. Investigate Bluetooth

First, we will work with the supposition that you have a Bluetooth soundbar. In that case, restarting the connection means resetting the soundbar.

Here is how you can soft reset a Vizio soundbar:

1. Turn the soundbar off;
2. Unplug it;
3. Press the “power button” for 30 seconds;
4. Plug the device and power it on again.

And here is how you can hard reset your soundbar:

1. Ensure the soundbar is on;
2. Press the “Volume Down” and “Bluetooth” buttons at once;
3. Wait for the LED to flash three times.

Note: Soft reset doesn't require pairing the TV again. A hard reset, however, will erase all the settings from the soundbar.

2. Check The Cables

On the other hand, if your soundbar and TV are hooked up via one cable, you can physically verify their integrity.

Before assuming that the cable is damaged, you can simply find the TV’s port and check whether the HDMI, RCA, or optical cable is tight.

If it is not, then make it tight!

If making the physical connection tighter doesn’t solve the problem, do one of the following:

• Disconnect the cable on both ends and assess its physical condition by looking for signs of wear and tear;
• If your soundbar has more than one “in” port, try switching the source cable from HDMI to RCA (for example). It could be that your TV or soundbar is having trouble with the audio format and output.

If the cable is damaged, you can replace it and see if anything changes.

If the issue is with the sort of cable, then stick only to the type that makes the sync issue disappear.

3. Restart The Network

It is highly possible that the audio sync issue does not lie with the TV or the soundbar.

Instead, it is caused by a faulty network that can’t send enough data at the correct time.

In that case, the TV might be playing video and audio channels out of sync. So do the following:

1. Locate your router;
2. Turn it off for a minute;
3. Turn it on again;
4. Check if the problem has been solved.

4. Update The TV Firmware

Perhaps the lack of a recent update on your TV prevents it from working well with additional devices.

A good way to solve that situation is to update the firmware. Each TV is different, but you can update the firmware by following the steps that resemble this:

1. Make sure your Vizio TV is connected to the internet;
2. Press the V button on your TV remote to open the Vizio SmartCast menu;
3. Select “System” from the menu
4. Select “Check for Updates”;
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to check for available updates.
6. Select “Install Update” (if available);
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the firmware update. 

The TV may need to restart during the update process, so be sure to follow any prompts that appear on the screen.

5. Update The Vizio Soundbar Software

It is also possible that the soundbar software is outdated or corrupted. Updating it will do wonders, and there is more than one way to do that.

First, ensure that the soundbar is connected to the internet:

1. Click the “Menu” button on the soundbar’s remote;
2. Head to “Wi-Fi Setup”;
3. Select “Play”/” OK”;
4. Inform your Wi-Fi password (if necessary).

Update Via The On-screen Menu

Here is how you can update your soundbar via its TV on-screen menu:

1. Click “Menu” on the remote;
2. Head to “System”;
3. Choose “Play” or “OK”;
4. Move to “Check For Updates”;
5. Download the update (if available).

Update Via The App

It is also possible to update the soundbar’s firmware via the app. Here is how:

1. Open the Vizio Smart Cast app;
2. Choose the “devices” icon;
3. Find your soundbar;
4. A notification will tell you if there is an update;
5. Choose “Update”;

6. Use Lip Sync

The lip sync feature is available on some modern TVs, whether Vizio or other brands.

• Such an option will force the TV’s software to detect when audio and image must be synced.

Here is how you can use it:

1. Go to the TV’s “Settings”;
2. Find the audio settings;
3. Select “lip sync”;
4. If there are levels available, adjust the level.

On Vizio TVs, the recommended lip sync level is 2. However, you must test to see which one has the best results.

7. Adjust The Digital Audio

The issue causing the lack of audio synchrony might lie in the digital audio settings.

Perhaps the TV is set to a digital audio format that causes more latency when connected to an output such as the soundbar.

Do the following:

1. Find the TV’s “Settings”;
2. Enter the audio settings;
3. Head to “Digital audio out”;
4. Change the format to “PCM.”

PCM is an audio format that converts audio quicker, reducing lag. That will enhance the sync quality on your TV.

8. Adjust Surround Audio

Although surround audio is meant to enhance your experience when watching TV, it can cause some troubles when it conflicts with other audio settings.

Then, you must deactivate it:

1. Find the TV’s “Settings”;
2. Enter the audio settings;
3. Find the “Surround audio” option;
4. Disable it.

9. Find The Sync Delay Option

Some soundbars, Vizio models included, have an option that allows you to adjust the sync delay between audio and video.

Here is how you can find it:

1. Enter your soundbar’s menu;
2. Find the sound control settings;
3. Look for “audio sync delay” or any similar option.

If it is available, you can adjust how many milliseconds the audio should be behind or ahead of the video. 

Note: However, you should only adjust that if every type of video is causing the audio delay. You must check if it is only related to a certain streaming platform, for example.

What We Learned

It is annoying to see the Vizio soundbar not syncing with the TV. To fix that, you will have to carefully analyze many settings on the TV and the soundbar.

Fortunately, doing that doesn’t take too long and can be done from the comfort of your room.

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