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If your PS5 picture appears but you hear nothing over HDMI, the console is often sending audio to a headset, the display or sound system is muted or on the wrong input, or an HDMI device in the chain is interfering. Start by checking the PS5’s output device, then connect the console directly to the TV or display with a known-good cable. That quick test can identify whether the problem is in the console settings or elsewhere in the setup.
First, identify which audio problem you have
- Picture but no HDMI sound: Check the PS5 output device, display volume and audio path, then isolate the cable and connected equipment.
- Headphones work, but the TV does not: The PS5 may be routing sound to the headset rather than HDMI.
- TV speakers work, but a soundbar or receiver does not: Focus on the TV’s audio output, the sound system’s input, and ARC/eARC or passthrough settings.
- A monitor shows the game but stays silent: Check whether it has speakers or a usable audio output. Some monitors accept HDMI video without being able to play sound.
- No picture and no sound: Treat this as a broader HDMI connection problem. Check the cable, ports, input, and devices in the signal path.
- Sound works in menus but not in one game: Check that game’s audio settings and test another game or app before changing console-wide settings.
For an audio-only problem, work through the steps below in order. You do not need an HDMI 2.1 cable just to get ordinary PS5 audio.
Try these fixes first
- Check every mute and volume control. Raise the TV or monitor volume, then check the soundbar or receiver too. Confirm the correct audio input is selected and that headphones or Bluetooth audio are not taking over. A display and an audio system can each be muted independently.
- Disconnect headsets. Unplug any wired headset from the DualSense controller and disconnect USB or wireless headset dongles. Turn off a wireless headset, then restart the PS5 and test again. The console may have switched output to a headset.
- Choose the HDMI audio output on the PS5. Open Settings → Sound → Audio Output. Under Output Device, select the HDMI-connected TV, display, soundbar, or receiver if it appears. If the console keeps switching away from HDMI, try turning off Switch Output Device Automatically while testing. Available choices can vary with the connected equipment and console software.
- Match HDMI Device Type to your setup. In the same audio settings area, choose TV for ordinary TV speakers or AV amplifier when the PS5 is connected to an AV receiver. Choose the option that corresponds to your actual equipment; selecting an amplifier when the console is connected directly to TV speakers may expose the wrong channel controls. Sony explains these controls in its PS5 audio-output guide.
- Check the input and connections. Select the TV HDMI input that the PS5 is plugged into. The cable should run from the console’s HDMI OUT port to an HDMI IN port on the TV, receiver, or other device that is meant to receive the signal. Reseat both ends firmly.
Isolate the HDMI path: connect the PS5 directly to the display
This is the most useful test if your setup includes a soundbar, AV receiver, HDMI switch, splitter, or capture card. Sony recommends removing intermediary audio/video devices and connecting the PS5 directly to the display when troubleshooting. Sony’s picture and sound troubleshooting guide also recommends checking volume, trying another cable, and updating system and device software.
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- Shut down the PS5 and turn off the display and audio equipment.
- Disconnect the receiver, soundbar, switch, splitter, capture card, and other devices between the PS5 and display.
- Connect the PS5 directly to the display using the cable supplied with the console, if available, or another cable you know works.
- Turn on the display, select the correct HDMI input, then start the PS5 and test sound on the home screen.
What the result means: If sound returns, the PS5 and direct HDMI path are probably working; investigate the device you removed, its input or audio settings, or the way sound is routed. If there is still no sound, continue with another cable and port. If the direct test also has no picture, troubleshoot the HDMI signal itself rather than treating this as an audio-only fault.
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Test another HDMI cable and port
A picture does not completely rule out a cable problem. HDMI carries video and audio together, and a damaged or unreliable connection can cause partial or intermittent failures. Reseat the plugs and inspect them for damage, looseness, or debris. If possible, try a cable that works with another HDMI source.
Sony recommends the HDMI 2.1 cable included with the PS5 for high-performance features, but says older HDMI cables can also be used. A premium cable is not a guaranteed audio fix, and an expensive replacement will not correct the wrong output device, a muted TV, or a damaged port. Use a known-good cable as a test before buying one. See Sony’s cable and connection guidance.
Try another HDMI input on the TV or monitor as well. Ports may be damaged or configured differently. If you are also having problems with 4K/120 Hz, use the display’s compatible high-bandwidth HDMI input and test directly rather than through a receiver. HDMI 2.1 can matter for features such as 4K/120 Hz; it is not a blanket requirement for PS5 audio. Sony’s PS5 4K and video-output guide covers those video settings.
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Check the display, soundbar, or receiver
TV speakers
Confirm the TV is on the PS5’s input, its volume is up, and its audio output is set to the TV speakers if that is where you expect to hear sound. If headphones, Bluetooth audio, optical output, or an external system is active, the TV may not be using its internal speakers. Menu names and options differ by manufacturer.
Monitors
Do not assume that a monitor can play audio just because it shows the PS5 picture. Check its specifications for built-in speakers or an audio output. If it has speakers, raise the monitor volume and check whether headphones or another output are selected. If it has only a headphone jack, connect powered speakers or headphones there. You can also use headphones connected to the DualSense controller. An HDMI audio extractor is a possible workaround only if the monitor lacks a usable audio path; it adds another device and another potential point of failure.
Soundbars and AV receivers
There are two common wiring arrangements, and their settings are not interchangeable:
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- PS5 → TV → soundbar via ARC/eARC: Connect the PS5 to the TV and the soundbar to the TV port labelled ARC or eARC. Select the soundbar’s TV/ARC input, select the soundbar as the TV’s audio output, and enable ARC/eARC or audio passthrough as required by both devices. ARC/eARC is relevant to this TV-to-soundbar route; it is not needed for basic PS5 audio through TV speakers.
- PS5 → receiver or soundbar → TV: Select the input the PS5 is connected to on the receiver or soundbar, and confirm the device sends video on to the TV. Check that its HDMI input supports the signal you want to use. Set the PS5’s HDMI Device Type to match the equipment. If you are unsure whether the intermediary is at fault, test the PS5 directly in the TV.
Receivers and soundbars can introduce extra HDMI handshakes and format-compatibility variables. If direct-to-TV audio works, add devices back one at a time so you can identify which connection or setting changes the result.
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If sound is completely absent, first check output routing, volume, connections, and the direct-to-display test. Audio formats and processing are more likely to matter when sound works but is distorted, unusually quiet, or missing only through a particular receiver or soundbar.
As a test, choose a basic stereo or linear PCM option in the PS5 audio settings, then check whether the display or audio system supports the more advanced format you want. Compatibility depends on the devices and the route between them; there is no one format that is best for every TV, soundbar, receiver, and headset. If basic audio works, re-enable advanced options one at a time.
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PS5 3D audio is also different from HDMI output routing. If you can hear sound but it seems overly processed or wrong, compare the TV-speaker 3D audio setting under Settings → Sound → 3D Audio (TV) and check the TV’s own sound processing. Sony describes that setting in its PS5 3D audio guide. It should not be the first explanation for total silence.
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A full power cycle can clear a stuck HDMI connection or audio negotiation. Shut down the PS5 completely rather than leaving it in Rest Mode. Turn off the display and audio equipment, unplug their power, wait a few minutes, reconnect them, and power on the display and audio system before starting the PS5. Sony’s more thorough recovery instructions specify a 20-minute power disconnection for a no-image case; that longer wait is not a universal requirement for an audio-only fault.
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Use the test results to narrow down the cause
| Test result | Likely area to investigate |
|---|---|
| Sound returns when the headset is disconnected | Output Device or automatic switching |
| Sound works when the PS5 is connected directly to the TV | Soundbar, receiver, switch, capture card, ARC/eARC route, or its settings |
| A different cable restores sound | Original cable or its connectors |
| A different TV HDMI port restores sound | Original port or a port-specific setting |
| Headphones work but TV audio does not | HDMI output selection, display capability, or the display’s audio path |
| Monitor displays video but has no speakers or audio output | Display limitation; use another audio path rather than treating it as proof of console failure |
| No sound across multiple displays and known-good cables, directly connected | PS5 audio configuration or a possible console hardware fault |
When to contact PlayStation support
Consider PlayStation Repairs if the problem persists with multiple known-good HDMI cables, different display ports or displays, and no intermediary devices or headsets connected. Physical HDMI-port damage, a loose connector, or sound that cuts out when the cable or console moves also warrants service. One failed test with one TV is not enough to conclude the PS5 is broken.
Ordinary settings and cable checks should come before Safe Mode or any reset. If you consider a recovery option, read its data-loss consequences and back up saves where possible; do not choose a reset or system-software reinstall as an early audio fix. Sony directs unresolved picture or sound issues to its support and repair flow.
What to buy—and what not to buy
Use the PS5’s included cable first, then borrow or test another known-good cable. Buy a replacement only if the cable test points to the original. Choose a certified cable for a needed length, installation, or high-bandwidth feature—not because a higher price promises better sound. Consider an HDMI audio extractor only when a monitor has no speakers or usable audio output. Neither purchase fixes a muted display, the wrong PS5 output device, an incorrectly selected input, or a faulty HDMI port.
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