The fastest way: HDMI with eARC

Most Samsung soundbars connect to your TV through a single HDMI cable using a feature called eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel). This is the simplest route because one cable carries both picture and sound, and your TV sends all audio — from apps, cable boxes, and streaming services — directly to the soundbar without extra steps.

You need an HDMI cable and a TV made after 2016 with an eARC port. The eARC port is usually labeled on the back of your TV, often as HDMI 3 or HDMI 4, though the label varies by manufacturer. Check your TV's manual if you are unsure which port it is.

Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the eARC port on your TV and the other end into the HDMI input on the back of your soundbar. Turn on both devices. Your TV should detect the soundbar automatically within a few seconds. If it does not, go to your TV's sound settings and select the soundbar from the audio output menu.

Key Takeaways

  • HDMI eARC is the simplest connection method and requires only one cable between your TV and soundbar.
  • If your TV does not have eARC, you can use an optical cable instead, though you will need to manually switch inputs for some devices.
  • Bluetooth works for phones and tablets but not for TV audio on most Samsung soundbars.
  • After connecting, adjust the soundbar volume with your TV remote by enabling CEC in your TV settings.

Using an optical cable if your TV has no eARC

If your TV is older or does not have an eARC port, use an optical cable (also called a Toslink cable). This cable carries audio only, not video, so your picture still comes through HDMI to your TV — the optical cable just sends the sound to the soundbar.

Plug the optical cable into the optical audio output on your TV (usually labeled "Optical Out" or "Toslink") and into the optical input on the back of your soundbar. Turn on both devices. Your soundbar should switch to optical input automatically, but if it does not, press the Input button on the soundbar remote and select Optical.

One limitation: if you use a cable box or external device, you may need to run its audio through your TV first, or connect it directly to the soundbar. Check whether your cable box has an optical output — if it does, you can connect it straight to the soundbar and skip the TV entirely for that device.

Bluetooth connection for phones and tablets

Samsung soundbars have Bluetooth, but it works only for phones, tablets, and laptops — not for your TV's audio. Use Bluetooth when you want to play music or podcasts from your phone through the soundbar without using a cable.

Press and hold the Bluetooth button on your soundbar remote (or on the soundbar itself if there is a physical button) until the light blinks blue. On your phone or tablet, go to Settings, then Bluetooth, and look for your soundbar model in the list of available devices. Tap it to connect. The light should turn solid blue when the connection is complete.

Once paired, your phone will remember the soundbar. The next time you turn on Bluetooth on your phone and the soundbar is powered on, they will connect automatically. If your phone does not find the soundbar, make sure the soundbar is in pairing mode (blinking blue light) and try again.

Controlling the soundbar with your TV remote

After you connect your soundbar with HDMI eARC, you can control its volume using your TV remote instead of a separate soundbar remote. This requires enabling CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) on your TV, which lets devices communicate with each other.

Go to your TV's settings menu and look for a CEC option — Samsung calls it "Anynet+", LG calls it "SIMPLINK", and other brands use different names. Turn it on. Once enabled, your TV remote's volume buttons will control the soundbar volume automatically.

If your TV remote still does not control the soundbar after enabling CEC, check that both devices are connected to the same HDMI eARC port and that the soundbar is set to HDMI input. Some soundbars have a separate CEC setting in their own menu that also needs to be turned on.

Troubleshooting when the soundbar does not connect

If your soundbar does not appear in your TV's audio output menu after connecting the HDMI cable, unplug both devices for 30 seconds, then plug them back in. Start with the TV first, wait 10 seconds, then turn on the soundbar. This resets the connection and often fixes detection problems.

For optical connections, make sure the cable is pushed all the way into both ports — optical cables need a firm, full insertion to work. If you see no light coming from the optical port on your TV when audio is playing, the TV may not have audio output enabled. Go to your TV's sound settings and check that audio output is set to Optical rather than Internal Speaker.

If the soundbar connects but produces no sound, check the volume on both the soundbar and your TV — sometimes the TV volume is muted even though the soundbar is on. Also verify that your TV is actually sending audio to the soundbar by playing something (a streaming app, a cable channel, or a disc) and watching whether the soundbar's display shows an active input.

When to use a soundbar remote versus your TV remote

If you set up CEC correctly, your TV remote controls everything. However, some soundbars have features — like night mode, bass adjustment, or switching between inputs — that only the soundbar remote can access. Keep the soundbar remote nearby even after you set up TV control.

If you lose the soundbar remote, you can still adjust basic volume and power through your TV remote as long as CEC is enabled. For advanced settings, Samsung soundbars often have a mobile app you can download to your phone, which gives you access to the same controls as the physical remote.

Connecting multiple devices to the same soundbar

Your soundbar can stay connected to your TV via HDMI eARC while also being paired to your phone via Bluetooth. When you want to play audio from your phone, the soundbar automatically switches to Bluetooth input. When you turn off Bluetooth on your phone or move out of range, it switches back to the TV's HDMI input.

If you have a cable box or gaming console, you can connect it to your TV's HDMI input (not the eARC port) and the soundbar will still receive all audio through the eARC connection. The soundbar does not need separate cables for each device — the TV handles routing all audio to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special HDMI cable for eARC?

No. Any standard HDMI cable works with eARC. You do not need to buy a cable labeled "eARC" — the feature is built into the port itself, not the cable. If you already have an HDMI cable at home, try it first before buying a new one.

Can I connect my soundbar to my TV and my cable box at the same time?

Yes. Connect your cable box to your TV with HDMI, and your soundbar to your TV with HDMI eARC or optical. The TV receives audio from the cable box and sends it to the soundbar automatically. You do not need separate cables for each device.

Why does my soundbar work with my phone but not my TV?

Bluetooth works for phones and tablets, but most Samsung soundbars do not receive TV audio over Bluetooth — they need a wired connection like HDMI or optical. Check that your HDMI or optical cable is fully inserted into both the TV and soundbar, and that the soundbar is set to the correct input.

Can I use both HDMI and optical cables at the same time?

You can plug both cables in, but the soundbar will only use one input at a time. Use the Input button on the soundbar remote to switch between them. Most people choose one connection method and stick with it to avoid confusion.

What if my TV does not have eARC or optical output?

Very old TVs without either option are rare, but if yours lacks both, check whether it has a 3.5mm headphone jack. You can use a 3.5mm-to-optical adapter cable to connect the TV to the soundbar, though this is less common and may require a separate power source for the adapter.