TV Streaming Fixes

Few things are more frustrating than settling in for a movie only to realize it looks like a silent film, or worse, the audio is delayed like a badly dubbed movie. Audio issues on Netflix are incredibly common and usually stem from a miscommunication between the Netflix app and your TV's audio receiver.

Here is how to get your sound back in sync.

Step 1: Change the Audio Stream

Netflix defaults to 5.1 Surround Sound for many titles. If you are just using your TV's built-in speakers (and not a soundbar or home theater system), your TV might not know how to process that signal.

1. While a movie is playing on Netflix, press the Up or Down arrow on your remote to bring up the video controls.
2. Select the Audio & Subtitles icon (it looks like a little speech bubble).
3. Under the "Audio" section, you will likely see a language selected with "(5.1)" next to it (e.g., "English (5.1)").
4. Change this to just the standard language (e.g., "English" without the 5.1).

Step 2: Restart Your Audio Equipment

If you are using a soundbar or receiver:

1. Turn off your TV, the streaming device, and the soundbar.
2. Unplug the HDMI cable (specifically the HDMI ARC/eARC cable) connecting the soundbar to the TV.
3. Wait 30 seconds, plug it back in securely, and turn everything back on.

Step 3: Check the TV's Audio Delay Settings

If the sound works but the lips aren't matching the words (Audio Sync issue):

1. Go into your TV's main Settings menu (not the Netflix app).
2. Find the Sound or Audio settings.
3. Look for a setting called Audio Delay, Lip Sync, or A/V Sync.
4. Adjust the slider until the audio matches the video. You can usually do this while Netflix is playing in the background.