Article ID : 00198376 / Last Modified : 06/19/2023Print

The audio and video on my TV are out of sync or there's an audio delay

    IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.

    There are a number of circumstances that can cause the audio and video to be out of sync, including the following:

    • When watching a TV program, it could be the broadcast itself or a bad connection between your cable/satellite set-top box.
    • If a DVD or Blu-ray Disc™ player is connected to your TV, a poor connection or the disc itself could be the cause.
    • If a home theater system is connected to your TV with an optical cable, there may be an audio delay that requires a manual adjustment on the home theater system. There also may be a setting on your TV that's causing the issue.

    Note: If the TV is connected to a soundbar or home theater system with an HDMI or optical cable, the sound may be delayed due to the audio processing delays in the soundbar or home theater system. In this case, the issue is not with the TV speakers.

    Troubleshooting steps

    Check if the audio and video sync issue is resolved after completing each step. If model-specific information is needed to perform any step, check your product for more details.

    1. Depending on the cause, this issue is often resolved by performing a power reset on your TV.
       
    2. Make sure your TV has the latest software update installed. 
      • Not all TVs have software that can be updated.
      • If your TV is connected to the internet, you can download the software update through the TV menu.
         
    3. If you're watching a TV program, change the channel to see if the issue occurs on other channels.
      • If it occurs on one channel only, the issue is with the broadcast. Contact your broadcast network provider for further assistance.
         
    4. Make sure that all cables are securely connected to your TV and your source device (set-top box, Blu-ray Disc player, home theater system, etc.)
       
    5. Play a different video source to determine if the issue occurs with other devices.
       
    6. On your TV, set the Game Mode setting accordingly. Not all TVs have this setting.
      • Set the Game Mode to Off when watching TV or playing a DVD or Blu-ray Disc.
      • Set the Game Mode to On when playing a video game.
         
    7. If a home theater system is connected to your TV with an optical cable, change the A/V Sync or Audio Delay setting on your home theater system (if available).
      • Audio delay adjustments usually range from 0 millisecond to approximately 250 milliseconds.
      • Check your manual to see if A/V Sync or Audio Delay setting is available on your home theater system.
      • For other manufacturers home theater systems, check the instruction manual or contact the manufacturer for information on how to adjust the A/V sync setting.
         
    8. If you're using an Android TV or Google TV model and it's connected to the HDMI In (ARC) or HDMI IN (eArc/ARC) port on an audio system, such as a soundbar or home theater system, try changing the Digital audio outA/V sync, and Pass through mode settings:
      • Set Digital audio out to PCM.

      • Change the current A/V sync setting.

      • Set Pass through mode to Auto

    If the issue still occurs, a repair may be required.