Polk produces one of the best-selling soundbars to enhance the audio experience for a theatrical experience. However, you can face certain issues when the Polk soundbar is connected to a TV for a long time. The major causes of the Polk soundbar not working are improper audio settings, device glitches, and damaged cables. Whatever the reason, you must check the core cause of the issue and fix it accordingly.
For your convenience, we’ve mentioned all the causes and the respective troubleshooting methods to fix the Polk soundbar not working issue.
Fixes for Polk Soundbar Not Turning On
Is your Polk soundbar not turning on or frequently disconnecting from the power supply? Check out the below causes and the respective solutions to fix the issue.
Check your Power Adapter and Power Outlet
Initially, check the power source and ensure it’s properly connected to the power supply using the respective adapters. If the LED light on the Polk soundbar is not turning on, replace the power adapter and wait for the result. If the soundbar doesn’t turn on after the power adapter replacement, move on to the next troubleshooting step.
Electrical Circuit Overload
Overheating and electrical discharges can damage the motherboard, and you can’t turn on the device even if you’re using a good-quality power adapter. So you can try replacing the motherboard with another one. However, we strongly recommend you consult an expert to fix the motherboard for your soundbar.
Soft Reset The Soundbar
Sometimes, a simple power cycle (soft reset) on your Polk soundbar will fix the soundbar that is not turning on.
1. Remove the power adapter from the Polk soundbar.
2. Detach the power cable from the outlet.
3. Wait for a few minutes to give the soundbar some rest.
4. After that, insert the power adapter back into the soundbar and the power cord to the wall outlet.
5. Finally, you can click the Power button on the Polk soundbar to turn it on.
Fixes to Try if Polk Soundbar is Unable to Connect Wirelessly
Bluetooth and WiFi are the possible ways to connect the Polk soundbar to your TV wirelessly. If you’re unable to connect the Polk soundbar wirelessly, check out the causes and its fixes.
Pair Polk Soundbar Manually to TV
Basically, the Polk soundbar will pair with other devices automatically when it’s in pairing mode. If your soundbar refuses to connect, you can also pair them manually.
1. Turn on your Polk soundbar and press the Source button.
2. Then, click the Bluetooth button on your soundbar.
3. After that, turn on your TV using the physical remote control and open the Settings option.
4. Choose Wireless Connections and select Bluetooth.
5. Now, select your Polk soundbar from the list of Bluetooth devices and pair it up.
Try Replacing the Bluetooth Sensor
If the manual pairing is not successful, then there may be a fault in the Bluetooth sensor. To ensure that, try connecting your Polk soundbar to another Bluetooth device. If it fails, replace the Bluetooth sensor on your Polk soundbar with a new one.
How to Fix Polk Soundbar Playing No Sound Issue
If you can’t hear any audio after connecting the Polk soundbar successfully to your phone or TV, then there’s a fault on the audio cables. Inspect the possible causes and fix the issue accordingly
Check Cables for Loose Connection
If there’s an issue regarding audio on your soundbar, you must check the audio cable. Loosen audio cables are the main cause of this issue. So, inspect the audio cable (HDMI, optical, and AUX cables) connected to your TV and ensure it’s connected properly. Also, check if there’s any physical damage occurring on the cables. If there’s damage, we suggest you buy a new audio cable to connect the soundbar to your TV.
Check Audio Output Settings
When no physical damage is found on the audio cable, you must check the audio output settings.
1. Connect the audio cables properly to the soundbar and your TV.
2. Fetch the TV remote and change the TV’s output settings to HDMI or other output source.
3. After that, choose Settings and tap on Sound.
4. Select Sound Out and click the HDMI (ARC) option.
Finally, you can hear the sound from your Polk soundbar after changing the output audio.
Check Mute Option
Check the mute option if you still can’t hear any sound from the soundbar. If your soundbar is muted, you can’t hear any audio from the soundbar. So, you can press the Mute button on your Polk soundbar remote control and check if the issue is resolved.
Update the Polk Soundbar’s Frimware
An outdated firmware also causes issues with your Polk soundbar and interferes with the audio output. So, you can update the Polk soundbar’s firmware to its latest version to fix the audio issue. You can connect your Polk soundbar to an ethernet or WiFi network to update the Polk soundbar. If you’re using a wired connection (Ethernet cable), the Polk soundbar will update automatically once connected to the internet. However, a wireless connection will require extra steps.
1. Check your WiFi router and provide a stable WiFi connection.
2. Fetch your smartphone and install the Google Home app.
3. Once installed, open the application and sign in with your account credentials.
4. After that, click Add New Devices and follow the on-screen prompts to connect the Polk soundbar to your home WiFi.
After connecting the soundbar to WiFi, your Polk soundbar will begin to update automatically.
Fixes to Try Buttons Not Working on Polk Soundbar
Sometimes, the soundbar buttons won’t respond to your taps and begin to malfunction. In such cases, you can proceed with the following troubleshooting techniques.
Clean the Dirt & Debris
Inspect if there’s any dirt or debris blocking the soundbar buttons. This is one of the major reasons why soundbar keys don’t respond. As a remedy, you can take a dry cloth or brush and remove them gently. After cleaning the dirt, you can try adjusting the volume on the Polk soundbar.
Reset Polk Soundbar
If the issue hasn’t been solved after cleaning the dirt, then you can perform a factory reset on your Polk soundbar to fix the issue. But a factory reset will remove all the customized settings on your Polk soundbar. So, you can consider factory resetting the soundbar as a final troubleshooting method.
1. Insert the power cable into the wall outlet and turn on your Polk soundbar.
2. After that, locate the Source, Power, and Volume + buttons on the soundbar.
3. Press the three buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
4. Once the reset is successful, you can see an LED light start blinking on the soundbar.
After that, check the soundbar button and ensure it’s working properly.
Troubleshooting Polk Soundbar Not Connecting to Subwoofer
Basically, the subwoofer will automatically pair with the soundbar once it’s turned on. However, if the subwoofer doesn’t connect to the soundbar automatically, you can also opt for the manual method.
1. Turn on your Polk soundbar and subwoofer.
2. Press the LINK button on the subwoofer for 5 seconds.
3. After that, hold the Bluetooth and Volume + buttons for a few seconds.
4. Now, the subwoofer will connect to your Polk soundbar and begin to blink green LED light.
Contact Polk Customer Support
If none of the above-mentioned troubleshooting techniques helps you to resolve the issue related to the Polk soundbar, don’t worry. You can contact Polk’s customer support anytime and ask for their assistance. The support team will give you proper guidance to fix any issues related to the Polk soundbar. Also, if the soundbar is under warranty, you can replace the faulty soundbar with a new one. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase the best Polk soundbar from our recommendations.
FAQ
Unfortunately, there’s no reset button on the Polk soundbar. You have to press the Source, Power, and Volume + buttons simultaneously to reset the Polk soundbar.
Improper sound settings are the major reason for the Polk soundbar not working when connected to the TV. So, change the audio settings on your TV and check if it’s working properly.
