How to Change the Default Audio Output on Apple TV: 2 Tested Ways
What To Know
- You can change the default audio output on Apple TV by connecting an external speaker or soundbar to your TV using HDMI or Optical cables.
- Besides, you can also set HomePod or HomePod Mini as the default audio output.
In this guide, I will show you two tested ways to change the default audio output on your Apple TV.
Let’s dive in!
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1. Connect an External Speaker or Soundbar to Your TV
When you connect your Apple TV to a TV, the Apple TV defaults to using the TV’s speakers for audio output.
Since the TV’s speakers cannot give the same audio quality as a soundbar or surround sound system, you’ll probably find yourself trying to change the default audio output on your Apple TV.
To switch the default audio output on your Apple TV from the TV’s speakers to an external speaker or soundbar, you will NEED to connect the external speaker or soundbar directly to your TV. This setup requires a wired connection, like HDMI or Optical.
If you connect the external speakers over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other wireless connections, you’ll not get your desired results.
In the following sections, I’ll demonstrate this using my Apple TV 4K, LG Soundbar SN8Y, and LG TV model 43UP7550PTC. I explored three wired setups, and they worked for me.
Continue reading for detailed, step-by-step instructions on each setup method.
1. Using the HDMI Cables
Step 1: Connect your Apple TV to your TV using an HDMI cable.
Step 2: Get a second HDMI cable and connect one end to the HDMI ARC/eARC port on your soundbar (or external speakers).
Step 3: Attach the other end of this HDMI cable to the TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC. Most modern TVs have at least two HDMI ports.
Step 4: If necessary, change the connection mode on your soundbar to HDMI ARC.
The HDMI ARC (audio return channel) function allows audio to flow from the TV to the soundbar. Press the Function (F) or Source button on the soundbar until the display LCD shows ‘ARC.’
Step 5: Similarly, adjust the TV’s ‘Sound Out’ settings to HDMI (ARC) if required.
After you complete these steps, the ‘Default audio output‘ option in your Apple TV settings should now show as ‘Receiver Speakers.’ In my case, the LG soundbar is the receiver.
2. Using HDMI Pass-through
If you’re including a soundbar in your setup, you can employ the HDMI pass-through feature to connect your Apple TV and TV.
This feature allows source devices (i.e., your Apple TV) to send high-quality HDMI signals to a central AV system (like an AV receiver or soundbar). The soundbar outputs audio from its speakers and passes video signals to the connected TV or display.
We have an article that explains more about the HDMI pass-through. Check it out.
Below are the steps to change the default audio output on Apple TV via HDMI pass-through.
Step 1: Connect your Apple TV to an HDMI IN port on the soundbar using an HDMI cable.
Step 2: Get another HDMI cable and connect one end to the soundbar’s HDMI OUT (TV ARC/eARC) port.
Step 3: Plug the other end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI ARC/eARC port on your TV.
Step 4: If required, set the soundbar’s connection method to HDMI. Some soundbars switch inputs automatically, so do what works for you.
With the HDMI pass-through setup, you can enjoy Apple TV content with high-quality audio output from the soundbar by default.
NOTE: After setting up HDMI pass-through, if you switch your TV’s Sound Out settings back to ‘TV speakers,’ the Apple TV will also default to using the TV’s speakers for audio output.
3. Using an Optical Cable
While HDMI is the best connector for a speaker-to-TV setup, not all external speakers have an HDMI port. You’ll mostly find HDMI ports on mid-level to high-end soundbars.
On the other hand, most speaker systems come with Optical connectors.
So, if your external speakers only have Optical ports or you just want to use the Optical connector on your soundbar, below are the steps to follow.
Step 1: Use an HDMI cable to connect your Apple TV to the TV.
Step 2: Connect the soundbar and the TV with an Optical cable.
Step 3: If required, press the Function button repeatedly until the soundbar’s connection mode is set to Optical.
Step 4: Similarly, change the Sound Out settings on your TV to Optical if necessary.
Go to Settings > All Settings > Sound > Sound Out > Optical.
2. Use a HomePod or HomePod Mini Speaker
If you have a HomePod or HomePod Mini speaker, you can pair them with your Apple TV and set them as the default audio output. You may also create a stereo pair with two of the same HomePod or HomePod Mini models in the same room.
NOTE: This default audio output setup only works with the HomePod and HomePod Mini speakers; other AirPlay-compatible speakers will not work. Ensure you have an Apple TV 4K model, and all your devices’ OS are updated.
Below are the step-by-step instructions.
Step 1: Open the Home app on your iPhone; assign both your Apple TV and HomePod (or HomePod Mini) to the same room.
Step 2: On your Apple TV, navigate to Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output. Check the options for default audio output to see if the HomePod is listed.
Select the HomePod as the default audio output.
Alternatively, you can use the Home app on your iPhone to change your default audio output.
Open the app > Select your Apple TV > Scroll down > Tap ‘Default Audio Output,’ and choose the HomePod.
For visual guidance, watch the video provided below.
Why Can’t You Change the Default Audio Output on Your Apple TV?
If you connect your Apple TV to a soundbar or other external speakers via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, these devices will only show up as temporary audio output options—like in the image below.
Your TV speakers will remain the only default output option.
This means that every time you turn on the Apple TV, you’ll spend precious seconds navigating to your audio output settings and manually selecting your external speaker.
To change the default audio output on your Apple TV, you must connect an external speaker or soundbar to the TV (to which the Apple TV is also connected) using a wired connection like HDMI or Optical.
Even if you connect your soundbar to the TV itself via Bluetooth, the TV speakers will remain the Apple TV’s default audio output.
Only the HomePod or HomePod Mini speakers can connect wirelessly (AirPlay) to your Apple TV and still show up on the default output options. Even then, you must assign the HomePods to the ‘same room‘ as your Apple TV in the Home app.
If you don’t follow due process, the HomePod speakers won’t appear as an option in the Apple TV’s default audio output settings. They’ll be temporary options, like other wireless setups.
Conclusion
When you connect an Apple TV to your TV, it uses your TV’s speakers as its default audio output. Any wireless audio setup will only show up as temporary options, which you must reset every time you turn on the Apple TV.
To change your Apple TV’s default audio output, you need to connect your TV to an external speaker or soundbar via HDMI or Optical cables. You may use a direct (TV to speaker) HDMI connection, an HDMI pass-through, or a direct Optical connection.
You can also set Apple’s HomePod and HomePod Mini speakers as your default audio output. Just follow the instructions outlined in the article above.
Gabriella ‘Diogo is a technical writer with a vested interest in tech hardware and equipment. She shares her knowledge and processes in an easy-to-grasp, lighthearted style. When she’s not testing or researching device performance, you’ll find her writing short stories or rewatching episodes of her favorite sitcoms.
Hai Huynh, an Electrical & Electronics Engineering graduate from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, is a passionate technical editor. He discovered his love for technology when he started playing Pokemon on a Gameboy as a child. Now, he writes and edits technical articles, focusing on smart TVs and streaming devices, to help readers solve problems.