How To Turn Off Samsung TV Speakers

To turn off Samsung TV speakers, open Settings, go to Sound, pick Sound Output, then select your external device so TV Speaker stops playing.

Your Samsung TV can play sound through its built-in speakers, a soundbar, Bluetooth headphones, or an A/V receiver. When you want the TV speakers quiet, the clean way is to switch the TV’s sound output to something else. That keeps volume buttons predictable and stops the “double audio” echo you get when two speaker sets play at once.

This guide walks you through the fast toggle, the deeper menu paths for different Samsung remotes, and the fixes that help when the TV keeps jumping back to TV Speaker.

Fast Ways To Turn Off Samsung TV Speakers

If you just want silence from the TV cabinet speakers right now, start here. These are the paths that work on most Tizen-based Samsung Smart TVs from the last several years.

Open Quick Settings — Press and hold the Volume button on many Samsung remotes to bring up a side panel, then find Sound Output and switch away from TV Speaker.
Use The Home Menu — Press Home, select Settings, then go to Sound and choose Sound Output.
Select The Connected Device — Pick Receiver (HDMI), Optical, Bluetooth, or your soundbar name so the internal speakers stay quiet.

If you don’t see Sound Output in the quick panel, don’t sweat it. The full menu route below works on more models.

Turning Off Samsung Tv Speakers Using Sound Output Settings

This is the setting that actually decides where audio goes. Once you change it, the TV speakers stop because they’re no longer the active output.

Press Home — Land on the main menu bar.
Open Settings — Pick Settings, then choose All Settings if your TV shows a shorter panel first.
Go To Sound — Enter the Sound menu.
Choose Sound Output — Open the list of available outputs.
Select Your External Device — Pick Receiver (HDMI eARC/ARC), Optical, Bluetooth Speaker List, or the device name that matches your setup.

After the switch, raise the volume a few clicks to confirm sound is coming from the device you chose. If you still hear audio from the TV cabinet, the output may not have actually changed, or you may be hearing a second device in the room.

What Each Sound Output Option Means

Samsung labels can feel vague, especially when you’ve got multiple cables connected. This quick map helps you choose the right item so the TV speakers don’t sneak back in.

What You Pick	When It Fits	What You’ll Notice
Receiver (HDMI eARC/ARC)	Soundbar or receiver connected by HDMI to the ARC/eARC port	TV speakers stop; volume usually controls the external device via HDMI-CEC
Optical	Soundbar or receiver connected by optical cable	TV speakers stop; volume control may stay on TV, with fixed output on some gear
Bluetooth Speaker List	Headphones or speaker paired over Bluetooth	TV speakers stop; slight delay can happen with games

If you’re using HDMI, make sure your cable runs between the TV’s HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC and the external device’s HDMI port labeled ARC/eARC. eARC is a newer version that carries higher-bandwidth audio, and HDMI.org explains what it does on its eARC overview page.

How To Turn Off Samsung TV Speakers With A Soundbar

A soundbar is the most common reason people want the internal speakers off. Two speaker sets playing at once can sound like a stadium echo.

HDMI ARC Or eARC Setup

HDMI is the smoothest route when your soundbar has ARC or eARC. One cable can carry audio back from the TV to the bar, and the TV remote often controls soundbar volume.

Plug Into The ARC Port — Connect the soundbar’s HDMI ARC/eARC port to the TV’s HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC.
Enable The Right Output — Go to Settings, then Sound, then Sound Output, and pick Receiver (HDMI).
Check HDMI-CEC — Turn on Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) if you want one-remote volume control.

If you’re chasing higher-quality formats from streaming boxes or Blu-ray, Dolby has a clear explainer on ARC and eARC on its ARC and eARC article. It’s also a good reality check when a device can’t pass a format you expected.

Optical Cable Setup

Optical works well for plain stereo and many surround formats, and it’s handy on older Samsung TVs that predate eARC.

Connect The Optical Cable — Run optical from the TV’s Optical Out to the soundbar’s Optical In.
Switch Sound Output — Pick Optical in Sound Output so TV Speaker stops playing.
Set The Soundbar Input — Use the soundbar remote to select Optical or D.IN, depending on the model.

On some soundbars, optical output is fixed volume. If your Samsung remote no longer changes loudness, use the soundbar’s remote or app for volume.

How To Turn Off Samsung TV Speakers When Using Bluetooth

Bluetooth headphones are great for late-night viewing, and they automatically silence the TV speakers when selected as output.

Put Headphones In Pairing Mode — Follow the headphone maker’s pairing steps.
Open Bluetooth Speaker List — Settings, then Sound, then Sound Output, then Bluetooth Speaker List.
Pair And Connect — Select the device name and complete pairing.

If you hear lip-sync delay, check for an Audio Delay or Lip Sync option in your TV’s Expert Settings or on the headphones transmitter. Streaming apps vary, so test with a few shows before you blame the TV.

Where The Menus Hide On Older Samsung TVs

Samsung has used several menu styles. The goal stays the same: pick a non-TV speaker output, or select a speaker setting that disables internal speakers.

2016–2019 Smart TV Menus

Many models in this range use a similar path with Sound Output right inside the Sound menu.

Press Home — Open the bottom menu ribbon.
Choose Settings — Enter the gear icon panel.
Pick Sound Output — Select the external device.

2015 And Earlier Menus

Some older sets use Speaker Settings or Speaker Select instead of a modern Sound Output list. If you see a choice like TV Speaker vs Audio Out/Optical vs Receiver, choose the external option.

Open Menu — Press Menu on the remote.
Go To Sound — Enter Sound settings.
Find Speaker Settings — Choose Speaker Select or Speaker Settings.
Select External Output — Pick Receiver or Audio Out/Optical to stop the TV speakers.

If you’re using a cable box or game console, the TV still needs to know where to send audio. Changing Sound Output on the TV is the step that silences the built-in speakers.

Fixes When The TV Speakers Won’t Stay Off

If your Samsung TV keeps flipping back to TV Speaker, you’re not alone. The cause is usually a handshake issue between the TV and the device, or a setting that resets when the TV wakes.

Check The Connection First

Loose cables create “ghost disconnects,” and the TV falls back to internal speakers.

Reseat HDMI Or Optical — Unplug, then plug back in firmly on both ends.
Use The Correct HDMI Port — Move the cable to the port labeled ARC or eARC.
Swap The Cable — Try another HDMI cable if the device vanishes from the Sound Output list.

Lock In HDMI Control Settings

When HDMI-CEC is off, some soundbars still play audio, yet the TV remote can’t control them. That mismatch can lead to the TV picking TV Speaker at power-on.

Open External Device Manager — Settings, then General, then External Device Manager.
Turn On Anynet+ — Enable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC).
Restart Both Devices — Power off the TV and the soundbar, then power them back on.

Adjust Expert Settings For ARC And eARC

If you use eARC gear, a mismatched setting can mute audio or cause switching back to TV Speaker when the TV thinks the device failed.

Set HDMI eARC Mode — In Sound, open Expert Settings and set HDMI eARC Mode to Auto when your device can use it.
Pick A Compatible Digital Format — If Pass-Through causes silence on certain content, try Auto.
Disable Conflicting Sound Modes — Turn off extra processing that can break the audio handshake on some setups.

Stop Auto Switching Between Outputs

Some TVs try to be smart and auto-select a newly connected device. That’s handy until a Bluetooth speaker reconnects mid-movie.

Turn Off Bluetooth On Old Devices — Unpair headphones you no longer use so they don’t steal output.
Rename The Audio Device — Give your soundbar a clear name so you pick the right item fast.
Power On In Order — Start the soundbar first, then the TV, so the TV sees the device at boot.

Edge Cases You Might Run Into

Most people are done after changing Sound Output. If you’re still stuck, one of these edge cases is usually the culprit.

Mute Works But TV Speakers Still Play In Menus

Some Samsung TVs play tiny UI sounds even when the main audio is routed to an external device. Check for system sounds in Sound settings and switch them off, or lower the TV’s menu sound level if available.

Soundbar Plays, TV Speakers Also Play

This often happens when the TV is set to TV Speaker while the soundbar is also connected to a streaming box, so both devices output sound from different sources. Pick Receiver (HDMI) or Optical in Sound Output, then set the streaming box audio to go through the TV’s HDMI path instead of a second direct feed to the bar.

Optical Has Sound, Volume Won’t Change

That’s normal on some gear. Optical can behave like a line-level output. Use the soundbar remote, or switch to HDMI ARC if you want one remote for volume.

Bluetooth Disconnects And TV Speakers Come Back

If you walk out of range, Bluetooth drops and the TV falls back to TV Speaker. If you need silent fallback, connect wired headphones to a compatible transmitter, or route audio through a receiver that stays connected.

Quick Checklist Before You Call It Done

Run this list once and you’ll know the TV speakers are really off, not just muted for a moment.

Confirm Sound Output — Verify Sound Output shows your external device, not TV Speaker.
Test A Few Sources — Try a streaming app, live TV, and a console if you use one.
Power Cycle — Turn the TV off, wait ten seconds, then turn it on and recheck Sound Output.
Match Ports — Keep ARC/eARC connections on the labeled HDMI port.

Once Sound Output sticks after a power cycle, you’re set. Your Samsung TV speakers stay quiet, and your audio comes from the device you actually want to hear.