The Xfinity set-top TV box is one of the most popular entertainment units in the home today.
This cable box allows you to stream your favorite shows and access free programs, videos on demand, live TV, sports, and music on all your screens.
The TV box boasts advanced features and functions for fast and simple access to the latest shows and programs.
Even though many people highly regard the Xfinity TV box, this TV box is not exempt from errors and malfunctions.
Your Xfinity TV box might fail to produce sound because of technical issues, incorrect audio connections, or modified output settings.
This guide explains the top causes of Xfinity sound not working and how to fix the issue promptly to get back to your entertainment schedule.
Read on to discover what’s causing your Xfinity TV box to act up.
TOP FIXES
Check your connections (AUX, optical, HDMI, audio connections from the AVR to the speakers, etc.).
Try a different port or replace the cables (damaged ports and cables).
Check external output devices (headphones, soundbars, speakers, etc.).
Adjust the audio settings and select the right audio output.
Balance the TV and Xfinity box volume (conflicting audio settings between your Xfinity box and your TV might be causing the problem).
Adjust MTS/SAP settings.
Causes of Xfinity Sound Not Working
1. Loose or Incorrect Cable Connections
In case you didn’t know, loose or incorrect cable connections can cause your Xfinity box not to produce sound.
Inspect all your cable connections to ensure they are firmly secure in the appropriate audio ports.
The HDMI cable should plug into your TV’s HDMI port, while the red and white composite cables should connect to the color-coded ports on the TV and Xfinity box.
2. Damaged Ports and Cables
Damaged or clogged ports and faulty cables can also cause Xfinity sound not to work as expected.
The ports on your TV or Xfinity box can build up dust and dirt over time, leading to signal and sound issues.
They could also get damaged, particularly when connecting the wrong cable to the incorrect port, causing bent pins.
Check your TV and Xfinity box for damaged ports, and inspect your cables for bends and visible breaks.
If you notice any physical damage on your cables, replace them immediately with genuine, high-quality replacements.
The good news is that the latest TVs have numerous ports, giving you more options for your cable connections.
Alternatively, consider acquiring a wireless Xfinity box to minimize physical wired connections.
3. Plugged Devices
Your Xfinity box might produce sound as it should, but you can’t hear the audio because of plugged external devices.
Plugged external devices such as headphones, soundbars, and earphones can cause your Xfinity sound not to work as it should.
You may have these audio devices in your TV or cable box, which explains why you can’t hear the sound from your television.
Double-check your TV and Xfinity box for connected external audio devices and unplug them to resolve sound issues.
Alternatively, you can program your Xfinity remote to work with external audio devices, such as an AV receiver or soundbar, for enhanced control.
Programming Your Xfinity Remote to Work with External Audio Devices
4. Incorrect Audio Settings
If Xfinity sound is not working, check the audio settings and select the correct audio mode and appropriate input source on your TV.
The Xfinity TV box has two audio modes:
- HDMI Audio Output for Stereo and Auto Detect
- Digital Audio Output (Optical/SPDIF) for Stereo and Dolby Surround
Your sound devices and connections will determine the appropriate audio mode for your Xfinity box.
Selecting the Appropriate Audio Settings for Xfinity
If you are using HDMI, the appropriate audio mode is HDMI Audio Output, while Digital Audio Output is for optical and SPDIF audio cables.
Follow these steps to change and manage Xfinity audio settings:
- Press the Xfinity button on the supplied remote control.
- Go to the gear icon and press OK to access the Settings menu.
- Navigate to Device Settings to access audio settings.
- Press the down arrow key on the remote and choose Audio to open sound settings.
- Use the down arrow to select HDMI or Digital Audio Output mode and press OK.
- Select Stereo, Auto Detect, or Dolby Digital.
- Exit the Audio menu
To change the input source:
- Press the SOURCE or INPUT button on your TV’s remote control.
- Use the arrow keys on the remote to select the appropriate connection type/input source (HDMI or AV).
- Press OK to confirm your selection
5. Conflicting TV and Xfinity Sound
Your Xfinity box might act up and not produce sound because of conflicting or imbalanced volume settings between your TV and Xfinity box.
If the TV’s volume is too high, you might experience sound issues if you usually control the audio through the TV box and vice versa.
You might hear buzzing, humming, or intermittent sounds from your TV or Xfinity TV set-top box.
To balance the TV and Xfinity box volume, simply:
- Press the Xfinity button on the supplied remote control.
- Go to the gear icon and press OK to access the Settings menu.
- Go to Device Settings, and then Audio.
- Select Audio Setup.
- On the Set volume to optimal stereo screen, select Yes.
Note: If you want to get sound through your TV only, mute your Xfinity TV box
6. MTS/SAP Settings
The Xfinity box has an audio description setting for non-English speakers to enjoy supported movies and programs and access Xfinity settings.
The Multichannel Television Sound (MTS) and the Supplementary Audio Programming (SAP) settings allow Spanish viewers to find shows and programs with Spanish secondary audio.
However, these settings can cause audio issues when watching unsupported programs and movies.
To resolve this issue, you must set MTS/SAP settings to normal or disable them.
Here are the steps:
- Press the Xfinity button on the supplied remote control.
- Navigate to the gear icon on the screen and press OK to access the Settings menu.
- Choose Audio, Language, or Accessibility.
- Go to SAP/MTS settings.
- Change the setting to Normal or Off
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How do I get my sound back on Xfinity?
Answer: The simplest way to get sound back on Xfinity is to adjust the HDMI input format and audio output to Stereo. Press the Xfinity button on your remote control and go to Device Settings. Next, select Audio and switch to Stereo as the default HDMI Audio Output. Alternatively, you can use the built-in audio port on the back of your Xfinity cable box.
Question: Why does my Xfinity cable not have sound?
Answer: Xfinity cable may not have sound because of incorrect audio input settings. You must select the appropriate audio input and output to resolve sound issues. Your Xfinity cable box might also not produce sound because the television volume is low or set to mute. Check if your TV is mute and unmute it to restore the Xfinity cable box sound.
Question: How do I unmute my Xfinity cable box?
Answer: Unmuting your Xfinity cable box is easy. Press the Volume Up (+) button on your Xfinity remote control to unmute and increase the volume of your set-top device. Alternatively, press the mute button on the remote to mute or unmute the cable box.
Question: What do you do if your TV has pictures but no sound?
Answer: If your TV has pictures but no sound, check the audio connection of your cable box. The Xfinity TV box has two audio output ports: one for HDMI and another for Digital Optical Audio (SPDIF). If the audio connection is OK, check the audio settings of your TV. Alternatively, consider increasing the volume of your TV or cable box.
Question: How do I change the audio settings on Xfinity?
Answer: Changing the audio settings on Xfinity does not have to be hard. The set-top box has two audio modes: HDMI Audio Output and Digital/Optical Audio Output. Press the Xfinity button on the provided remote control to access the audio settings. Scroll to the gear icon and press OK. Under device settings, select your preferred audio mode.
