Exact model-family answer directory
Sonos Arc soundbar troubleshooting
Sonos Arc soundbar (Arc): what the Arc is; no Bluetooth; how it connects; wi-Fi first; the Atmos chain; finding the model, and a fix for each symptom below.
- What the Arc isThe Sonos Arc is a premium Dolby Atmos soundbar with 11 Class-D amplifiers, 3 tweeters and 8 elliptical midwoofers.
Confirm the model first
Which units this covers, and how to tell yours is one of them
- Model numbers and patterns
- Arc
- Not applicable to this hardware
- This Sonos Arc soundbar does not have the hardware for: will not charge; battery runs out too quickly.
Published specification
What is true of this model and changes how you fix it
- Official specifications, and NO native Bluetooth11 Class-D amps, 3 tweeters, 8 elliptical midwoofers. 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only unless the router is set to broadcast 2.4GHz alongside 5GHz.
- Type — Dolby Atmos soundbar (WiFi + eARC)A premium Atmos soundbar connecting to the TV by HDMI eARC and to the network by WiFi. 'No TV sound' is the eARC/HDMI-CEC link; streaming/grouping is WiFi/app.
- WiFi-firstControlled via the Sonos app over WiFi; a speaker missing from the app is usually a network issue, not a hardware fault.
- Atmos chainAtmos needs the TV's eARC and an Atmos source; add Sonos surrounds/sub over WiFi for full surround.
- No BluetoothSonos lists no Bluetooth radio on this original Arc, unlike the newer Arc Ultra's Bluetooth 5.3. The Arc is Wi-Fi and HDMI only, so there is no Bluetooth pairing mode to put it in.
- How it connectsPairing means adding it to your Sonos system through the Sonos app over Wi-Fi, and it can also receive audio over AirPlay 2 from Apple devices. A phone that cannot see the Arc in Bluetooth settings is behaving correctly.
- Wi-Fi firstA speaker missing from the app is usually a network issue, not a hardware fault. The Arc uses a 2.4 gigahertz Wi-Fi band unless the router broadcasts 2.4 gigahertz alongside 5 gigahertz.
- The Atmos chainAtmos needs a TV with eARC and an Atmos source. Sonos surrounds and a sub can be added over Wi-Fi for full surround.
- Finding the modelThe model number is on the back of the Arc; Sonos support asks for the serial number.
- Calibrating with TrueplayTrueplay uses a phone's microphone to tune the Arc to the room. Run it again after moving the soundbar, changing the TV position or adding furniture, since the result depends on where the sound bounces.
- eARC and the TV menuThe Arc connects with a single HDMI eARC cable, and the TV must be set to send audio to the eARC port and to pass Dolby Atmos through. An Atmos picture on the TV with no Atmos on the Arc usually means the source or the TV's audio setting is wrong.
Where these figures were read. sonos.com/en-us/shop/arc.html (Arc Tech Specs)
Manufacturer support for this product line. Sonos Support — Product support. Official Sonos setup, network, grouping, playback and home-theater support.
Also read for this model. Sonos Support — Sonos support.
Exact questions
Questions that only have an answer for the Sonos Arc soundbar
My Sonos Arc keeps dropping off the app / WiFi.+
Sonos speakers are sensitive to network setup. Common fixes: make sure the speaker and phone are on the same network, avoid isolating 2.4 and 5 GHz under settings that block Sonos, give the Arc a strong WiFi signal (or wire it), and reboot the router then the speaker. If you changed routers or WiFi passwords, update the network in the Sonos app. A speaker vanishing from the app is nearly always network, not the soundbar failing.
Does the Sonos Arc have Bluetooth?+
No, the original Arc has no Bluetooth.
How do I add the Arc?+
Through the Sonos app over Wi-Fi.
Can I use AirPlay 2?+
Yes, from Apple devices.
Why does the Arc drop off the app?+
A network setup problem.