People who try to pair a Sonos Arc usually search for the Bluetooth pairing steps, and the answer for the original Arc is that it has no Bluetooth to pair. Sonos's own specification for this soundbar lists 11 Class-D amplifiers, 3 tweeters and 8 elliptical midwoofers and no Bluetooth radio. It is a Wi-Fi and HDMI soundbar: it connects to the TV by HDMI eARC and to the home network by Wi-Fi.
The checks in more detail
There is no pairing button to hold, no pairing mode to enter and no entry that will appear in your phone's Bluetooth list. This is by design and not a fault. To set up the Arc, use the Sonos app. Download the app on your phone, sign in or create an account, choose to add a product and follow the steps, which ask you to plug in the Arc, hold the phone near it and join it to your Wi-Fi network.
The Arc needs the 2.4 gigahertz band for setup unless your router broadcasts it alongside 5 gigahertz, and the phone must be on the same network. If it does not appear, move the phone close, restart the router and the Arc by unplugging the Arc for ten seconds, and try the app again. You can also connect the Arc to a router by Ethernet through the adapter to take the Wi-Fi out of the question. To play audio, there are three routes.
From the Sonos app, stream from your services; from an Apple device, use AirPlay 2 to send audio to the Arc; and from the TV, send sound over HDMI eARC. If you want Bluetooth, the newer Arc Ultra has it, but the original Arc does not. If the Arc is not seen on the network, check that your router does not isolate devices, that the 2.4 gigahertz band is on, and that the phone and Arc share a network. Contact Sonos with the serial number if setup still fails.
Differential
Likely causes of “Sonos Arc soundbar will not pair or connect”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A search for Bluetooth pairing
What separates it The Arc never appears in Bluetooth settings
How to confirm Use the Sonos app and Wi-Fi
- 2
A phone on a different network
What separates it The app cannot find the Arc
How to confirm Join the same network
- 3
Only the 5 gigahertz band
What separates it Setup fails to find the Arc
How to confirm Enable 2.4 gigahertz
- 4
A router that isolates devices
What separates it The Arc appears and then fails
How to confirm Turn off device isolation
- 5
A weak signal
What separates it The Arc drops off
How to confirm Use Ethernet or a closer router
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether you are looking for Bluetooth
- Which network the phone and Arc are on
- Whether the router isolates devices
- The serial number
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedInstall the Sonos app
ReversibleAnd sign in.
Choose Add a product
ReversibleFollow the steps.
Join the same network
Reversible2.4 gigahertz.
Restart router and Arc
ReversibleUnplug ten seconds.
Try Ethernet
ReversibleTo rule out Wi-Fi.
Contact Sonos
ReversibleIf it still fails.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- No Bluetooth
- The original Arc is Wi-Fi and HDMI only.
- The app
- It adds and controls the Arc over Wi-Fi.
- AirPlay 2
- Apple devices can send audio directly.
- eARC
- The TV sends sound over HDMI.
- Networks
- Same network and 2.4 gigahertz matter.
- Sonos help
- Quote the serial number.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Do not open the soundbar
- !Do not change router security to make it pair
- !Contact Sonos if the Arc will not power on
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I pair my Sonos Arc by Bluetooth?+
The original Arc has no Bluetooth; use the app.
What is AirPlay 2?+
Apple's way of sending audio over Wi-Fi.
Does the Arc Ultra have Bluetooth?+
Yes, 5.3.
Why is the Arc not in the app?+
A network issue.
Can I use Ethernet?+
Yes.