Insignia Fire TV Optical Out Not Working – Quick Fixes to Try
The optical port on modern TVs has become increasingly important for providing high-quality audio output.
It can be frustrating when it doesn’t work, especially if you’re trying to enjoy a movie or TV show with surround sound.
Are you having trouble with your Insignia Fire TV’s optical out not working? If so, you’re not alone. There are several methods you can try to fix your Insignia Fire TV’s optical out.
In this article, I will go over some of the most common solutions to this problem. Whether you’re experiencing a complete lack of audio or just some minor issues, I will help you get your Insignia Fire TV’s optical out up and running again.
So, keep on reading to learn how to fix Insignia Fire TV optical out not working. Without any further dawdling, let’s dive in.
Why is My Insignia Fire TV Optical Out Not Working?
When you are experiencing issues with your Insignia Fire TV optical out not working, there can be several reasons behind it. Here are some of the most common causes that can affect the optical out on your TV:
- Incorrect audio settings: One of the most common reasons for the Insignia Fire TV optical output not working is incorrect audio settings. It is possible that the audio settings on your TV or receiver are not set up correctly, which is causing the issue.
- Damaged cables: Another reason for the Insignia fire TV optical output not working could be damaged cables. If the optical cable is damaged or broken, it can cause issues with the audio output.
- Hardware issues: In some cases, the issue could be related to hardware problems. If the optical port on your Insignia Fire TV is damaged or faulty, it can cause issues with the audio output.
- Compatibility issues: It is possible that the device you are trying to connect to your Insignia Fire TV is not compatible with the TV’s optical output. This can cause issues with the audio output and prevent it from working correctly. And also, incompatible audio format.
- Software updates: Sometimes, software updates can cause issues with the audio output on your Insignia Fire TV. If you are running a late firmware and software version on your TV, it is possible that some features on your device might be malfunctioning due to glitches.
How to Fix Insignia Fire TV Optical Out Not Working
Before seeking assistance from customer support, these are a few troubleshooting steps that often resolve such issues. Take a look at each fix and apply them accordingly to potentially resolve the problem on your own.
Check Your Audio Equipment Connection
If you’re experiencing issues with your Insignia Fire TV’s optical out, the first thing you should do is check your audio equipment connection.
This involves checking for loose connections as well as a damaged optical cable.
To check for loose connections, make sure that the optical cable is properly plugged into both your Insignia Fire TV and your audio equipment. If it’s loose, try unplugging it and plugging it back in to ensure a secure connection.
If the cable appears to be in good condition and is securely plugged in, you may want to try using a different optical cable to see if that resolves the issue.
A damaged cable can cause issues with the audio signal, so using a new cable can help eliminate that possibility.
It’s also possible that the issue lies with your audio equipment rather than your Insignia Fire TV.
Make sure that your audio equipment is properly set up and configured to receive audio from your Insignia Fire TV.
Check the audio input settings on your audio equipment to ensure that it’s set to receive audio from the optical input.
Power Cycle Your Insignia Fire TV
Once you’ve verified the connection between your TV and audio device, consider performing a force restart on your Insignia Fire TV.
Power cycling your device can often resolve the problem and get your audio output back on track.
Power cycling is a simple process that involves unplugging your device from the power source and then plugging it back in after a few minutes.
This process can help reset your device and fix any minor issues that may be causing the problem.
Here are the steps you can follow to power cycle your Insignia Fire TV:
- Unplug the power cord from the back of your Insignia Fire TV.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds before plugging the power cord back in.
- During the waiting time, press and hold the TV power button to drain the TV completely.
- Now plug your TV back in and turn it on.
- Play a media content to check if the optical out is working.
If power cycling your Insignia Fire TV does not resolve the issue, move to the next fix.
Power Cycle the Audio Device
Another possible source of the problem might be your audio equipment, such as your soundbar or home theater system, encountering a glitch.
A quick restart of these devices can often refresh their operation and resolve various audio output issues.
To power cycle your audio device, follow these steps:
- Turn off the audio device that is connected to your Insignia Fire TV.
- Unplug the power cable from the device.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds to allow any residual power to discharge from the devices.
- Plug the power cable back in and turn on the device..
- Once your devices have restarted, try playing audio through your Insignia Fire TV again. If the issue was caused by a temporary glitch or power surge, this should resolve the problem.
It’s important to note that power cycling your audio device won’t work in all cases. If the issue is caused by a faulty cable, hardware problem, or software issue, you may need to try other troubleshooting steps.
Select Digital Audio as the TV Output
Have you ensured that your TV’s audio output settings are configured correctly?
If you are experiencing issues with your Insignia Fire TV optical out, another thing you can try is selecting Digital audio as the TV output.
This can help ensure that the audio signal is being sent through the correct channel and that your soundbar or audio receiver is receiving the correct input.
To select Digital audio as the TV output, follow these steps:
- Press the Home button on your Fire TV remote to go to the Home screen.
- Select Settings.
- Select Display & Sound.
- Select Audio.
- Here, you will see a list of available audio output options. Select Digital audio and choose either Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus, depending on your sound system’s capabilities.
It’s important to note that not all sound systems are compatible with Dolby Digital Plus.
If you experience issues with the audio output after selecting this option, try switching to Dolby Digital instead. Move on to the next section for more details on this.
Change Your Audio Settings
This involves changing the TV audio output format, which can affect whether or not you hear any sound from your TV and your audio equipment.
To access your audio settings, go to the “Settings” menu on your Fire TV and select “Display & Sound.” From there, select “Audio” and then “Audio Output | Surround Sound.” Here, you can select the audio output format that you want to use.
It’s best to set your audio output format to “Best Available,” “PCM,” or “Auto.” If you select an unsupported format, you might not hear any sound from your TV and your audio equipment.
Once you’ve selected your preferred audio output format, test your audio to see if the issue has been resolved.
If you’re still experiencing issues, try selecting a different audio output format to see if that helps.
In addition to selecting your audio output format, you can also adjust other audio settings such as volume leveling and dialogue enhancement.
These settings can help improve the overall audio quality of your Insignia Fire TV.
Update Your Insignia Fire TV
Updating your device’s firmware and software can also help resolve the problem. Here’s how you can update your Insignia Fire TV:
- Go to the home screen of your Insignia Fire TV.
- Navigate to the “Settings” menu and select it.
- Scroll down to the “My Fire TV” option and click on it.
- Select “About” from the list of options.
- Click on “Check for System Update” to see if there are any updates available for your device.
If there are updates available, click on “Download and Install” to start the update process.
It’s important to note that the update process may take some time, depending on the size of the update and your internet connection speed. During the update process, your Insignia Fire TV may restart several times.
Once the update process is complete, check if the issue with your Insignia Fire TV’s optical out not working has been resolved.
Updating your Insignia Fire TV’s firmware can help ensure that your device is running on the latest software version, which may help resolve any issues with the device’s performance.
It’s recommended that you regularly check for system updates to keep your device running smoothly.
Reset the TV Audio Settings to Default
If you have tried all the previous methods and your Insignia Fire TV optical out is still not working, resetting the TV audio settings to default might help. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the home button on your Insignia Fire TV remote to go to the home screen.
- Navigate to the Settings menu and select it.
- Scroll down and select “Display & Sound.”
- Select “Audio.”
- Scroll down and select “Reset Audio Settings.”
- Confirm the action by selecting “Reset.”
This will reset all your audio settings to their default values. If there was a setting that was causing the issue, this should fix it. However, you will need to set up your audio settings again.
It’s worth noting that resetting your audio settings to default will also reset any customizations you may have made.
If you had previously set up your audio settings to work with a specific soundbar or audio receiver, you will need to set it up again.
Reset Your Fire TV to Default Settings
As all else fails, I’d suggest you restore your Insignia Fire TV to default settings. Resetting your device to its default settings may help solve the issue.
Please keep in mind that resetting your Fire TV to its default settings will erase all your data and installed apps.
Therefore, you should only perform this step if you have tried other troubleshooting methods and are still experiencing issues with your Insignia Fire TV’s optical out.
Here are the steps to reset your Fire TV:
- Press the Home button on your Fire TV remote.
- Select the gear icon on the home screen.
- Select My Fire TV.
- Select Reset to Factory Defaults and select Reset on the pop-up to start the factory reset process.
You can also initiate a factory reset using a unique button combination on your Fire TV Remote. Press and hold the Back button and the right side of the navigation circle + together for 10 seconds.
On the TV screen, choose to continue or cancel the factory reset. If you don’t choose, the device resets automatically after several more seconds.
Contact Support for Assistance
If you’ve tried all the solutions I’ve listed and your Insignia Fire TV optical out is still not working, it’s time to contact customer support for assistance.
You can simply visit the Insignia or Amazon support page and reach out to an agent using the call to action button.
Alternatively, you can call the Insignia support team at 1-877-467-4289 (U.S. and Canada) or 01-800-926-3000 (Mexico).
When you contact support, make sure you have your Insignia Fire TV model number and serial number ready. This will help them quickly identify your device and provide you with the best possible assistance.
Be prepared to describe the issue you’re experiencing in detail. Explain what you’ve already tried to fix the problem and what error messages, if any, you’ve seen.
The more information you can provide, the easier it will be for their support team to diagnose and resolve the issue.
How Do I Use Optical Audio on My Insignia TV?
If you want to use optical audio on your Insignia TV, you will need to connect an optical audio cable from the TV to your sound system.
This will allow you to enjoy high-quality audio from your TV and improve your viewing experience.
To use optical audio on your Insignia TV, follow these simple steps:
- Locate the optical audio port on your Insignia TV. This port is usually labeled “optical audio”, “TOSLINK”, “Digital Audio Out (Optical)” or something similar. It is typically located on the back of the TV.
- Connect one end of the optical audio cable to the optical audio port on your Insignia TV.
- Connect the other end of the optical audio cable to the optical audio input on your sound system. Make sure to insert the cable fully into the input.
- Turn on your Insignia TV and sound system. Set the sound system to the correct input mode for the optical audio connection.
- Adjust the volume on your sound system to the desired level.
That’s it! You should now be able to enjoy high-quality audio from your Insignia TV through your sound system.
For more information on how to use optical audio on your Insignia TV, check out this helpful guide on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best sound settings for Insignia Fire TV optical out?
The best sound settings for your Insignia Fire TV optical out depend on your soundbar or audio receiver. However, you can start by adjusting the audio output settings on both your TV and soundbar.
Make sure they are set to use the optical connection. You can also try adjusting the volume levels on both devices to achieve the best sound quality.
Can I use headphones with my Insignia Fire TV optical out?
No, you cannot use headphones with your Insignia Fire TV optical out. The optical connection is designed to transmit audio to a soundbar or audio receiver.
However, you can use the headphone jack on your TV or connect a Bluetooth transmitter to your TV to use wireless headphones.
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