Samsung TV Pass-Through Grayed Out

If you’re a Samsung TV owner, you might have experienced an issue where the audio pass-through option is grayed out.

This can be a frustrating experience, especially if you’re trying to enjoy high-quality audio from an external device.

When the pass-through option is grayed out, your TV won’t be able to pass the audio from that device to your soundbar or AV receiver.

This can lead to a poor audio experience, with sound that’s out of sync or low quality.

The audio pass-through function on Samsung TVs is an essential feature that allows you to enjoy high-quality sound from external devices.

It’s a feature that many people rely on, and when it’s not working correctly, it can be a real headache.

If you’ve been experiencing issues with your Samsung TV pass-through option being grayed out, don’t worry. Here’s how to fix it.

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Common Reasons for Grayed Out Pass-Through

How to Fix Samsung TV Pass-Through Grayed Out

Common Reasons for Grayed Out Pass-Through

If you are experiencing grayed-out pass-through options on your Samsung TV, there are a few common reasons why this may be happening. Here are some possible explanations:

Unsupported Audio Formats

One of the most common reasons why pass-through options may be grayed out is that the source device is using an unsupported audio format.

For example, if your TV is set to pass through Dolby Digital audio but the source device is using DTS audio, the pass-through option may be grayed out.

HDMI CEC Issues

Another possible reason why pass-through options may be grayed out is that there may be issues with HDMI CEC. HDMI CEC is a protocol that allows devices to communicate with each other over HDMI.

If there are issues with HDMI CEC, the pass-through option of your TV may be affected and grayed out.

TV Settings

It’s also possible that the pass-through option is grayed out because of settings on your TV.

For example, if your TV is set to use internal speakers instead of the connected soundbar or home theater setup, the pass-through option may be made unavailable.

Firmware Updates

Finally, it’s possible that pass-through options are grayed out because of firmware updates. Sometimes, firmware updates can cause issues with pass-through options.

In this case, it is important to check to see if there are any firmware updates available for your TV and install them if necessary.

How to Fix Samsung TV Pass-Through Grayed Out

Before diving right into the fixes, it’s important to understand that the pass-through option is only available when audio is being received from external devices connected through the TV’s HDMI Arc / eArc port and will be played on a surround sound system connected to the TV.

This means that the audio will be pass-through without any compression as the TV only serves as a middleman, sending uncompressed audio out.

If you have a digital player hooked up to your TV but are still unable to use the pass-through feature, here are some potential solutions:

Power Cycle Your Samsung TV

One of the first things you can try is power cycling your TV. This simple process can help resolve many common issues that may be causing the problem.

To power cycle your Samsung TV, follow these steps:

Turn off your TV and unplug it from the power outlet.
Disconnect all cables from the TV, including the HDMI cable.
Wait for at least 30 seconds before plugging the TV back in.

Reconnect all cables to the TV, including the HDMI cable.
Turn on your TV and check if the pass-through option is still grayed out.

If the pass-through option is still grayed out, you may need to try other troubleshooting steps. However, power cycling your TV is a good first step as it can often resolve many issues.

It is also recommended to check for any firmware updates for your Samsung TV. To do this, follow these steps:

Press the Home button on your Samsung TV remote.
Select Settings.

Select Support.
Select Software Update.
Select Update Now.

If there is a firmware update available, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install it.

In some cases, the issue may be with the HDMI cable you are using. This brings us to the next solution, which delves into inspecting your setup.

Check Out Your Setup

A wrong setup is also a thing you’ll want to avoid at all means. There are a few things you can check to make sure your setup is correct.

First, check that your audio system is compatible with your TV. Some older systems may not support newer TV models, which could cause pass-through options to be grayed out.

In this case, ensure your audio system is compatible with your TV model.

Next, make sure your audio system is set up correctly. Check that your audio system is connected to your TV via HDMI cable and that the TV’s audio output is set to the correct option.

If your TV has multiple HDMI inputs, make sure the device is connected to the correct one.

You should also check both the HDMI cable you are using to connect the digital player and the audio cable that links to your audio device.

If you notice any signs of damage or wear, it’s advisable to replace them with new, functioning cables. Damaged cables can often lead to this issue, so ensuring their integrity is important as well.

Confirm the Content Audio Format

Confirming the content audio format is crucial when troubleshooting the Samsung TV pass-through grayed out issue.

Unsupported audio formats can often be the culprit behind this problem.

To ensure compatibility, verify the audio format of the content you’re trying to play.

For instance, when watching movies on popular streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, you can usually find the audio format details by following these general steps:

Netflix:

Start playing the content.
While the content is playing, press the “Down” arrow on your remote to access the control panel.
Navigate to the “Audio and Subtitles” section.

Here, you’ll find the audio format information, such as Dolby Digital, DTS, etc.

Amazon Prime Video:

Begin playing the content.

Pause the playback.
Select the “Settings” or “Options” menu (gear icon).
Look for the “Audio” or “Audio Format” section to find details about the audio format being used.

Check if Your Audio Equipment is Compatible

Another thing to look out for is your audio equipment compatibility. Here are a few things to check:

HDMI ARC compatibility

Make sure your audio equipment supports HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) and that it is connected to the HDMI ARC port on your TV. If your audio equipment doesn’t support HDMI ARC, you may need to use an optical cable instead.

Audio format compatibility

Check if your audio equipment supports the audio format used by the content you are playing. For example, if you are trying to play Dolby Atmos content, your audio equipment needs to support Dolby Atmos decoding.

If your audio equipment doesn’t support the necessary audio format, the pass-through option may be grayed out.

Firmware updates

Check if there are any firmware updates available for your audio equipment. Sometimes, firmware updates can fix compatibility issues and enable pass-through options.

Cable quality

Make sure you are using high-quality cables that support the necessary bandwidth and features. Poor-quality cables can cause compatibility issues and affect the performance of your audio equipment.

Reset the TV Audio Settings

Finally, you can consider resetting your TV’s audio settings as another potential solution. To do this, follow these steps:

Press the left arrow button on your remote to go to the Home screen.

Navigate to and select Settings.

Navigate to and select All Settings.
Navigate to and select Sound.
Select Expert Settings.

Navigate to and select Reset Sound.
Select Reset.

Note that the screens and images shown on your TV may differ depending on your TV model and software version.

If resetting the audio settings doesn’t resolve the issue, you can also perform a factory reset on your TV.

Keep in mind that a factory reset will erase all of your settings and restore your TV to its original state.

To perform a factory reset on your Samsung TV, follow these steps:

Press the Home button on your remote to go to the Home screen.
Navigate to and select Settings.
Navigate to and select General.

Select Reset.
Enter your TV’s PIN (if you’ve set one up).

Select Reset.
After the TV restarts, you’ll need to go through the initial setup process again.

If you have done all of the above and are still experiencing a grayed-out pass-through option, it may be worth contacting the Samsung customer support for further assistance.

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