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How to fix Apple 4K TV remote not controlling Sonos soundbar


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This issue has been driving me INSANE for weeks and finally I found the answer on YouTube:

 


Simply hold the input and volume down button on your Apple TV 4K remote for about 5 seconds and 🪄🧙‍♂️ …issue fixed!!!! Your Apple Remote will now control your Sonos sound bar volume again. 

Pinned reply

November 9, 2022

Perhaps see this Sonos support link too:

https://support.sonos.com/s/article/3403

Did you find what you were looking for?

32 replies

  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • 4 replies
  • November 9, 2022

Eugh this forum is blocking the YouTube video I attached to me post above. Hopefully this link will take you to the video that finally helped me solve the issue. Hope it helps resolve your Apple TV remote and sound bar issues!


Airgetlam
  • 41823 replies
  • November 9, 2022

The forum software tends not to like links to outside places, especially for low count posting, it seems.

For me, I had to turn on CEC on my TV set, which was set to ARC only, and wasn’t recognizing CEC commands from my Apple TV. 


controlav
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  • Maestro
  • 7431 replies
  • November 9, 2022
Airgetlam wrote:

The forum software tends not to like links to outside places, especially for low count posting, it seems.

For me, I had to turn on CEC on my TV set, which was set to ARC only, and wasn’t recognizing CEC commands from my Apple TV. 

The OP didn’t specify which “soundbar” but I am guessing it is connected via optical, so CEC wont help. After Apple TV updated to OS 16, some people (on reddit) needed to reboot their remotes to get IR to work again. Yes, the Apple TV remote sometimes needs a reboot. Welcome to the future.


Ken_Griffiths
Pinned reply

Perhaps see this Sonos support link too:

https://support.sonos.com/s/article/3403


This worked for me.  Apple TV 4K, Sonos soundbar.


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • February 10, 2023

This is how it worked for me:

I have an Apple TV 4K that I previously controlled my TV Sound through HDMI. Now when I would use it with the Ray Soundbar I had to set “Control TV’s and Receivers” to OFF(!) in the Apple TV.

After that I set the “Volume Control” to “Receiver via IR”. This is the correct choice instead of TV as it removes any annoying messages from the TV when you change the volume (mine displayed “optical” every time i touched the remote)

Go to the Sonos app and re-learn the remote control. 

 

Hope this works!

 


  • Lyricist I
  • 2 replies
  • February 25, 2023
Stubbsy747 wrote:

This issue has been driving me INSANE for weeks and finally I found the answer on YouTube:

 


Simply hold the input and volume down button on your Apple TV 4K remote for about 5 seconds and 🪄🧙‍♂️ …issue fixed!!!! Your Apple Remote will now control your Sonos sound bar volume again. 


this works for me, thank you!!


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • March 8, 2023

Yes this solved my problem amazing !!!


Airgetlam
  • 41823 replies
  • March 8, 2023

Supposedly, the new AppleTV OS update fixes this problem as well. See my post here


It worked! Thank you!

Apple TV 4K and Soundbar.


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • May 16, 2023

Thank you!!🤙🏻


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • May 31, 2023

Thank you! Was driving me 🍌 


Worked for me - thank you, was driving me nuts too!


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • July 8, 2023
rac3r wrote:

This is how it worked for me:

I have an Apple TV 4K that I previously controlled my TV Sound through HDMI. Now when I would use it with the Ray Soundbar I had to set “Control TV’s and Receivers” to OFF(!) in the Apple TV.

After that I set the “Volume Control” to “Receiver via IR”. This is the correct choice instead of TV as it removes any annoying messages from the TV when you change the volume (mine displayed “optical” every time i touched the remote)

Go to the Sonos app and re-learn the remote control. 

 

Hope this works!

 

This worked for me, thanks!!


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • August 2, 2023

Worked for me! Thanks. I have had so many issues with my Sonos speakers that I doubt I’ll buy them again. 


Such an easy fix for a problem that has been driving me insane for weeks!!


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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • 13 replies
  • August 7, 2023

The solution worked great! Thanks!


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • October 7, 2023
rac3r wrote:

This is how it worked for me:

I have an Apple TV 4K that I previously controlled my TV Sound through HDMI. Now when I would use it with the Ray Soundbar I had to set “Control TV’s and Receivers” to OFF(!) in the Apple TV.

After that I set the “Volume Control” to “Receiver via IR”. This is the correct choice instead of TV as it removes any annoying messages from the TV when you change the volume (mine displayed “optical” every time i touched the remote)

Go to the Sonos app and re-learn the remote control. 

 

Hope this works!

 

This worked for me, thank you. Not sure why my settings updated but oh well :)


  • Lyricist I
  • 2 replies
  • October 28, 2023
Stubbsy747 wrote:

This issue has been driving me INSANE for weeks and finally I found the answer on YouTube:

 


Simply hold the input and volume down button on your Apple TV 4K remote for about 5 seconds and 🪄🧙‍♂️ …issue fixed!!!! Your Apple Remote will now control your Sonos sound bar volume again. 



Worked a charm for me - great tip!


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • December 6, 2023

It fixed it! Thanks so much!


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • January 5, 2024

Awesome. Many thanks!  That has been the most annoying thing.  Apple you’re awesome but, come on. Sonos you’re awesome, but better integration with Apple would be nice.  


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • January 28, 2024

After months of trying to problem solve I finally found someone from Sonos customer support that was extremely helpful and solved the remote issue that happens when updating AppleTV OS 17 and higher.   

Note: This is for those that are using the older optical connection and IR remote settings. When updating the Remotes and Devices > Control TVs and Receivers default settings change.  

Below are the steps to getting your remote working again.   

Apple TV 📺 Remote Fix
1. Go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Control TVs and Receivers.

2. Set this to Off.

3.  Next, go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Volume Control.

4. Select TV via IR.

5. Select Learn New Device.

6. Follow the on-screen steps to program your Apple TV

7.  Now you will need to teach the Apple TV remote to the home theater speaker:
a. Open the Sonos app for iOS or Android. From the Settings tab, tap System.

8. Select the home theater room and tap Remote Control Setup.

9. Follow the in-app steps using your Apple TV remote. You will be prompted to program the Volume and Mute buttons on the remote. Some Apple TV remote models do not have a mute button. If it doesn't, just wait a minute for this to timeout and continue. After completing these steps, this remote will be the only remote that controls your home theater speaker volume.


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  • Prominent Collaborator II
  • 109 replies
  • January 29, 2024

Yes... 🤗

Can't thank you enough, was going crazy as I was convinced it once worked but couldn't get it to work and ended up choosing HDMI control on my Apple TV to be able to control the TV sound but not my playbar when I just listened to music..

THANKS 🙏🏻


  • Lyricist I
  • 1 reply
  • January 29, 2024
Stubbsy747 wrote:

This issue has been driving me INSANE for weeks and finally I found the answer on YouTube:

 


Simply hold the input and volume down button on your Apple TV 4K remote for about 5 seconds and 🪄🧙‍♂️ …issue fixed!!!! Your Apple Remote will now control your Sonos sound bar volume again. 

Awesome, thanks!


  • Contributor I
  • 4 replies
  • March 10, 2024

Yep, that works.

 


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