TV Audio Delay: Fix Lip Sync Problems Step by Step
If voices don't match the actors' lips, start by checking which comes first: the sound or the picture. That tells you whether to add audio delay or look for a way to reduce it.
TV lip sync problems can come from the program itself, a streaming device, the TV's processing, or the connection to a soundbar. You can narrow down the cause without buying anything.
Quick fix: Compare another show and the TV's built-in speakers first. If sound arrives early, add a little audio delay. If sound arrives late, reduce existing delay and test PCM or Stereo output. Increasing an audio-delay slider usually makes late sound worse.
Is the Sound Ahead of the Picture or Behind It?
Replay a short scene with a clear view of someone speaking. Use original-language dialogue when possible; a dubbed track won't necessarily match the actor's mouth movements.
| What You Notice | What to Try |
|---|---|
| You hear words before the matching lip movements. | Add audio delay in small steps. |
| Lips move first, and the words follow. | Reduce added audio delay, simplify audio processing, or test a different audio route. |
| The gap changes during playback. | Investigate the app, source, or connection before choosing a fixed delay. |
Audio Delay and A/V Sync aren't always the same thing. Some TV sync features delay the picture to match late sound. Check your model's instructions before assuming every sync control adjusts audio.
Find Out Which Part of Your Setup Is Out of Sync
Before changing settings, make these three comparisons. Keep the volume comfortable and use one speaker system at a time.
- Try another title or channel. If everything else is in sync, the original program or feed is the first thing to investigate.
- Switch to the TV speakers. If timing improves, focus on the external audio path: the TV's audio output, soundbar or receiver, and their settings.
- Compare a built-in app with an HDMI device. If the TV app works but the streaming box doesn't, investigate the box and that HDMI path.
These tests identify where to look; they don't prove that a particular device is defective. For example, a soundbar can work correctly while receiving audio that the TV has already delayed.
Restart the Devices and Check for Updates
Use the full restart option on the TV and streaming device. A quick press of the power button may only put them in standby. Restart the soundbar or receiver according to its manual, too.
Check for TV, soundbar, streaming-device, and app updates. If the issue began after an update, record the software version before making further changes.
With equipment powered off, check that HDMI or optical plugs are seated securely. Then replay the same scene. Change one thing at a time so you can tell what helped.
If Sound Is Late, Test PCM or Stereo
Temporarily change the TV's digital audio output to PCM or the source device's output to Stereo. Start with one device, replay the scene, and note the result. If necessary, test the source and TV separately.
On some setups, surround-format processing adds delay. If Stereo or PCM fixes the timing, you've found a useful clue about the format or processing path. It doesn't mean every Dolby soundtrack will have the same problem.
Check the tradeoff: A TV's PCM setting may output only two channels, costing you surround sound and Dolby Atmos. Multichannel PCM is possible through compatible HDMI/eARC equipment, but that doesn't mean your TV's PCM menu option supports it.
Before settling on a format, compare PCM versus bitstream and pass-through to understand which choices can preserve the channels and formats your system supports.
If stereo timing is correct and you want surround back, test Pass-Through where the TV and sound system support the source format. It may avoid an unnecessary conversion, but it isn't a guaranteed latency fix. If you get silence or unsupported-format errors, restore the previous setting.
If Sound Is Early, Adjust the Audio Delay
Take a photo of the current settings before adjusting them. Look for a control labeled Audio Delay, Lip Sync, or Audio Sync on the TV, soundbar, or receiver.
- Choose one device's delay control to adjust.
- Increase it by the smallest available step.
- Replay the same line of dialogue.
- Repeat until speech matches the picture, then check another scene.
There's no universal correct number. If a slider uses milliseconds, 100 ms means one-tenth of a second; other products use numbered steps instead.
If sound is already late, reduce any added audio delay toward zero. A zero setting removes that control's added delay; it doesn't remove processing latency elsewhere in the system.
LG TV Lip Sync Settings
LG's U.S. support instructions give this path for 2021 and later TVs running webOS 6.0 or later:
Settings → All Settings → Sound → Advanced Settings → Match Screen and Sound
LG recommends testing Bypass first. If that doesn't help, turn Bypass off and adjust TV Speaker Delay where available. On older models, look under Sound → Additional Settings → AV Sync Adjustment.
The available controls depend on the model and selected output. Don't assume TV Speaker Delay controls an external soundbar. See LG's picture and sound sync instructions for the supported menu examples.
Samsung TV and Soundbar Lip Sync Settings
For the audio-format test, Samsung's U.S. instructions use:
Settings → All Settings → Sound → Expert Settings → Digital Output Audio Format
Compare PCM with your existing setting. Samsung describes the PCM option in this guide as two-channel output, so check your surround sound afterward.
On Samsung soundbars, sync adjustment may be accessed through Sound Control, an Audio Sync button, or dedicated Audio Sync +/− controls. The method depends on the model. Samsung notes that the sync feature covered by its support guide isn't available with Bluetooth or USB sources.
Sony BRAVIA A/V Sync Settings
On supported BRAVIA models, look under:
Settings → Display & Sound → Audio output → Audio system settings → A/V sync
Some models place A/V sync directly under Audio output. Sony explains that this feature can delay the picture to match delayed external audio. For movie playback, compare Auto, On, and Off as available; if sound is early, turning picture-delay compensation off may help.
This control can be restricted in Game or PC modes, depending on the model. Follow the Sony audio/video sync troubleshooting guide and your TV's own manual rather than copying settings from a different BRAVIA.
Sonos TV Dialog Sync: Use It When Sound Is Early
In the Sonos app, open Settings, select your home theater product under Your System, and find Home Theater → TV Dialog Sync.
Moving the slider to the right delays audio. Use it when voices arrive before the matching picture.
When Sonos audio arrives late, adding Dialog Sync delay won't correct it. Sonos instead recommends restarting the TV and source, disabling extra audio processing, and testing Stereo or PCM. That format test can disable surround sound.
Fix Soundbar Delay Over HDMI ARC, eARC, or Optical
For an HDMI return-audio connection, use the TV's labeled ARC/eARC port and the soundbar or receiver's corresponding TV connection. If both devices support eARC, check that it's enabled as directed by their manuals.
eARC supports higher-bandwidth audio, including multichannel uncompressed formats. It doesn't guarantee that every app, source, and soundbar combination will stay synchronized.
If an external HDMI source still produces late audio, try connecting it to a genuine HDMI IN on the soundbar or receiver, then connect that device's HDMI output to the TV. Sony includes this routing change in its troubleshooting advice. A soundbar with only an ARC/eARC TV port doesn't offer that extra source input.
If you're comparing replacement options, our guide to choosing a soundbar for your TV explains which connections and supported formats to check before buying.
Before moving a console, check the sound system's video passthrough specifications. Your required resolution, refresh rate, HDR format, and VRR support must survive the new route.
Optical can be a useful comparison if both devices support it, but it has format limits and won't necessarily fix timing. For silence, dropouts, or a connection that won't initialize, follow our HDMI ARC/eARC troubleshooting guide.
When Lip Sync Is Wrong in Only One Streaming App
Try another title in the same app, then another app on the same device. If just one episode or movie is affected, avoid changing a system-wide delay that could put everything else out of sync.
Netflix recommends reporting a title when other programs play normally. If the problem affects the app more broadly, restart the device and check the app and device software.
On Apple TV, Netflix's troubleshooting steps include testing Settings → Video and Audio → Audio Format → Change Format, first with Dolby Digital 5.1, then Stereo if needed. Treat these as diagnostic changes; they can change the available audio experience.
If the gap grows during playback or changes after seeking, record that behavior. A fixed delay may align one moment while leaving the rest wrong.
Bluetooth Audio Delay Needs a Different Check
If the problem happens only with Bluetooth headphones or speakers, compare them with the TV speakers or a supported wired connection. Sony notes that Bluetooth devices can introduce their own timing differences and recommends a wired alternative if problems persist.
Disconnect and reconnect the Bluetooth device. If your TV offers Bluetooth-specific sync adjustment, follow its model instructions. Don't assume the TV's digital-output delay slider also controls Bluetooth.
A wireless subwoofer paired with an HDMI-connected soundbar isn't the same connection as sending the TV's entire audio signal over Bluetooth. Diagnose the route you're actually using.
For PS5, Xbox, and PC Gaming, Keep Input Lag in Mind
Keep the TV in its appropriate Game mode while diagnosing game audio. Compare the console's stereo or PCM option with its surround output, and check the resulting channel format on your sound system.
Delaying the picture can align it with late sound, but it also delays what you see after a controller input. Sony specifically warns that some A/V sync compensation can reduce gaming responsiveness.
For games that depend on timing, prioritize a responsive picture and a compatible audio path with less processing. A setting that works for a movie may be a poor fit for a rhythm game or shooter.
Still Out of Sync? Save the Test Results Before Resetting
If the issue persists, give the manufacturer or streaming service a specific example: the title and timestamp, TV and soundbar model numbers, software versions, connection route, and selected audio format.
Include whether the TV speakers work correctly, whether PCM changes the result, and whether the gap stays fixed or grows. Those details make the next troubleshooting step much more targeted.
Try a sound-settings reset, where available, before a full factory reset. Save your current settings first; a factory reset can erase apps, sign-ins, and picture adjustments. If multiple sources remain out of sync through the TV speakers after restarting and updating, contact the TV manufacturer for model-specific support.