Sonos Arc Soundbar F50 Fix: Fast HDMI / eARC Error Guide

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What This Error Means

F50 on a Sonos Arc usually means: HDMI / eARC communication failure between your TV and the soundbar.

Translation: the bar has power, but the TV and Arc are not talking over ARC/eARC, so you lose sound, Atmos, or both.

Official Fix

Do the textbook stuff first. This is basically what Sonos and TV manuals want you to do:

  • 1. Hard power cycle everything
    • Unplug the Sonos Arc from the wall.
    • Unplug the TV from the wall.
    • Wait at least 60 seconds. Not 5. Give the HDMI/CEC chips time to fully discharge.
    • Plug the TV back in, let it boot fully.
    • Then plug the Arc back in and wait for it to come online.
  • 2. Confirm the HDMI port and cable
    • Make sure the Arc is in the TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port, not just any HDMI.
    • Use the original Sonos HDMI cable if you still have it. If not, use a short, good-quality High-Speed/2.1 cable.
    • Pull the HDMI out both sides, inspect for bent pins, then plug back in firmly until you feel it seat.
  • 3. Check TV audio settings
    • On the TV, set Sound Output (or similar) to HDMI ARC/eARC or Receiver, not TV speakers.
    • Turn HDMI-CEC ON (Simplink, Anynet+, Bravia Sync, etc. depending on brand).
    • Set audio format to PCM or Dolby Digital / Dolby Digital+. Disable DTS, MPEG, or weird “Auto” modes if the Arc keeps dropping.
  • 4. Use the Sonos app to re-run TV setup
    • Open the Sonos app.
    • Go to Settings > System > [Your Arc room] > TV Setup (wording may vary slightly).
    • Follow the on-screen steps so the app re-detects the TV and HDMI ARC link.
  • 5. Update firmware on both sides
    • In the Sonos app, check for updates and install them.
    • On the TV, run a firmware update from the support / software update menu.
    • Reboot both once more after updates.
  • 6. Last official step: contact support before factory reset
    • If F50 still shows and you still have no HDMI/ARC audio, Sonos will usually tell you to collect a diagnostic in the app and contact them.
    • A full factory reset on the Arc wipes everything; only do it if Sonos support specifically tells you to.

The Technician’s Trick

When the textbook routine doesn’t clear F50, here’s what a field tech actually does to beat HDMI/eARC into line.

  • 1. Kill all HDMI-CEC clutter
    • Disconnect every other HDMI device from the TV: consoles, streaming sticks, Blu-ray, AVR, everything. Leave only the Arc plugged into the eARC/ARC port.
    • Unplug the TV for 60 seconds again, then power it back up with only the Arc connected.
    • Test sound. If it works like this, one of the other HDMI devices is poisoning CEC. Add them back one by one to find the troublemaker.
  • 2. Force a fresh EDID/format handshake
    • On the TV, set audio output to PCM only.
    • Confirm the Arc plays PCM TV audio cleanly.
    • Then switch TV audio format back up to Dolby Digital+ or Atmos bitstream and test again.
    • This forces TV and Arc to renegotiate formats, which often clears stubborn F50 errors.
  • 3. Swap HDMI ports, then move back
    • Move the Arc’s HDMI cable to a non-ARC port briefly, power-cycle the TV, then move it back to the proper ARC/eARC port.
    • Yes, it’s dumb. But it makes some TVs rebuild their internal HDMI table and re-detect the Arc from scratch.
  • 4. Optical fallback test (hardware check)
    • If you still have the Sonos HDMI-to-optical adapter, hook the Arc to the TV’s optical output instead of HDMI ARC.
    • Set TV audio output to Optical and test.
    • If optical works every time but HDMI ARC keeps throwing F50, your TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC hardware or firmware is the likely problem, not the Arc.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Arc is under ~5–6 years old, F50 only shows with HDMI ARC/eARC, and it works fine over optical or when used in another room/TV.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Out of warranty, HDMI ARC only works some days, TV is also older, and you’d need a tech plus maybe an HDMI/eARC adapter to keep it going.
  • ❌ Replace: No sound from Arc on any input (even optical), physical damage, burnt smell, or repair quote is more than half the cost of a new soundbar.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Chasing other F-series error codes around the house? These guides might save you another headache: