Sonos Arc Soundbar F61 Error Code Fix Guide

by

What This Error Means

F61 on a Sonos Arc setup basically means: amp/power protection fault in the audio chain.

What's really happening: the Arc or the device driving it (usually your TV or AVR) sees a bad power/amp condition, kills the audio path, and may shut down to avoid cooking the electronics.

With the Arc, F61 usually shows up on the TV or receiver screen, not on the bar itself, but the root cause is almost always power, cabling, or an internal amp/power failure inside the soundbar.

Official Fix

Run this in order. Fast and dirty, but thorough.

  • 1. Hard power reset everything.
    • Unplug the Sonos Arc from the wall. Not standby. Full unplug.
    • Unplug the TV (and any AVR or HDMI switch in between).
    • Wait at least 60 seconds so the power supplies fully bleed down.
    • Plug the Arc directly into a wall outlet, no surge strip or extension cord for this test.
    • After 30 seconds, plug the TV back in and power it up.
  • 2. Strip the system down.
    • Disconnect every HDMI cable from the TV except the one going from the TV's eARC/ARC port to the Arc.
    • Pull out any HDMI adapters, splitters, or cheap switches. Go TV ⇄ Arc only.
    • If F61 only happens when extra boxes (consoles, set-top boxes, AVR) are connected, one of them is feeding noise or a ground issue that trips protection.
  • 3. Test the Arc by itself using the Sonos app.
    • Open the Sonos app on your phone and send music directly to the Arc (ignore TV audio for now).
    • Let it play at normal volume for 10–15 minutes.
    • If it runs clean with no shutdowns or F61 messages: the bar is likely fine; the problem is TV/HDMI/handshake.
    • If it cuts out, reboots, or the TV still throws F61 with just the Arc connected: suspect power/amp trouble in the bar.
  • 4. Swap the basics: outlet and HDMI cable.
    • Try a different wall outlet, ideally on a different circuit (no power strips while testing).
    • Replace the HDMI cable between TV and Arc with a known-good high-speed HDMI cable rated for eARC.
    • If F61 disappears with a new cable, the old HDMI was noisy, damaged, or intermittently shorting.
  • 5. Kill and rebuild the HDMI handshake.
    • Turn off the TV and Arc, then unplug the HDMI cable from both ends.
    • Wait 30 seconds, then plug HDMI back into the TV's eARC/ARC port and the Arc.
    • Power the Arc first, wait 20–30 seconds, then power on the TV.
    • On the TV, make sure HDMI-CEC and ARC/eARC audio output are enabled in settings.
  • 6. Update firmware on both ends.
    • In the Sonos app, run any pending system updates for the Arc.
    • On the TV, run a software/firmware update from its settings menu.
    • After updates, power-cycle both (unplug 30 seconds, plug back in) and re-test.
  • 7. Factory reset the Arc (last resort).
    • Only do this if you're fine re-adding the Arc to your Sonos system from scratch.
    • Unplug the Arc from power.
    • Press and hold the Join button (the infinity symbol) on the Arc, then plug the power back in while still holding the button.
    • Keep holding until the light flashes orange and white, then release.
    • Use the Sonos app to set it up again and test TV audio.
  • 8. If F61 still shows, treat it as hardware failure.
    • By now you've ruled out outlet, HDMI cable, TV settings, and firmware.
    • When F61 keeps coming back on a stripped-down setup, it usually means a failing power supply or amp stage inside the Arc, or a fault in the TV's audio board.
    • Grab the Arc's serial number and contact Sonos support or your retailer for repair/replacement options.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: The Arc is under ~5 years old, still in or just out of warranty, and F61 clears after power/HDMI/firmware steps or Sonos offers low-cost service.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Out of warranty, intermittent F61, and a quoted repair or Sonos-refurb is under ~50% of the price of a new Arc or equivalent Atmos soundbar.
  • ❌ Replace: Sonos or a shop confirms internal amp/power-board failure, you're out of warranty, and the repair quote is close to the cost of a new Arc—don't throw good money after bad.

Parts You Might Need

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

See also

Dealing with other F-series or device error codes in your setup? These breakdowns can save you more headache: