Sonos Arc Soundbar F32 Error Code Fix

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What This Error Means

F32 on a Sonos Arc means an internal protection fault.

In plain terms: the Arc thinks something inside (power, amp section, or firmware) is misbehaving, so it shuts audio down or reboots to protect itself.

Official Fix

Do it the way Sonos support will walk you through it, just faster:

  • 1. Hard power cycle the Arc
    – Unplug the Arc from the wall.
    – Wait a full 60 seconds (let the internal power discharge).
    – Plug it directly into a wall outlet, no surge strip or smart plug for now.
    – Watch the light: let it boot fully, then test audio from the Sonos app (e.g. Sonos Radio, not TV yet).
  • 2. Strip the system down
    – Disconnect HDMI from the TV.
    – Disconnect any wired Ethernet, surrounds, and Sub (logically in the app, not physically forever).
    – You want: Arc + power only. If it stays stable and plays music with no F32, the bar itself is probably fine and the problem is HDMI/TV/network related.
  • 3. Check HDMI and TV settings
    – Use the TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC port only (usually labeled ARC or eARC).
    – Use a known-good high‑speed HDMI cable, no adapters or switches for now.
    – On the TV, enable HDMI‑CEC (called Simplink, Bravia Sync, Anynet+, etc.) and enable ARC/eARC audio.
    – Turn off weird sound modes like “TV speakers + HDMI” or simulated surround that fight with the Arc.
  • 4. Update Sonos firmware
    – In the Sonos app, go to settings and run a system update check.
    – Install any pending updates, then power cycle the Arc one more time and retest.
  • 5. Rule out Wi‑Fi issues
    – If you normally run Wi‑Fi, temporarily wire the Arc to the router with an Ethernet cable and reboot it.
    – Try playing music from the app again. If F32 only happens on Wi‑Fi, you have interference or a weak signal, not a dying bar.
  • 6. Factory reset only as a last resort
    – This wipes the Arc from your system, so do it last.
    – Unplug power, press and hold the Join button, plug power back in while holding, and keep holding until the light flashes orange and white (then set it up again in the app).
    – If F32 comes back even on a clean setup, you are likely looking at a genuine hardware problem.
  • 7. Call it: time for Sonos support
    – If F32 survives all of that, Sonos will usually treat it as a hardware or deep firmware fault.
    – Contact Sonos support with the error and a fresh diagnostic; they decide repair, replacement, or out‑of‑warranty options.

The Technician’s Trick

Here is how a field tech would fast‑track whether the Arc is actually bad or the rest of your setup is trashing it.

  • 1. Bypass HDMI/eARC completely
    – Grab the Sonos HDMI‑to‑optical adapter (or any compatible one) and hook the Arc to the TV’s optical output instead of HDMI ARC/eARC.
    – Play TV audio and run it for a while.
    – If F32 never shows up on optical but comes back as soon as you go back to HDMI‑ARC/eARC, the Arc is usually fine. The TV’s HDMI or ARC implementation is the real villain. In that case, staying on optical is a legit workaround (you lose Dolby Atmos, but you keep a working bar).
  • 2. Cold‑boot the whole HDMI chain
    – Unplug everything: Arc, TV, any HDMI switch, console, set‑top box.
    – Disconnect the HDMI cable from the Arc and from the TV.
    – Wait at least 5 minutes so all the HDMI and CEC garbage fully clears.
    – Power on the Arc alone, wait until it is fully up and visible in the Sonos app.
    – Then power on the TV, let it boot, then connect HDMI between TV ARC/eARC port and Arc.
    – This order often stops repeated protection trips when the bar and TV were stuck in a bad HDMI/CEC handshake loop.
  • 3. Test on a totally different TV and outlet
    – Move the Arc to another room, another TV, and another wall outlet (no power strip).
    – Add it to the Sonos app there and test. – If F32 disappears in the new location, you have dirty power or a flaky HDMI port on the original TV setup, not a dead Arc.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Still under warranty, or F32 goes away after power/HDMI cleanup or running on optical only.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Out of warranty but the Arc is otherwise mint; repair or swap only makes sense if Sonos quotes well under half the cost of a new bar.
  • ❌ Replace: F32 survives clean setup, other TVs, other outlets, and Sonos or a shop wants 60%+ of a new Arc to touch it.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Getting hit with F‑codes on other gear too? These breakdowns might save you more time and swearing: