Sonos Arc Soundbar F71 Error Code Fix Guide

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What This Error Means

F71 on a Sonos Arc setup means the system has hit an audio protection / HDMI‑ARC or eARC fault (code 71).

Translation: the TV or receiver drops its audio link to the Arc, so you get no sound (or sound that cuts out) even though everything looks powered on and connected.

Official Fix

Do the boring, by‑the‑book stuff first. In this order:

  • 1. Power everything down properly.
    Unplug the Sonos Arc, the TV, and any AVR or streaming boxes from power. Wait a full 60 seconds. This clears the HDMI‑CEC / eARC handshake that often triggers F‑codes.
  • 2. Disconnect and reseat the HDMI.
    Unplug the HDMI cable from the TV and from the Arc. Inspect the ends for bent pins or kinks in the cable. Plug it back in firmly to the TV’s HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC, and to the HDMI port on the Arc. If you have another certified High Speed / HDMI 2.1 cable, swap it in and leave it there for testing.
  • 3. Boot things up in the right order.
    Plug the TV back into power first. Let it fully boot until you see the home screen. Then plug the Sonos Arc back in and wait 1–2 minutes until the light stabilizes. Last, power any other HDMI devices back up. This sequence forces the TV to detect the Arc cleanly.
  • 4. Fix the TV audio settings.
    On the TV’s sound menu, set:
    – Sound Output: HDMI ARC / eARC or External Audio / Receiver.
    – HDMI‑CEC (Simplink, Anynet+, Bravia Sync, etc.): On.
    – eARC: On / Auto if available.
    Turn off any weird sound modes that can interfere, like “TV Speaker Only” or “Bluetooth Speaker” while you’re testing.
  • 5. Update firmware on both ends.
    Open the Sonos app > Settings > System > Check for Updates and install anything pending. Then go to your TV’s Support / Software Update menu and update that too. A lot of F‑type HDMI errors are just buggy firmware.
  • 6. Re‑run TV setup in the Sonos app.
    In the Sonos app: Settings > System > pick your Arc > TV Setup (or similar wording). Follow the on‑screen steps so the Arc and TV renegotiate audio formats and HDMI control. When it finishes, test live TV and an app like Netflix or YouTube.
  • 7. Test with a simple source.
    Use a built‑in TV app first (no external boxes). If sound is stable with no F71 popping up, then start adding devices back one by one (cable box, console, etc.). If F71 only shows up with one particular box, that device or its HDMI port is the troublemaker.
  • 8. Try a different HDMI ARC/eARC port or different screen (if possible).
    If your TV has more than one ARC/eARC‑capable port, move the Arc’s HDMI there and repeat the power‑cycle routine. If you can, plug the Arc into another TV that has ARC/eARC. If the second TV never throws F71, the original TV’s HDMI ARC hardware or firmware is likely at fault.
  • 9. If F71 hits immediately and repeatedly, stop and call support.
    At this point, if the code comes back as soon as the Arc is on ARC/eARC with a known‑good TV and cable, you’re probably looking at a failing HDMI / power section inside the soundbar or a buggy TV that needs a board swap. Contact Sonos support with diagnostics from the app, and contact the TV manufacturer if the display itself is the one actually showing F71.

Do not open the Sonos Arc. Sonos does not supply internal parts to end users, and cracking it open will usually kill any warranty you have left.

The Technician’s Trick

When the official dance doesn’t clear F71, this is the kind of thing a field tech actually does on site:

  • Hard CEC / eARC reset via settings, not just power.
    On the TV, go into the HDMI‑CEC menu (LG: Simplink, Samsung: Anynet+, Sony: Bravia Sync, etc.). Turn CEC Off, turn eARC Off if it’s separate, then power the TV off and unplug it for 30–60 seconds. Plug it back in, boot fully, then turn CEC back On and eARC back On. This clears a bunch of stuck device tables that a normal reboot doesn’t touch.
  • Kill the “quick start” junk on the TV.
    Many LG / Samsung sets keep HDMI alive in the background with “Quick Start+”, “Instant On”, or similar. That’s great until it corrupts the Arc handshake and you start seeing F‑codes. Turn Quick Start / Instant On Off, power the TV off, unplug 60 seconds, then try again with the Arc. A surprising number of flaky F71 cases die right here.
  • Isolate the blame with a true A/B test.
    Take the Arc to a different modern TV with ARC/eARC, or bring a known‑good soundbar to your TV. If the Arc behaves perfectly on another screen, your TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC port or main board is the problem. If both soundbars glitch on your TV, it’s the TV. If the Arc misbehaves on every TV you try, the Arc itself has a hardware issue and no amount of menu‑tweaking will save it.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: F71 only shows up once in a while, goes away after a reset or new HDMI cable, and the Arc is still under warranty or less than ~4–5 years old.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: You need an HDMI eARC extractor or a TV main‑board replacement to keep using the Arc, and the bar itself is out of warranty but otherwise perfect.
  • ❌ Replace: F71 follows the Arc to multiple TVs and cables, Sonos says it needs an internal board, and you’re out of warranty with repair costs creeping toward the price of a new soundbar.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Got other gear tossing weird codes at you? These guides might save you another headache: