Did your Apple TV suddenly lose its surround sound magic after updating to tvOS 18? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one! Many users have reported that their Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD are only outputting stereo audio, even when 5.1 surround sound is selected in the settings. Let’s dive into what’s causing this issue and explore some potential solutions.
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What’s Causing the Stereo Sound Issue?
It seems the culprit is a bug introduced in tvOS 18 that affects how the Apple TV decodes Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Even if your settings are configured correctly, your Apple TV might not be able to process the surround sound signal properly, resulting in only stereo output.
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Troubleshooting Steps
While there isn’t a guaranteed fix for everyone, here are some things you can try:
- Check your audio settings: Go to Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Format and ensure “Dolby Digital 5.1” is selected. You can also try toggling between “Auto” and “Dolby Digital 5.1.”
- Restart your Apple TV: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve temporary glitches.
- Check for updates: Make sure your Apple TV is running the latest version of tvOS. Apple may release an update that addresses this issue.
- Check your HDMI connections: Make sure you securely connect your HDMI cables to both your Apple TV and your audio receiver or TV.
- Contact Apple Support: If none of the above steps work, you can contact Apple Support for further assistance. They may have more specific troubleshooting steps or information about the issue.
Good News: tvOS 18.1 Beta Fixes the Issue!
For those who can’t wait for an official fix, the tvOS 18.1 beta appears to resolve the surround sound problem. If you’re comfortable installing beta software, you can give it a try.
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FAQs About the tvOS 18 Surround Sound Issue
The issue seems to primarily affect Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models running tvOS 18.
It’s unlikely. Many users with different audio setups are experiencing the same software-related issue.
A bug in tvOS 18 is preventing the Apple TV from correctly decoding Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, resulting in stereo output.
Apple hasn’t announced a specific date, but they’ll likely address the issue in a future TVOS update.
Try the troubleshooting steps mentioned earlier, or consider installing the tvOS 18.1 beta if you’re comfortable with beta software.
We hope this article has shed some light on the tvOS 18 surround sound issue. Stay tuned for updates from Apple, and hopefully, you’ll be back to enjoying immersive audio on your Apple TV soon!
