My TV Volume Keeps Going Up And Down By Itself (Find Out Why!)
So, imagine that you’re at home watching a movie. There’s a quiet scene on, so you turn the volume up. And it immediately lowers itself back down. You try again with the same result. Curious, you change the channel and are suddenly greeted with a wall of sound. What is going on?
If you notice your TV volume fluctuating up and down with no apparent cause, there are a few things that may be happening. Thankfully, the fixes for the potential issues are relatively simple. The hard part is figuring out what exactly is causing the issue in the first place.
Your TV volume may be going up and down on its own due to a control switch on the volume control board being stuck. It may also be down to a problem with the remote control or the TV’s software. Failing this, your audio may be stuck on the wrong setting. Loosened the control switch by moving it. Remove the batteries from your remote and change the TV volume to see if it’s the problem. Navigate to the Audio portion of the menu and turn off your TV AVL settings. If the problem persists, contact support.
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The Four Main Causes
The volume regulation issue generally resides in one of four areas:
- Your audio settings
- Your TV’s software
- Your remote control
- The control switch
By going through each of these areas carefully, you can use the process of elimination to zero in on the actual cause of the issue. Let’s go through them one by one.
Your Audio Settings
This one may be a bit tricky to get to, which is actually why we’ve placed it first. Getting this one out of the way can potentially take a huge chunk of stress off of your checklist.
If your TV’s AVL (Auto Volume Leveller) settings have been set incorrectly, then you should be hearing abrupt changes in volume. These will be most obvious whenever you change the channel, or when commercials begin playing.
To access and adjust your AVL settings, follow these steps:
- Step One: Select the Home or Menu button on your remote.
- Step Two: Next, find either the Settings or the Installation menu. (This will vary depending on which brand of TV you’re using.)
- Step Three: Select the settings for ‘Audio’ or ‘Sound’
- Step Four:Â Find AVL. Turn the setting off if it is on.
- Step Five: Get out of the menu and change the channel. If there are no random volume spikes, you’ve solved the issue!
This is the fix that people get the most nervous about, since it messes with the TV’s settings directly. As long as you’re careful and methodical though, there’s really nothing to worry about. No matter your TV brand, we’re pretty sure it doesn’t have a hidden self-destruct code!
Your TV’s Software
One of the common ways a TV can display outdated software is through small issues such as random volume changes. If you find your TV’s volume fluctuating, it may be time to update your TV’s software. Updating the software in a smart TV will often fix small glitches such as random volume fluctuations, so it’s a good idea to double-check that you’re running the latest update.
The specifics will vary depending on the brand of TV you’re using, but here are the general steps you’ll need to follow:
- Step One:Â Select the Menu or Home button on your remote.
- Step Two:Â Next, look for the Settings or the Installation menu.
- Step Three: Select either ‘First Time Installation’ or the ‘Factory Reset’ option and follow the on-screen prompts.
- Step Four: Change the TV’s volume. If the problem persists, move on to our other potential fixes.
Updating your TV’s software is something that you should really keep on top of, especially for reasons of device security. It’s a pretty simple matter to check in on it every so often and make sure the latest update has gone through smoothly.
Your Remote Control
Issues with your remote control can be seen in many ways. If it is an issue with the remote and not the TV itself, it may affect many things, including:
- The brightness (may increase or decrease suddenly)
- The channels (may randomly change)
- The volume (may change without warning)
If your TV is still within its warranty, then you should be able to get a replacement remote at no cost to you. If you suspect there’s an issue with your remote, contact support for a replacement.
To rule this option in or out, follow these steps:
- Step One:Â Open the back panel of the remote and remove the batteries.
- Step Two: Change the TV’s volume. If you still experience volume fluctuations, the problem is not with the remote.
- Step Three:Â Re-insert the batteries.
If the issue is with the remote, then it’s a simple matter of getting a replacement. If however, the issue is still with the TV, just re-insert the remotes’ batteries and try a different fix.
The Control Switch
If the TV’s control switch is stuck, it is likely overriding any volume changes you make. Luckily, the fix for this is pretty simple.
- Step One:Â Locate the control switch on your TV. On most models, it will be on the back near the power cord. It may also be located on the side of the unit.
- Step Two:Â Push the control switch a few times to loosen it.
- Step Three: Change your TV’s volume.
If you’re still experiencing random fluctuations, try loosening the control switch again before moving on to another fix.
Why Does The Sound on My Samsung TV Keep Going Up and Down?
The volume suddenly adjusting on a Samsung television specifically is usually the result of a feature called the Sound Sensor. This can be activated or deactivated in the Settings menu.
Why Does My Volume Keep Going Down on my TV?
If you’re dealing specifically with your volume dropping from where you’ve set it, there are a few things you can try to remedy it.
Change the Bitstream
One of the fastest and easiest ways to troubleshoot this sort of problem is to go into the Expert Settings on your television. From the main menu, navigate to Sound > Expert Settings. Then, select ‘HDMI Input Audio Format’ and change your bitstream to PCM.
This is a common, simple fix that’s easy to do, but if for any reason it doesn’t work, there’s one other option you can test.
Unplug Board Volume Control
One of the most common reasons for volume issues in TVs actually has to do with the board volume control. To access it, you’ll need to remove the back of your TV and consult the manual for its exact location. From there, unplug the board and reassemble your TV. If the problem is fixed, it was that component that was acting up.
If neither of these options actually resolve the problem, then it’s time to call in the professionals. Contact your TV brand’s support team, and they’ll send a trained technician to diagnose and resolve your technological issues.
If All Else Fails…
Call in the experts. While most of these fixes are well within the reach of most homeowners, there are some things that are best left to the professionals. If you run through all the fixes we’ve listed here and are still experiencing problems, contact support. It’s very possible that there’s a hardware issue with your TV which will require professional attention.
By and large, however, most TVs respond well to the fixes on this list. Go through each one thoroughly and make notes if you need to. These can be especially useful if the fix is something out of your range. The technician can look them over and get a better idea of where the problem may be.
Related Questions
What is volume leveling?
Simply put, volume leveling is a feature of many streaming services and smart TVs that ‘squishes’ sound into a smaller range. This is done so that no one audio source is louder than the others.
How do I keep TV volume constant?
Make sure that your smart TV’s software is updated to the latest version. Go into the TV’s Settings menu and look for the ‘Sound’ or ‘Audio’ option. It’s possible that this may be under Advanced Settings on some TVs. Look for options like ‘auto volume’, ‘auto leveling’, ‘volume stabilization’, or ‘auto volume leveling’.
Is there a TV that regulates volume?
The short answer is ‘technically, no’. The FCC does not regulate the volume or either TV programs or commercials. Some Sony brand televisions come equipped with firmware which is designed to help compensate for differentials in the volume of programs and commercials.
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The Bottom Line
There are a few ways you can address the issue of your volume going up and down by itself. Most of these fixes are small and only take a few minutes each to try, so they’re worth spending the time to test out.
Start with the simplest solution first and work your way up to more complex ones. Smart TVs and related technology isn’t going anywhere soon. It’s best to learn all your reasonably can about how to fix small issues at home, so you don’t end up paying for expensive fixes you didn’t actually need.
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