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The best ways to connect a soundbar to your Windows computer
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Do you want to play music and audio through a soundbar? You can easily connect your soundbar to your computer in a few simple steps; you'll just need to decide which method works best for your device. You can set up your soundbar using Bluetooth, a 3.5mm jack (AUX) or an optical audio cable. This wikiHow will show you how to connect a soundbar speaker to a Windows PC.
Things You Should Know
- If your Bluetooth soundbar doesn't enter pairing mode automatically, press and hold the button on the soundbar until you see a tone or flashing light.
- On Windows, open "Bluetooth & other devices". Click "Add" → "Bluetooth" → select the soundbar.
- If your soundbar or PC doesn't support Bluetooth, you can usually connect using 3.5mm AUX or optical audio cable.
Steps
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Power on the soundbar. With most soundbars, you'll see an indicator light turn on.
- If the soundbar is battery-powered, insert the batteries, then press the power button.
- If the soundbar requires a power source, plug its power cable into a wall outlet or power strip, then press the power button.
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Put the soundbar into pairing mode . The steps to do this vary by model, but you'll usually have to press a button somewhere on the soundbar to make it discoverable by your computer.
- Check your soundbar's instruction manual for steps unique to your model.
- Some soundbars enter pairing mode automatically.
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On your computer, open the Bluetooth settings. Click the Start menu and click the cog icon to open Settings . From there, click Devices . You should automatically be on the Bluetooth & other devices page. [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
- Make sure the switch for Bluetooth is toggled on.
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Click Add Bluetooth or other device . You can find this at the top of the window, next to a plus sign.
- A pop-up window will open.
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Click Bluetooth . Your computer will begin searching for Bluetooth devices.
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Click your device. You should see Connecting… . If you don't see your device, make sure it's in pairing mode.
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Click Done . Your soundbar will now be connected. You can now listen to music or watch movies on your computer.
- Once the speaker is paired, your PC will automatically connect to it whenever it's in range.
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Power on the soundbar. With most soundbars, you'll see an indicator light turn on.
- If the soundbar is battery-powered, insert the batteries, then press the power button.
- If the soundbar requires a power source, plug its power cable into a wall outlet or power strip, then press the power button.
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Plug one end of the AUX cable into your PC's sound port. Insert the 3.5mm jack into the port that displays a small icon of headphones. It's usually on the side of a laptop's keyboard, or on the front of a desktop unit.
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Plug the other end of the AUX cable into the soundbar. The location is varies by device, but the port will usually be labeled "AUX." Once the connection is made, Windows will automatically play audio through the soundbar.
- If your sound quality is fuzzy, you may need to clean your AUX cable to remove any dust or dirt.
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Power on the soundbar. With most soundbars, you'll see an indicator light turn on.
- If the soundbar is battery-powered, insert the batteries, then press the power button.
- If the soundbar requires a power source, plug its power cable into a wall outlet or power strip, then press the power button.
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Insert one end of a Toslink cable into the soundbar. If your soundbar has a Toslink (also known as optical audio) port, you can use an optical audio cable to connect it to your PC. The port is usually labeled "TOSLINK" or "OPTICAL."
- Toslink is a standard optical audio cable typically used to connect home theater systems to digital electronics, such as DVD players.
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Insert the other end of the Toslink cable into your PC. The port is usually labeled "TOSLINK," "OPTICAL," or "DIGITAL AUDIO OUT." If you're using a desktop PC, it should be on the back panel. If you have a laptop, it's likely on one of the sides. Once connected, your PC will send all audio through to the soundbar.
- Some slimmer laptop models may not have a TOSLINK port.
- You can also connect your soundbar to a TV .
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I hook my soundbar to my TV using a USB cable?Community AnswerPossibly, but it depends on the model of your TV and the type of soundbar you have.
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QuestionCan an LG soundbar be connected to a Sharp TV?Community AnswerAs long as the TV has a port that can connect to the soundbar (ex. optical, digital audio, RCA, etc.).
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QuestionHow do I get sound to just come out of the soundbar and not my computer as well?Community AnswerI ran a cable (a 3-5 mm audio video extension cable, available on Amazon) from my audio jack (green, usually) on the back of my PC to the two (red and white) jacks on my RCA sound bar. That worked for me.
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