Ever smashed buttons in frustration trying to get your glitchy soundbar working again? Pressing random combinations hoping one magical reset will bring your speaker back to life?
Don’t stress! This guide will teach you the art of effectively reviving your soundbar.
Resetting your soundbar can bring it back from the dead when dealing with software issues, connectivity problems, or preparing to sell.
However, there are two main reset options – factory reset and hard reset – with key differences between them. Choosing the right method and following proper steps can get your speaker up and running.
Let’s dive in and learn the difference between a factory reset and hard reset. We’ll also cover when to use each method and provide step-by-step instructions.
With this knowledge, you’ll be resetting your soundbar like a pro!
Difference Between Factory Reset And Hard Reset
A factory reset and a hard reset accomplish largely the same end goal of restoring your soundbar to its original factory settings.
However, the key difference lies in how much data is erased in the process.
What a factory reset does is clear out all user settings, preferences, and paired Bluetooth/WiFi devices that have been configured on the soundbar.
This includes audio settings like EQ presets, subwoofer levels, surround sound modes, connected apps, accounts, and their associated logins, WiFi network names and passwords, Bluetooth paired device list, and any custom soundbar name you may have configured.
Importantly, a factory reset does NOT delete or modify the core software and firmware installed on the soundbar.
The original firmware stays intact. Resetting to factory settings is useful if you plan on selling or gifting your soundbar to someone else.
It wipes your personal data and returns the device to a clean “out of the box” software state.
Factory reset is also helpful for clearing up minor software glitches, disconnecting all Bluetooth devices, or removing your WiFi network credentials if the soundbar is moving to a new location.
What a hard reset does is take the restoration process a big step further by completely wiping all software and firmware on the soundbar, not just user data.
The hard reset erases the core soundbar software down to the factory versions, requiring it to be reinstalled from scratch.
This includes the main soundbar firmware and OS, audio drivers, codecs, and processors, WiFi/Bluetooth software and drivers, pre-installed apps and interfaces, and all personalized settings and paired devices.
Essentially everything is deleted, forcing the soundbar to fully reboot itself and reinstall the factory software fresh.
This is useful for unbricking a soundbar with major software corruption issues or failed firmware updates. It’s an last resort option when all else fails.
When To Do A Hard Reset Vs Factory Reset
Given the differences between the two processes, when should you perform a factory reset versus a more dramatic hard reset?
Factory resetting your soundbar is the better option in these situations
You’re selling or giving away the soundbar to someone else to remove all your data, moving the soundbar to a new location and need to wipe WiFi info and Bluetooth pairings, noticing minor software glitches or odd behaviors and want to refresh the soundbar.
The soundbar is having issues connecting to WiFi or Bluetooth devices and a reset may help connectivity, or audio settings have been extensively customized and you want to start fresh.
Unless you’re experiencing major software failure or bricking issues, a factory reset is usually sufficient to fix most common problems.
A hard reset should only be performed in these rare cases
Soundbar is completely unresponsive or bricked with corrupted software and factory reset doesn’t help, serious firmware damage is preventing soundbar from booting up properly, failed firmware update has caused permanent software problems, major glitches across multiple soundbar features.
And menus that factory reset did not resolve, or persistent storage errors or hardware/software mismatch problems arise.
Basically when all else fails and you have a essentially “bricked” soundbar with deep software issues. Hard reset erases everything and starts fresh.
How To Do A Hard Reset Step-By-Step
If you do need to perform a hard reset on your misbehaving soundbar, here are the steps:
First, power off the soundbar and disconnect all cables from the rear ports, including power cable, HDMI ARC cable, optical digital audio cable, Ethernet LAN cable, and any other connected ports like USB.
This ensures a clean break before resetting.
With cables removed, initiate the hard reset process per your soundbar’s method. On many models, press and HOLD the power button on the bar for 10+ seconds until lights turn off.
There may be a pinhole reset button on the rear to press and hold with a paperclip for up to 20 seconds. Some brands have button combinations like Volume Down + Power held together.
Consult your owner’s manual for the specific reset procedure and continue holding buttons until lights blink or the bar powers down.
Now reconnect just the power cable while continually holding the necessary buttons. Keep holding for at least 30 more seconds after plugging back in.
The soundbar will indicate reset is in progress by flashing its front LEDs. Once flashing starts, release buttons. The reset is now underway.
It will take several minutes for the soundbar to complete the reset process and reboot itself. Let it be until the LEDs stop blinking and remain solid on.
Do NOT unplug the bar again during this time. The hard reset is restoring factory firmware and software.
Once finished, you’ll need to re-run through setup and reconnect WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. Download any necessary firmware or app updates again as well, since those will have been wiped.
How To Do A Factory Reset Step-By-Step
If you just need to perform a simple factory reset, the steps are similar but simpler:
First, power on your soundbar and access its settings menu. Locate the appropriate factory reset option. Sony, LG, and Yamaha bars often have dedicated “Reset to Factory Default” options.
There may be a reset pinhole on the rear panel as well. Some bars require pressing Volume Down + Power buttons together. Consult your owner’s manual for the right method.
The soundbar will prompt you to confirm factory reset. Select yes.
After confirming, the soundbar will reboot itself and clear all user data and settings. Wait for this to complete.
Once back up, walk through the initial setup again to reconnect your WiFi network and pair any Bluetooth devices again.
That’s it! Much simpler than a full hard reset.
What Gets Deleted And Restored
To summarize what data gets removed or kept when resetting your soundbar:
Removed by Both Resets are WiFi network names and passwords, paired Bluetooth device list, customized soundbar name, user accounts for streaming apps, and all personalized audio settings and presets.
Removed Only By Hard Reset are soundbar OS and firmware, audio drivers and codecs, networking software and drivers, pre-installed apps and interfaces, and all other software and firmware.
Kept After Factory Reset are original firmware and software, default audio capabilities and hardware drivers, and capability to download updates again.
In essence, a factory reset clears personalized settings while keeping core functions intact. A hard reset erases everything down to the “bare metal” before rebuilding.
Conclusion
Deciding between a factory reset and a hard reset depends on the severity of the issues you’re experiencing. For most common software glitches or preparing to sell your device, a simple factory reset should suffice.
This will clear your personal data while preserving core functions. Only utilize a hard reset if absolutely needed for a truly bricked, unresponsive soundbar.
Just be aware it will completely erase all software before rebuilding the system.
With this guide’s steps, you should now feel confident to revive and restore your misbehaving soundbar through the optimal reset process.
Just use caution and only reset when truly necessary, as the process can be time-consuming. But when all else fails, a factory or hard reset may get your soundbar back up and running!