Sony subwoofers — the SA-SW3 and SA-SW5 modules and the subs bundled with HT-series bars — link automatically when both units power on. When the link breaks, the manual route depends on the bar's generation: an on-TV settings menu on the HT-A family, or a front-panel/remote 'Secure Link' procedure on older HT-S/HT-G bars. In every case the only LINK button involved is on the subwoofer — the bar's side is done from a menu or the remote.
Solid green means linked already (your issue is elsewhere — see the not-turning-on guide if there's no LED). Slow-blinking green means it's attempting to link automatically: give it a minute close to the bar before intervening.
With the soundbar's on-TV interface: HOME → Setup → Advanced Settings → Speaker Settings → Wireless Speaker Settings → Start manual linking. Press LINK on the sub's rear panel (the indicator flashes twice repeatedly in green), select Start on screen, and when 'Subwoofer: Connected' appears, select Finish.
HT-G700 and HT-S400: press MENU on the bar's front panel → SPEAKER → LINK → START, then press LINK on the sub — 'DONE' appears and the sub's LED settles to amber, which is the normal linked colour on these models. HT-S350 reverses the order: press LINK on the sub first, then within 2 minutes hold SECURE LINK on the remote for about 5 seconds.
Linked looks different by family: solid green on the SA-SW3/SW5 and HT-A-era subs, solid amber after Secure Link on HT-S350/S400/G700 subs, and white on the newest BRAVIA Theatre bars' subs. Move the sub to its listening position and confirm the link holds — if it drops at distance, check the interference notes below.
| LED state | What it means |
|---|---|
| Solid green | Linked and working (SA-SW3/SW5 and HT-A-era subs). |
| Blinking green | Linking — a slow blink is the automatic attempt, a repeated double-blink is manual-link mode. |
| Amber / orange | Depends on the family: on SA-SW3/SW5 it means a software update — don't unplug. On HT-S350/S400/G700 subs, solid amber is the normal Secure Link connected state, and blinking amber means it's connecting. |
| Red | Standby — the bar is off, or the link is lost. Power the bar on; re-link if it stays red. |
| Blinking red | Protection warning (usually heat). Power the sub off and check that its ventilation openings aren't blocked before restarting. |
| No light | Switched off at the sub's own rear power button, or no power. Note the LED also dims with the bar's DIMMER setting, so a 'dark' LED isn't always dead. |
Sony subwoofers link wirelessly and automatically: power the soundbar on, connect the subwoofer's power, and they pair on their own — the sub's LED settles to solid green (or amber/white on some families) when connected. There's no audio cable between them, so that's the setup. If they don't link by themselves, run the manual linking steps above for your bar's generation.
The bar and sub can come back up out of sequence and miss each other. Unplug both for 60 seconds, then follow Sony's documented order: turn the soundbar on first, then connect the subwoofer's power — they'll usually auto-link. If not, run manual linking once.
Sony doesn't publish a range figure, so keep the path short and clear. Metal cabinets, thick walls, and Wi-Fi gear on the direct line all weaken it — if the link keeps dropping at your chosen spot (solid red or endless slow green blinking), the radio is telling you to move something.
On most Sony systems, no — one subwoofer per bar (rear speakers pair separately), and that includes the SA-SW3 and SA-SW5. The exception is the newest generation: Sony officially supports dual connection with two BRAVIA Theatre Sub 7, Sub 8, or Sub 9 units of the same model on compatible bars with current firmware.