How to reset a Sony soundbar
Reset a Sony bar in escalating order: soft reset first (fixes freezes, HDMI handshake weirdness, a bar frozen at startup), factory reset only if problems persist — it erases your settings, pairings, and network setup.
The two resets
Soft reset: 60 seconds unplugged
Unplug the soundbar from the wall for a full minute (count it — a quick 10 seconds often isn't enough), then plug back in and power on. Settings survive; lockups don't. Do this before anything else.
Factory reset via buttons
On most Sony bars (HT-S350, HT-S400, HT-G700, HT-A3000/A5000/A7000): press and hold Power + Volume Down on the bar itself (not the remote) for more than 5 seconds, until the display shows RESET or the indicators flash — some models then want the power cable unplugged and reconnected to finish. On the newer BRAVIA Theatre bars (Bar 6/8/9), hold the Power button alone for more than 10 seconds instead. If neither triggers it, your manual's 'initialize' or 'resetting' section has the model-specific procedure.
Factory reset via menu (HT-A series)
Using the on-TV interface: HOME → Setup → Advanced Settings → Resetting → choose what to reset → Start, then wait for the bar to restart on its own. The newest BRAVIA Theatre bars have no on-TV menu — for those it's the button method above or the BRAVIA Connect app.
After a factory reset: rebuild the basics
Re-link the subwoofer and any rear speakers (see the pairing guide), re-select your TV input, re-enable HDMI-CEC/Bravia Sync if you use it, and re-join Wi-Fi on network models. Check for firmware updates while you're in the menus.
Frequently asked questions
Will a factory reset fix my Sony soundbar's sound problems?
It fixes problems caused by settings and corrupted state — no sound after an update, broken pairing, HDMI-ARC handshake failures. It won't fix hardware faults or a TV-side misconfiguration, so if the reset changes nothing, look at the TV's audio output settings next.
My Sony soundbar is frozen at startup or stuck mid-boot. Which reset?
Soft reset first — unplug for a full minute. A bar that freezes repeatedly at startup after soft resets needs the button-combo factory reset; if even that fails, the firmware is corrupted and Sony support is the next step.
Does resetting the soundbar unpair the subwoofer?
A soft reset doesn't. A factory reset can erase the link — Sony's own reset pages say to reconnect the sub and rear speakers afterwards. Re-pairing takes two minutes; the sub blinks while it searches (green on most models, white on the newest BRAVIA Theatre subs).