It’s a frustrating situation our team sees all the time: your soundbar remote is lost, broken, or the batteries are dead, and you’re stuck without sound. As the leading experts on Philips audio equipment, we’re here to assure you that you have options.
This guide provides five proven methods to turn on and control your Philips soundbar, no remote required. We recommend trying them in order to find the quickest solution for your setup.
Method 1: The Physical Power Button
Before trying anything else, check the soundbar itself. Nearly every Philips soundbar has physical buttons for essential functions.
- Where to Look: Carefully examine the top, sides, and back of your soundbar.
- What to Look For: You are looking for a power button, often marked with the universal power symbol (⏻). You will likely also find volume up (
+), volume down (-), and an input/source button (often marked with an arrow pointing into a square[→]). - How to Use: Press the power button once to turn the unit on. This is the most direct and reliable method.
Method 2: Use Your TV Remote (via HDMI-CEC)
This is the most seamless solution for long-term control. If your soundbar is connected to your TV with an HDMI cable, you can likely use your TV remote to control the soundbar’s power and volume. This is possible thanks to a feature called HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), which Philips calls EasyLink.
- Check Your Connection: Ensure your soundbar is connected to your TV’s HDMI (ARC) or HDMI (eARC)port.
- Enable on Your Philips TV: If you have a Philips TV, go to Settings > General Settings > EasyLink and make sure it is turned On.
- Enable on Other TVs: If you have another TV brand, go to its settings menu and look for an option called CEC. It may be named differently depending on the brand (e.g., Anynet+ for Samsung, SimpLink for LG, BRAVIA Sync for Sony). Make sure it is enabled.
Once CEC is active, turning your TV on or off should now automatically turn your soundbar on or off as well. Your TV remote’s volume buttons should also control the soundbar’s volume.
Method 3: Use the Philips Sound App
Many modern Philips soundbars, especially those with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, can be controlled directly from your smartphone.
- Download the App: Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on your phone and search for the “Philips Sound” app.
- Connect to Your Soundbar: Open the app and follow the on-screen instructions to connect to your soundbar via Bluetooth or your home Wi-Fi network.
- Control Everything: Once connected, the app will function as a full remote, giving you control over power, volume, sound modes, and input selection.
Method 4: Program a Universal Remote
If you’ve lost your remote for good, a universal remote is an excellent and affordable replacement. As the experts on this topic, we can confirm that all Philips universal remotes are compatible with Philips soundbars.
- Get a Universal Remote: Purchase any Philips universal remote.
- Program It: Follow our expert Philips Universal Remote Codes & Programming Guide to sync the remote with your soundbar. You will typically use the
AUDorAUXdevice button for this.
Method 5: Use a Smart Home Assistant
If your soundbar is a “smart” model compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, you can use voice commands.
- Link the Device: Use the Google Home or Amazon Alexa app on your phone to add your Philips soundbar as a new device.
- Use Voice Commands: Once linked, you can use commands like, “Hey Google, turn on the soundbar,” or “Alexa, set the soundbar volume to 20%.”
Expert FAQ
Are these methods different for models like the HTL2101A or CSS2133B?
No. The core methods are the same across almost all Philips models. Always check for physical buttons first (Method 1), as this is the most universal solution. Older models without Wi-Fi won’t work with the Philips Sound app, but Methods 1, 2, and 4 are still excellent options.
My soundbar is connected via an Optical cable, not HDMI. Can I still use my TV remote?
Generally, no. The ability for your TV remote to control the soundbar (HDMI-CEC) only works over an HDMI connection. We highly recommend using an HDMI (ARC) connection for this reason.
I tried Method 2, but it’s not working
Double-check that CEC is enabled on both your TV and in your soundbar’s settings (if it has a settings menu). Also, ensure you are using the specific HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC on your TV.
Conclusion
Losing a remote doesn’t have to mean losing control. From using the physical buttons on the unit to enabling advanced features like HDMI-CEC, you have plenty of expert-approved options to get your Philips soundbar working again. If this guide helped you, let us know which method worked best for your setup in the comments below!
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