To factory reset a Sony STR-DH790, put it in standby and then hold down the front-panel power button for 5 seconds. CLEARING flashes on the display, and when it changes to CLEARED *, the reset is done.
This works on every STR-DH790. You can’t do it from the remote, and there is no reset item in the TV menu. The reset wipes every setting the receiver has saved, including your speaker pattern, height speaker type, calibration results, and the 4K signal settings for each HDMI input. Plan to run Easy Setup and Auto Calibration again afterward.
Check first: is a full reset the right fix?
A reset is a big hammer. On the STR-DH790, several common problems have a faster fix that keeps your settings. Find your problem below before you erase anything.
| What you’re seeing | Try this first |
|---|---|
| PROTECT on the display, then the receiver shuts off | A reset won’t fix this. It points to a wiring, heat, or power problem. Follow our PROTECT error guide for the STR-DH790. |
| Acting strangely after a power outage | Unplug the power cord, wait 30 minutes, and plug it back in. Sony recommends this after a surge or power failure. |
| Sound modes sound wrong, but everything else is fine | Reset only the sound fields (see the section below). Your speaker setup stays. |
| 4K or HDR picture won’t show | Usually one setting, not a corrupted receiver. See getting 4K HDR through the STR-DH790. |
| Front panel display is dark | Press PURE DIRECT if its light is on, or press DIMMER to pick a brighter setting. |
| Menus are a mess, you don’t know what was changed, or you’re selling it or bought it used | A full factory reset is the right move. |
Write down these settings before you reset
If your system worked well until recently, take two minutes to note the settings that are hardest to rebuild. Press AMP MENU on the remote and read each one off the front display.
- <SPKR> PATTERN: your speaker layout, such as 7.1 or 5.1.2.
- <SPKR> HEIGHT: your height speaker type (FH, TM, FD, or SRD), if you use height speakers.
- <SPKR> CEILING.H.: your ceiling height, if you use Dolby Atmos enabled speakers.
- <HDMI> SIG. FMT.: whether each HDMI input is set to STANDARD or ENHANCED.
- <INPUT> A. ASSIGN and NAME IN: any jack you reassigned or input you renamed.
Your speaker distances, levels, and sizes come back when you rerun Auto Calibration, so you don’t need to copy those unless you tuned them by hand.
How to factory reset the STR-DH790
You need to be at the receiver. Use the power button on the front panel, not the one on the remote.
- Press the power button on the receiver to turn it off. The receiver goes into standby. Leave it plugged in.
- Press and hold the same power button for 5 seconds.
- Let go when CLEARING starts flashing on the display.
- Wait. Do not press any buttons or unplug the receiver while CLEARING is shown. According to Sony, a full memory wipe may take several minutes, and cutting power early can leave the reset unfinished.
- Look for CLEARED * on the display. That’s your sign the receiver is back to factory settings.
Some websites describe a reset path in a TV settings menu or a power-plus-DISPLAY button combo for this model. Sony’s Help Guide and Operating Instructions for the STR-DH790 don’t document either one. The STR-DH790 home menu only has Watch, Listen, Easy Setup, Sound Effect, and Speaker Setting, and none of them contains a reset.
What the reset erases on the STR-DH790
Sony says the reset clears all memorized settings. On a 7.2-channel receiver with height speaker support, that’s a lot more than volume and inputs. Here’s what you’ll notice is gone.
| Setting | Why it matters on this model |
|---|---|
| Surround back terminal assignment | The SURROUND BACK/HEIGHT (FRONT B/BI-AMP) terminals can feed surround back, height, Front B, or bi-amp speakers. After a reset, the receiver no longer knows which you wired. |
| Speaker pattern and height type | Your 5.1.2 layout and your choice of front high, top middle, or Dolby Atmos enabled speakers are gone. Height speakers stay silent until you set them again. |
| Ceiling height (CEILING.H.) | Used only with Dolby Atmos enabled speakers. It resets along with everything else. |
| Auto Calibration results | Speaker distances, levels, sizes, crossovers, the calibration type (Full Flat, Engineering, Front Ref.), and A.P.M. all need a new calibration run. |
| HDMI settings | Control for HDMI, eARC, HDMI Audio Out, Standby Through, and the HDMI Signal Format for each input. |
| Inputs and tuner | Input names, audio jack reassignments, and FM presets. |
| Bluetooth and standby options | Bluetooth settings and auto standby. Sony doesn’t list pairings separately, so expect to pair your phone again. |
One thing a reset does not undo is a software update. Sony notes that once the STR-DH790’s software is updated, you can’t go back to an older version. If your unit was updated to add eARC, it keeps that ability after a reset. You just need to switch eARC back on.
What to set up again, in this order
The order matters on this receiver. The height speaker type controls which other settings appear, and calibration should run after everything about the speakers is set.
- Turn on your TV and select the HDMI input that the STR-DH790 feeds.
- Turn on the receiver. Easy Setup normally opens on the TV by itself. If it doesn’t, press HOME on the remote and select [Easy Setup].
- Choose your language, then set [Assign Surround Back Terminals] to match your wiring: [Surround Back Speakers/Nothing], [Height Speakers], [Front B Speakers], or [Bi-Amplifier Speakers].
- Select your [Speaker Pattern]. If you have height speakers, pick a pattern that ends in .2 and then choose the type on the [Front High/Top/Dolby Speakers] screen. Our Dolby Atmos setup guide for the STR-DH790 explains which type to pick.
- Run Auto Calibration with the supplied microphone when Easy Setup asks. If you want tips on mic placement and error codes, see how to run D.C.A.C. calibration.
- If you use Dolby Atmos enabled speakers, press AMP MENU, set <SPKR> CEILING.H. to your ceiling height, and run Auto Calibration once more. Sony says the two together help those speakers work better.
- Press AMP MENU and go to <HDMI>. Set CTRL.HDMI to CTRL ON and EARC to ON if your TV has an eARC port. Set EARC to OFF if your TV only has ARC.
- Still in <HDMI>, open SIG. FMT. and set each input that has a 4K HDR source to ENHANCED.
- Pair your Bluetooth devices again, and put back any input names or jack assignments you wrote down.
Reset only the sound fields instead
If the only problem is that the sound modes (like Dolby Surround or Multi Ch Stereo) sound off, you can put just those back to default. Your speaker setup and HDMI settings stay put.
- Turn the receiver off with its power button.
- Hold down MUSIC on the receiver and press the power button.
- Wait for S.F. CLEAR to appear on the display. Every sound field is now at its factory setting.
Like the full reset, this only works with the buttons on the receiver, not the remote.
If the reset doesn’t work
Nothing happens when you hold the power button
Make sure the receiver was off (in standby) before you started. If it was on, the first press just turns it off. Also check that you’re holding the button on the receiver, not the remote, and that you’re holding it the full 5 seconds.
PROTECT appears instead of CLEARING
The receiver has detected a fault and is shutting itself off to stay safe. A reset can’t clear that. Unplug the receiver, wait 30 minutes, and then work through the PROTECT guide linked at the top of this page.
The Easy Setup screen doesn’t show up on the TV
- Switch the TV to the HDMI input the receiver’s HDMI TV OUT jack is plugged into.
- Press HOME on the receiver’s remote. Some TVs take a moment to show the menu.
- Unplug the HDMI cable at both ends and plug it back in.
The remote stopped working
A receiver reset does nothing for the remote, and Sony gives the remote no reset procedure. Aim it straight at the receiver’s front panel, move any objects blocking the path, and swap in two new batteries. Those are Sony’s three fixes for a remote that won’t respond.
The problem came back after the reset
If the same fault returns on factory settings, a setting wasn’t the cause. Check cables and speaker wires first. If it still happens, contact Sony through the customer support links in Sony’s STR-DH790 Help Guide.
Quick answers
Is there a way to reset the STR-DH790 from the TV screen?
No. Sony only documents the front-panel method: turn the receiver off, then hold its power button for 5 seconds. You can read it on Sony’s Reverting to the factory default settings page.
Does unplugging the receiver reset it?
No. Unplugging is only a power cycle, not the factory reset Sony describes. It can still help: after a power surge or outage, Sony recommends unplugging the receiver for 30 minutes before you try anything else.
Will a reset erase the firmware update that added eARC?
No. Software updates can’t be reversed on this receiver, and the reset only clears settings. You’ll just need to set EARC back to ON in the <HDMI> menu.