How to Enable HDMI-CEC on Your TV

In this guide, we will show you the steps to enable the HDMI-CEC feature on your TV. Nowadays, near about every Smart TV (and some non-smart TVs as well) that has an HDMI port comes with the HDMI Consumer Electronics Control feature. This provides a handy platform so that both the connected device as well as your TV are able to communicate effectively. As a result, the device connected to your TV via HDMI could exercise some degree of control over the latter.

Along the same lines, your TV would also be able to control some functionalities of the connected device. All in all, this ends up benefitting the end-user as they would have to exert minimal effort in making sure that the device and your TV interact efficiently. Let’s try and understand it with the help of an example, after which the steps to enable the HDMI-CEC feature on your TV will be discussed.

What’s the use of the HDMI-CEC feature

Suppose you have a Chromecast connected to your TV, but it’s not yet active (say your watching TV via the cable network). Now if you pick up your Android device and start casting a video from the smartphone to the Chromecast, then the latter will make use of the HDMI-CEC and instruct the TV to switch to the Chromecast’s input. This saves you from the effort of manually switching over to the HDMI port via the TV Remote.

Another handy usage of this HDMI-CEC technology is that as soon as you connect these devices to the TV’s HDMI port, they automatically pick up their name. So that is the reason why you see the name Chromecast and not the name of the port to which they are connected (such as HDMI 3, etc). With that said, let’s now turn our attention to enable this HDMI-CEC on your TV.

How to Enable HDMI-CEC on Your TV

Every TV manufacturer has different steps to enable HDMI-CEC. While this is along the expected lines, what makes the matter complicated is the fact that they all like to give their own names to this feature. For example, LG likes to call it SimpLink or SIMPLINK, Samsung names it Anynet+ whereas Sony has titled it BRAVIA Sync. We have managed to compile a list of most of the famous TV manufacturers and how they like to call the HDMI-CEC on their TVs:

• AOC: E-link
• Emerson: Fun-Link
• Hitachi: HDMI-CEC
• Insignia: INlink
• LG: SimpLink
• Mitsubishi: NetCommand for HDMI/Realink for HDMI
• Onkyo: RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI)
• Panasonic: VIERA Link, HDAVI Control, EZ-Sync
• Philips: EasyLink
• Pioneer: Kuro Link
• Roku: 1-Touch Play
• Runco: RuncoLink
• Samsung: Anynet+Sony: BRAVIA Link/BRAVIA Sync/Control for HDMI
• Thomson: T-Link
• Toshiba: CE-Link/Regza Link

Now that you are aware of their names, let’s check out the steps to enable the HDMI-CEC on these TVs.

Enable HDMI-CEC (Anynet+) On Samsung TV

If you own a TV from the South Korean Conglomerate, then press the Home button on your TV remote and go to Settings > General. Now go to the External Device Manager section and enable the Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) option.

Enable HDMI-CEC (Simplink) on LG TV

For LG TV, you need to press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings. Then head over to General > Simplink. Now, enable both the “Active the Simplink” and the Auto Power Sync features.

Enable HDMI-CEC (Bravia Sync) on Sony TV

For Sony TV running the Android TV OS: Press the Home button on your TV remote and go to the External Inputs section. Navigate to HDMI Set-up > Control for HDMI and enable the Bravia Sync option.

If you are having a non-smart Sony TV, then hit the Home button on your remote and go to Settings. Then go to System Settings > Setup > Bravia Sync Settings and enable HDMI Device Selection.

Enable HDMI-CEC on Mi TV

If you have an Android TV such as Mi TV Stick, then go to Settings > Device Preferences > HDMI CEC > CEC Control and enable the CEC Switch option.

Enable HDMI-CEC on Fire TV Stick

If you own the offering from Amazon in the form of the Fire TV Stick, then go to Settings > Display and Sounds and enable the HDMI CEC Device Control option.

On TLC TV

Enabling HDMI-CEC on TLC TV is quite easy. Press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings > System > Inputs > CEC and choose Enable. That’s it.

On Vizio TV

After pressing the Menu button on your remote, go to System > CEC and select Enable. This turned out quite easy, isn’t it?

Enable HDMI-CEC (EasyLink) on Philips TV

To use the HDMI-CEC on your Philips TV, bring up the Setup menu by pressing the Home button. Then go to TV Settings > Installation > Preferences > EasyLink. Once you reach there, enable all these three options: Master EasyLink, Auto TV, and RC Key Forwarding.

Enable HDMI-CEC (Viera Link) on Panasonic TV

For Panasonic TV, just head over to Setup > HDMI Control > Enable CEC. As easy as it gets.

Enable HDMI-CEC (Aquos Link) on Sharp TV

Sharp has completely streamlined the entire process. Just head over to System Options > Aquos Link Setup and enable the Aquos Link Control option.

On Roku TV

After pressing the Home button, go to Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC). Once you reach this menu, enable the System audio control and 1-touch play options.

Enable HDMI-CEC (Regza Link) on Toshiba TV

If you are planning to enable this option on your Toshiba TV, then hit the Menu button on your remote. After this, go to Option, scroll to the HDMI CEC Control Setup and enable the HDMI CEC Control toggle. Once that is done, you will have to enable three other options as well: “TV Auto Power”, “Auto Standby” and “Amplifier Control”.

Generic TVs

If your TV manufacturer isn’t mentioned in this list, then you will have to take the general approach. To begin with, press the Home or Settings button on your Remote. Then search either the “HDMI”, “CEC”, or the “HDMI-CEC” option and enable it.

So with this, we conclude the guide on the steps to enable HDMI-CEC on your TV. We have tried to incorporate most of the TV brands on this list. With that said, if you have any queries concerning the aforementioned instructions, let us know in the comments section below. Rounding off, here are some iPhone Tips and Tricks, PC tips and tricks, and Android Tips and Tricks that you should check out as well.