HDMI-CEC lets all the devices connected to your Samsung TV work together more efficiently, with a few quirks to be aware of.
Turn off just one setting on your Samsung TV, and it can suddenly seem a lot less smart. Turning on your game console will no longer wake the screen, your soundbar will no longer respond to the TV remote, and switching inputs becomes a game of finding the last remote you left between the sofa cushions. Much of this behavior has to do with Anynet+, which is Samsung’s name for a feature called HDMI-CEC.
HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) allows compatible devices to send control signals via HDMI. This means your Samsung remote can control another device (like your soundbar), while activating a streaming box will automatically turn on the TV and switch it to the appropriate input. HDMI still carries audio and video; CEC is just one feature that works on it.
Most Samsung smart TVs manufactured after 2008 support this feature. Anynet+ is usually enabled by default on newer Samsung TVs, so you may not have noticed it. It’s also easy to disable it by mistake by exploring the Settings menu.
How to Make Sure HDMI-CEC is Enabled on a Samsung TV
For newer Samsung TVs, press the button Home on your remote control, then go to Settings > All settings > Connection > External device manager. Make sure Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) is on. If your TV does not have Connection menu, look under Settings > General > External Device Manager. Samsung has moved this setting across all models over the years, so it may be in another location. If you still can’t find it, check the TV manual or support page.
That’s the whole setup on the TV side, but what’s on the other end of the HDMI cable needs to cooperate too. The connected device must support HDMI-CEC and, if it has its own CEC setting, this must be enabled. Unsurprisingly, manufacturers haven’t been able to agree on what to call this “standardized” feature, so you’ll see different names. LG uses SIMPLINK, Sony uses BRAVIA Sync or Control for HDMI and consoles or streaming boxes may give it another name. For example, on PS5 the option is under Settings > System > HDMI > Enable HDMI device link.
For CEC to work properly, the connected device must be turned on or in standby mode. Samsung says it can take up to two minutes to establish the initial “handshake.” Once done, you should be able to control the connected device with your TV remote and enjoy automatic input switching. Turning off a compatible device (or putting it into standby mode) will have the same effect on your TV.
Should you leave HDMI-CEC enabled?
Usually, yes. HDMI-CEC allows a set of devices to act more like a single entertainment system, reducing the number of remote controls and manual switching of inputs you need. A console can turn on the TV, a compatible soundbar can turn on or off with it, and your Samsung remote can control supported playback or volume functions.
However, this convenience can sometimes be the problem. Samsung says that by default, its TVs switch to an HDMI source when the connected device signals that it’s turned on. For this reason, a faulty or unexpected CEC command can result in unwanted input changes. HDMI-CEC is worth checking if your TV turns on by itself, keeps switching to another HDMI device, or suddenly stops controlling another device. First, make sure CEC is enabled on both devices. Then reinstall or replace the HDMI cable, reboot the hardware, and install any available firmware updates.
You may also want to disable the feature for any devices where unwanted shutdowns are a problem, such as your gaming console accidentally going to sleep during a ranked match. Compatibility is not 100% consistent between manufacturers, so two products that support HDMI-CEC may not support all controls equally. There are also peripheral limitations, although you’ll probably need an HDMI switcher before using them. Anynet+ can control up to 12 compatible devices, including up to three of the same type, but only one home theater system.
There is one important caveat if you are using a soundbar or receiver. HDMI eARC can only work if Anynet+ is enabled, so disabling CEC to solve an annoying input switching problem may soon lead you to solve a completely different audio problem.
