How to enable HDMI-CEC and ARC on your TV

HDMI® is well known for its ability to deliver audio and video over a single connection from devices like Blu-ray™ players, game consoles, and Roku® streaming players. HDMI also includes a couple lesser-known features called HDMI-CEC and ARC that use two-way communication over the same connection to simplify how you use and set up your entertainment system. However, before you can take advantage of these benefits it is important you check the settings on your TV and make sure the features are enabled. It is not uncommon for them to be disabled by default.

This article provides more details about HDMI-CEC and ARC, and outlines steps to enable the features for several common TV brands.

What is HDMI-CEC?

CEC, or Consumer Electronics Control, allows commands to be shared between devices over the same HDMI connection as audio and video, letting you control common functions of different devices without having to juggle remotes. For example, with CEC enabled you can use your TV remote to adjust the volume of a connected audio device such as a Roku Streambar®, Roku Streambar Pro, or Roku Smart Soundbar. Or, with your Roku remote you can easily turn your TV on and off without needing to pick up another remote.

Note: CEC does not allow control of all aspects of every device. For some functions, you may still need to use the original remote for a device.

What is ARC?

ARC, or Audio Return Channel, lets your TV send audio to an external audio device such as a Roku Streambar, Roku Streambar Pro, or Roku Smart Soundbar without the need for additional cables. This allows audio from your TV's tuner and devices connected to your TV such as a Blu-ray player, game console, cable/satellite set-top box to be enjoyed on an audio device other than your TV's built-in speakers. To use this feature, the audio device must be connected to the "HDMI ARC" or "ARC" port, which is common on smart TVs manufactured in 2009 or later.

Note: Consult the user manual or online documentation for your TV if you are not sure your TV has an ARC port.

What is eARC?

eARC, or enhanced Audio Return Channel, is the next version of ARC and supports high-bitrate audio formats. Not all devices that support ARC also support eARC and eARC is not backwards compatible with ARC. Learn about about eARC at hdmi.org.

How to enable CEC and ARC

Enabling CEC and ARC is different for every TV brand. Some have separate settings for each, while others combine the features into one setting that turns ARC and CEC on or off at the same time. When looking through your TV's menus for these features, understand that manufacturers may not refer to them by name, but rather as part of a branded trade name. In general, you can often look in a "settings" menu for CEC-related settings, sometimes in a "system" or "advanced" submenu. ARC-related settings may be located in the same place, or they may appear separately in an "audio" or "sound" menu.

Each brand in the list below includes the trade name(s) in parenthesis that the manufacturer typically uses when referring to the features in their TV menus. You can refer to the sample instructions that accompany some of the TV brands, but the steps may vary from model to model, and may change when TV software is updated. When in doubt, refer to the user manual or online documentation for your specific make and model.

Note: The Roku Streambar SE does not support eARC. You may need to disable the eARC option on your TV before it works. Consult the user manual or online documentation for your TV for help with changing eARC settings.

Amazon Fire TV

CEC steps:

  • Press the Home button on your Fire TV remote

  • Go to Settings on the main menu

  • Select Display & Sounds

  • Scroll down and select HDMI CEC Device Control

  • Press the select button to turn it On

ARC steps:

  • Press the Home button on your Fire TV remote

  • Select Settings

  • Choose Display & Sounds

  • Select HDMI-CEC Device Control

  • Turn ARC/eARC to On

Hisense Google TV

CEC steps:

  • Press the Home button on your Hisense remote control

  • Open Settings

  • Go to Channels & Inputs or System

  • Select Inputs

  • Toggle on HDMI Control or HDMI CEC

ARC steps:

  • Press the Home button on your Hisense remote control

  • Open Settings

  • Choose Audio Output

  • Change the output from Auto or Internal Speakers to ARC.

    • If the ARC option is grayed out, ensure HDMI-CEC is fully enabled first and restart the TV.

TCL Google TV / Android TV (Newer Models)

CEC steps:

  • Press the Settings button on your remote

  • Select Settings or All Settings

  • Go to Channels & Inputs

  • Select Inputs

  • Choose External Devices Control (sometimes labeled as HDMI CC or CEC)

  • Toggle on options like Power on the TV in sync, HDMI control, or Device in standby sync

ARC steps:

  • Press the Settings or Home button on your remote

  • Go to Settings or Display and Sound

  • Select Audio Output and ensure HDMI ARC is turned on

  • Go back to inputs/channels to make sure HDMI-CEC (or T-Link) is enabled so the TV and soundbar communicate properly

TCL Android TV (Older Models with T-Link)

CEC steps:

  • Press the Home or Settings button on your remote

  • Navigate to System

  • Look for T-Link (TCL's name for HDMI-CEC)

  • Select T-Link and toggle it On

  • Enable related features like System Audio Control or System Standby

ARC steps:

  • Press the Settings or Home button on your remote

  • Go to Settings or Display and Sound

  • Select Audio Output and ensure HDMI ARC is turned On

  • Go back to inputs/channels to make sure HDMI-CEC (or T-Link) is enabled so the TV and soundbar communicate properly

Hitachi (HDMI-CEC)

CEC steps:

  • Press MENU on your Hitachi remote

  • Use the right and left directional buttons to find the Setup submenu

  • Use the up and down directional buttons to highlight HDMI-CEC

  • Press SELECT

  • Select On to enable CEC

ARC steps:

  • Perform Hitachi CEC steps 1 and 2

  • Use the up and down directional buttons to highlight ARC

  • Press SELECT

  • Select On to enable ARC

LG (SIMPLINK)

Note: SIMPLINK must be enabled using the CEC steps before you can enable ARC

CEC steps:

  • Hold Settings on your LG remote for 5 seconds to open the Settings menu

  • Select All Settings from the bottom right corner of your display

  • Select General from the left menu

  • Select SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)

  • Set SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) to On, and confirm

ARC steps:

  • Perform LG CEC steps 1 and 2
  • Select Sound from the left menu
  • Select Sound Out
  • Select Audio Out (Optical/HDMI ARC)
  • Set Digital Sound Out to Auto

Panasonic (HDAVI Control, EZ Sync, or VIERA Link for CEC)

CEC steps:

  • Press MENU on your Panasonic remote

  • Use the directional buttons to highlight Setup

  • Press OK

  • Select HDMI control

  • Select CEC function

  • Select ON

ARC steps:

  • Perform Panasonic CEC steps 1 through 3.

  • Select VIERA Link settings

  • Press OK

  • Highlight On

  • Press OK

Phillips (EasyLink)

CEC steps:

  • Press Home on your Phillips remote

  • Use the directional buttons to highlight Setup

  • Press OK

  • Select TV settings

  • Select Installation, followed by Preferences

  • Select EasyLink

  • Set Master EasyLink to On

  • Set Auto TV on to On

  • Set RC key forwarding to On

ARC steps:

  • Perform Phillips CEC steps 1 through 6

  • Set HDMI-ARC to On

Roku TV™ (CEC) - includes multiple brands

CEC steps:

  • Press Homehome-with-white.jpg  on your Roku remote

  • Scroll and select Settings

  • Select System

  • Select Control other devices (CEC)

  • Scroll and highlight System audio control

  • Highlight 1-touch play

  • Check the box to enable 1-touch play

ARC steps:

  • Perform Phillips CEC steps 1 through 6
  • Set HDMI-ARC to On

Samsung (Anynet+)

CEC steps:

  • Press Home on your Samsung remote

  • Use the directional pad on your remote to navigate and select Settings

  • Select System

  • Select Expert Settings

  • Select Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)

  • Select On

Alternate CEC steps:
  • Perform Samsung CEC steps 1 and 2
  • Select General
  • Select External Device Manager
  • Enable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)

ARC steps:
  • ARC is enabled automatically on Samsung TVs when Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) is enabled.

Sharp (AQUOS Link)

CEC steps:

  • Press MENU on your Sharp remote
  • Select System Options
  • Select AQUOS Link Setup
  • Set AQUOS Link Control to Off

ARC steps:

  • Perform Sharp CEC steps 1 through 3
  • Set Audio Return Channel to Auto

Sony (BRAVIA Sync)

CEC steps:

  • Press Home on your Sony remote

  • Use the directional buttons to highlight Settings

  • Press OK

  • Select Watching TV

  • Select External inputs

  • Select BRAVIA Sync settings

  • Enable BRAVIA Sync control

ARC steps:

  • Perform Sony CEC steps 1 through 3
  • Select Display & Sound
  • Select Audio output
  • Set eARC mode to Auto

Toshiba (CE-Link or Regza Link)

CEC steps:

  • Press MENU on your Toshiba remote
  • Use the directional buttons to highlight Options
  • Press OK
  • Select HDMI CEC Control Setup
  • Set HDMI CEC Control to On
  • Set TV Auto Power to On
  • Set Auto Standby to On
  • Set Amplifier Control to On

ARC steps:

  • Perform Toshiba CEC steps 1 through 4
  • Set Initial Speaker Setting to Receiver

Vizio (CEC)

CEC steps:

  • Press MENU on your Vizio remote

  • Select System

  • Select CEC
  • Use the arrow buttons on your remote and set CEC Function to Enable

ARC steps:

  • Perform Vizio CEC steps 1 through 4
  • Set System Audio Control to On
  • Select Device Discovery and wait for your TV to discover your Roku device

Last updated at 9/22/2026 4:18:43 PM

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