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?
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.
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
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
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
Perform Phillips CEC steps 1 through 6
Set HDMI-ARC to On
Roku TV™ (CEC) - includes multiple brands
CEC steps:
Press Home
on your Roku remoteScroll 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
- 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
- Perform Samsung CEC steps 1 and 2
- Select General
- Select External Device Manager
- Enable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 5/4/2026 3:33:45 PM
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