Here's What 'HDMI-CEC' Means (And If You Should Turn It On)

Home entertainment systems are absolutely loaded with features in this day and age. Some features are meant to make your movies and TV shows look better, like HDMI Enhanced, while others are meant to make your TV easier to use. If you really want to make the most of your TV and home entertainment system, then you're going to need to know which of these settings to make use of — and when. One setting that you might not know much about, but which you should seriously consider using, is HDMI-CEC.

Short for HDMI-Consumer Electronics Control, HDMI-CEC essentially creates a one-stop shop for controlling your TV and other interconnected home entertainment devices. This means you can control things like your gaming console, your sound bar, your TV, and other connected devices through the HDMI cables that run from your TV. This is great, as it allows you to more easily turn on devices, change the volume, and more.

There are, of course, some pros and cons to using HDMI-CEC. Depending on what you want to do with your system, you'll either find it a useful or annoying feature to deal with. For those who want a "one-touch" system that turns on everything, like their TV, soundbar, etc, then HDMI-CEC is a great addition to TVs.

Just like any feature on your TV, HDMI-CEC has a few problems you'll want to be aware of. This HDMI setting can cause a slew of different issues, including some possible command issues with certain devices. For example, if you have the feature turned on and the devices set to work with the same remote, sometimes turning off your TV when using your cable or satellite box will turn off both. However, the next time you turn those devices on, they'll assume you're picking back up right where you left off and turn on both devices. This means you'll need to turn the satellite box off if you aren't using it.

There isn't any kind of universal compatibility, either, so you'll need to be picky about which devices you get for your home entertainment system to make the most out of HDMI-CEC. Additionally, the feature has been known to cause some lag when using it, so you might end up with a more frustrating than helpful control setup. You also won't be able to completely make use of HDMI ARC's upgraded sound benefits, which is a shame.

There's also the fact that turning on HDMI-CEC can either be easy or really convoluted, depending on what TV brand you use. That's because different brands often use different names for options on their menus, as well as for HDMI-CEC itself. If you're looking to turn on HDMI-CEC, try searching up the name of your TV brand and looking for specific instructions that way. Most modern TVs should have HDMI-CEC, as the feature has been a staple in TVs since 2005, and it shouldn't matter what HDMI port you use.