Enable HDMI-CEC on professional displays
HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) lets devices connected over HDMI control each other: a media player can switch the display on and off, and the display can switch to the input of the device that has just powered up. When a signageOS-powered media player (for example BrightSign, Raspberry Pi, Linux, Windows, or ChromeOS) drives a professional display over HDMI, CEC is what makes display power control work without an RS-232 or LAN connection to the display.
Professional displays usually ship with CEC disabled, and every vendor hides it under its own brand name. This guide lists the name and the menu path for each supported brand.
Before you start
- CEC works only on HDMI inputs. DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, and most OPS slots do not carry CEC.
- Use a full HDMI cable. Some cheap cables, adapters, extenders, splitters, and matrix switchers do not pass the CEC line (pin 13).
- CEC must be enabled on both sides: on the display (this guide) and on the player. The signageOS Core App for Raspberry Pi and Linux includes CEC support; on other players, enable CEC in the player's own settings if it offers the option.
- Deep-standby or eco power modes on the display usually switch the CEC receiver off, so the display cannot be woken. Where the display offers it, use the networked standby, Reactive, Quick start, or Normal power mode (see the brand notes below).
- If several CEC-capable sources share one display, keep CEC enabled only on the one that should control the display. Two CEC controllers on one HDMI bus cause random input switching and power toggling.
- Menu labels below come from the vendors' user manuals. The exact wording can differ between firmware versions and regions — if a path does not match, search your model's manual for the label from the table.
Quick reference
| Brand | Name in the menu | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| BenQ | HDMI CEC / HDMI with One Wire / HDMI Control | Settings → Display → Advanced settings (Android 13); Settings → Device → Display (Android 8); OSD → Advanced option (ST02S); Setting (legacy SL/IL) |
| Hisense | HDMI CEC / HDMI with One Wire / HDMI Control | Setting → Signal management (DM66D, GM50D); Device Management (B4E31T generation); Device Preferences → Inputs (WF series) |
| LG webOS Signage | SIMPLINK Setup | Settings → General → Advanced Setting |
| NEC / Sharp NEC | CEC | MENU → INPUT → ADVANCED (M, ME, MA, P, C-Q series); MENU → CONTROL (older V, C, P series); Setup → HDMI Settings (E series) |
| Panasonic | HDMI-CEC control / CEC | Setup → HDMI-CEC settings (SQ1, SQ2H, EQ1, EQ2, SF2, BQ1); Setup (CQ1, CQ2); Display Settings → System Settings → More… (SQE1, SQE2, CQE1, CQE2) |
| Philips (PPDS) | HDMI with One Wire | OSD → Advanced option |
| Samsung SSSP / Tizen | Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) | Menu → System → General |
| Sharp | HDMI CEC LINK / CEC | MENU → SETUP (PN-HW, PN-HS, PN-HY); Setup → HDMI Settings (PN-HE, PN-HC); not available on OAP models |
| Sony BRAVIA Professional | BRAVIA Sync control | Settings → External inputs → BRAVIA Sync settings |
| TCL | HDMI control / T-Link | Settings → Channels & Inputs → External Inputs → External devices control (CEC) (Google TV); Settings → System → T-Link (older Android TV) |
| Vestel | CEC | Settings → System → More |
BenQ
The label and location depend on the generation:
| Model line | Path |
|---|---|
| SL04, SH04, ST04 (Android 13) | Settings → Display → Advanced settings → HDMI CEC → On |
| ST02 (ST4302–ST8602), IL02 (IL4301, IL5501) (Android 8) | Settings → Device → Display → HDMI CEC → On |
| ST02S (ST4302S –ST8602S) | Remote MENU → Advanced option → HDMI with One Wire → On (Power On) or On (Power On & Power Off) |
| SL, IL (legacy OSD) | Setting → HDMI Control → On |
note
The user manuals for SL02K (SL4302K, SL5502K, SL6502K), ST4301K, and ST430K do not document any CEC menu item, even though the spec sheets list CEC. If you cannot find it on your model, use the signal-based wake option instead: Source wake up / Wake on source (under Startup settings) turns the display on when a source appears on the input.
Keep Power switch set to On or Last so the display comes back after a mains outage.
Hisense
| Model line | Path |
|---|---|
| DM66D, GM50D (Android 10/11) | Remote SETTING → Signal management → HDMI CEC → CEC switch → On. Sub-options (available once CEC switch is On): Standby control, Automatic power-on, Remote control |
| WF series window-facing displays (Android TV style UI) | Settings → Device Preferences → Inputs → HDMI Control → On. Enable Device auto power off and TV auto power on as needed |
| B4E31T generation (Android 8) | Remote MENU → Device Management → HDMI with One Wire → ON |
| B4E30T | No CEC. Use HDMI Wake On instead |
- CEC switch is Off by default on DM66D and GM50D.
- On DM66D and GM50D there is no CEC option for a source waking the display. Waking the display from a source relies on Automatic wake-up (signal based, On by default). No signal standby (default 10 minutes) still puts the display to sleep when the source stops output.
LG webOS Signage
LG calls CEC SIMPLINK. The signage OSD item is SIMPLINK Setup; the consumer TV label "SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)" does not appear on signage.
| webOS Signage version | Path |
|---|---|
| webOS 3.2, 4.x, 6.x (webOS 8 assumed the same) | Settings → General → Advanced Setting → SIMPLINK Setup → On |
| webOS 3.0 | Hold SETTINGS on the remote for 5 seconds, enter the installation password (default 0000) → Signage Setup → SIMPLINK Setup → On |
Related options in the same menu:
- Device ID — CEC logical address the display responds to (All to E). Keep All.
- Standby — which direction the CEC standby command is used: All (send and receive), Send Only, Receive Only, Off. Keep All so the player can put the display into standby.
Notes:
- SIMPLINK and Auto Sensing (automatic input switching in the Installation Menu) cannot be on at the same time; enabling SIMPLINK sets Auto Sensing to Disable.
- On models with HCEC Setup in the Installation Menu (hospitality), CEC Mode must be Default; HCEC replaces SIMPLINK.
- Behavior after a mains outage is controlled by General → Power → Power On Status (PWR / STD / LST), not by CEC.
- The webOS 6 signage box (WP series) has Display Power Sync to control the display connected to its HDMI OUT — the display must have CEC enabled.
NEC / Sharp NEC (MultiSync)
| Model line | Path |
|---|---|
| M, ME, MA, P, C-Q series (M431, ME431, MA431, P435, C651Q, and similar) | MENU → INPUT → ADVANCED → CEC → MODE1 (or MODE2), then run SEARCH DEVICE |
| Older V, C, P series (V404, V554, P404, P484, C431, and similar) | MENU → CONTROL → CEC → ON |
| E series (E328–E658) | MENU → Setup → HDMI Settings → CEC → On, then Device list → search |
MODE1 and MODE2 both enable CEC; they differ only in which remote control buttons are passed through to the source.
Related options in the same submenu:
- AUTO TURN OFF (named POWER CONTROL LINK on P and MA series) — the display's standby also puts CEC sources into standby.
- AUDIO RECEIVER — ARC on HDMI1.
- SEARCH DEVICE — lists CEC devices and lets you switch to them.
Notes:
- CEC is available on the HDMI inputs only. On Open Modular Platform models with a Raspberry Pi Compute Module in the slot, the same CEC item applies: the display decodes the IR remote and forwards CEC commands to the Compute Module. Compute Module power is controlled separately under SLOT → COMPUTE MODULE → POWER SETTING (AUTO POWER UP, AUTO SHUTDOWN); by default the module stays powered when the display enters standby.
- Set PROTECT → POWER SAVE SETTINGS → MODE to NORMAL. In LOW POWER the display does not detect signal and does not wake from external control.
- If the display goes into standby unexpectedly, a CEC source is sending standby. Fix the source or set CEC to OFF.
Panasonic
Panasonic professional displays use the plain name HDMI-CEC; VIERA Link is a consumer TV name and is not supported.
| Model line | Path |
|---|---|
| SQ1, SQ1H, SQ2H, EQ1, EQ2, SF2, BQ1 | Setup → HDMI-CEC settings → HDMI-CEC control → Enable. Then set Link function: Display → Device (Power off or Power off / on) and Device → Display (Power on or Power off / on). Turn all devices on, then power the display off and on |
| CQ1, CQ2 | Setup → HDMI-CEC control → On |
| SQE1, SQE2, CQE1, CQE2 (Android / HTML5 platform) | Display Settings → System Settings → More… → CEC → Enabled, and CEC Auto Power On → Enabled |
Notes:
- With both Link function items left at Disable, the display ignores CEC power commands. Standby with a link function active draws more power (power indicator orange or purple).
- Schedule play mode forces HDMI-CEC settings to Disable. Input lock blocks CEC input switching.
- SQE/CQE: set Signage Settings → Power Up Settings → Power Mode to Reactive so the display can be woken. Hold 0 on the remote for 3 seconds to switch the remote between the display and the CEC device.
Philips (PPDS)
The path is the same on all Android generations (BDL4050D, BDL4051D, BDL4150D, BDL3550Q, BDL4550D, BDL3650Q, BDL4650D, and similar):
- Press MENU on the remote to open the OSD (not the Android Settings app).
- Go to Advanced option → HDMI with One Wire → On (default Off).
- Optionally set HDMI One Wire Power Off → On so that the display's power button also puts the connected source into standby (Android 8 and newer).
HDMI with One Wire is the only CEC control on Philips displays; there is no CEC item under Settings → Signage Display. Auto signal detection (Off / All / Failover) in the same menu handles signal-based input switching.
Samsung SSSP / Tizen
The path is the same from SSSP 2 through Tizen 7:
Menu → System → General → Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) → On
On SSSP 2 and SSSP 3 (D and E series) the Anynet+ menu has two more items: Auto Turn Off → Yes (display power off also switches connected devices off) and Search for Devices.
Notes:
- Anynet+ is not under System → External Device Manager — that is the consumer TV path. On signage that menu only holds Input Device Manager and Device Connect Manager.
- With Anynet+ On, a loop-out (daisy-chain) connection may malfunction.
- If several CEC-capable sources are connected, turn CEC off on all but one.
- System → General → HDMI Hot Plug adds a power-on delay for HDMI sources; System → Auto Source Switching is a separate, signal-based feature.
- After re-plugging the HDMI cable, run Search for Devices again or power-cycle the display. Some HDMI cables do not support Anynet+.
Sharp
| Model line | Path |
|---|---|
| PN-HW, PN-HS, PN-HY | MENU → SETUP → HDMI CEC LINK → AUTO |
| PN-H701, PN-UH | SETUP → INPUT SELECT → HDMI SETTING → HDMI CEC LINK → AUTO |
| PN-HE, PN-HC (NEC-based OSD) | MENU → Setup → HDMI Settings → CEC → On, then Device list |
| PN-M, PN-P (rebadged NEC M and P series) | See NEC / Sharp NEC |
| Sharp OAP Android (PN-B, PN-HB, PN-HM) | No CEC menu is documented. Use RS-232C or LAN for power control |
Notes:
- HDMI CEC LINK = AUTO enables input auto-switch when the source starts playback and remote pass-through; there is no separate power-link option.
- Set POWER SAVE MODE to OFF so the display stays in networked standby, which can be woken via LAN, RS-232C, and HDMI CEC. With POWER SAVE MODE ON the display drops into deep standby and cannot be woken by CEC.
Sony BRAVIA Professional
Sony calls CEC BRAVIA Sync.
| Model line | Path |
|---|---|
| FW-BZ-H, FW-BZ-J, FW-BZ-L (Android TV / Google TV) | Settings → (Watching TV or Channels & Inputs) → External inputs → BRAVIA Sync settings → BRAVIA Sync control → On |
| FW-BZ-P (Google TV) | Settings → Inputs → External inputs → BRAVIA Sync settings → BRAVIA Sync control → On |
Related options under BRAVIA Sync settings: Auto devices off (display off → source off), Auto TV on (source on → display on), BRAVIA Sync device list, Device control keys. Some regional firmware labels the menu HDMI CEC Settings → CEC instead.
Notes:
- Configure BRAVIA Sync while the display is in Normal mode or Pro settings mode, before you run Start Pro mode — Pro mode can restrict access to Settings.
- Pro settings → Wake-up on signal is a separate, signal-based feature (turns the display on and switches input when HDMI is connected) and does not need CEC.
- Sony documents BRAVIA Sync as compatible with Sony devices, but recommends CEC commands to sync display power with a set-top box. The supported CEC command set is listed in the HDMI input specification of each model.
TCL
| Model line | Path |
|---|---|
| Google TV (2023 and newer) | Settings → Channels & Inputs → External Inputs (or Inputs) → External devices control (CEC) → HDMI control → On. Also enable Power on the TV in sync and Device standby in sync |
| Android TV (2022) | Settings → System → Control Other Devices (CEC) → HDMI Control → On; Auto power on, Auto standby |
| Older Android TV | Settings → System → T-Link → On; Auto power on, Auto Standby |
| Commercial signage (TMN, TBN series) | The product manual does not document a CEC option. Check Settings → All Settings for one of the paths above; if none is present, the model does not expose CEC |
Vestel
| Model line | Path |
|---|---|
| PR, XD, PN, PF, XN series and other Vestel signage OSD | Settings → System → More → CEC → Enabled, and CEC Auto Power On → Enabled (where present) |
| Newer Android signage (DA series) | Display Settings → System Settings → More → CEC → Enabled |
Related options:
- CEC Auto Power On — a connected source turns the display on and switches the input. Marked optional in the manual; not present on every model or firmware.
- CEC RC Passthrough (Quick Menu) — when On, the remote controls the source. Hold 0 for 3 seconds, or set it to Off, to get the display remote back.
- Signage Settings → Power Up Settings → Power Mode — keep Reactive (or Quick Standby Enabled on older firmware). In Eco the display is in deep standby and cannot be woken by CEC, RS-232, or LAN.
- HDMI Wake Up is a separate, 5 V signal-based wake on HDMI1 and HDMI2 that works without CEC.
Verify the setup
- Connect the player to an HDMI input and select that input on the display.
- Switch the display off and on from signageOS — for example with a Proprietary Timer — and check that the display follows.
- Power-cycle the display once after enabling CEC; several vendors require it before the device list is refreshed.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| The display does not wake up from the player | Display power mode (deep standby / Eco / LOW POWER — see the brand notes), the direction options (LG Standby, Panasonic Device → Display, Sony Auto TV on, Hisense Automatic power-on), and the HDMI cable |
| The display turns off by itself | Another CEC device on the bus is sending standby. Disable CEC on the other sources, or turn off AUTO TURN OFF / Auto devices off / Display → Device |
| The display switches input on its own | One Touch Play from a second CEC source. Disable CEC on that source or disable the display's auto source switching |
| The display remote stopped working or controls the player | Remote pass-through is active (Vestel CEC RC Passthrough, Panasonic SQE/CQE, NEC MODE2). Hold 0 for 3 seconds on Vestel and Panasonic, or set pass-through off |
| The CEC option is missing | The model does not expose CEC (Sharp OAP, Hisense B4E30T, some BenQ). Use the signal-based HDMI Wake / Source wake up option, or RS-232 / LAN control |