PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf the TV turns off but your AV receiver stays on, the usual cause is a broken HDMI-CEC power link—not a failed receiver. Enable CEC on both devices, turn on the receiver’s separate standby-synchronization option, verify the ARC/eARC wiring, then reset and isolate the HDMI chain. The steps below also cover receivers that wake themselves, switch inputs, or work only intermittently.
Quick fix
- Enable the TV’s HDMI-CEC feature.
- Enable HDMI Control or CEC on the receiver.
- Set the receiver’s power-link setting to All or On while testing.
- Connect the TV’s labeled ARC/eARC port to the receiver’s HDMI OUT/MONITOR port labeled ARC/eARC.
- Turn off and unplug every HDMI device, then reconnect and test with only the TV and receiver.
CEC names vary: LG calls it SIMPLINK, Sony calls it BRAVIA Sync or Control for HDMI, and Samsung calls it Anynet+.
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What HDMI-CEC controls—and what ARC/eARC does
HDMI-CEC is the control channel carried over HDMI. It can exchange standby, wake, input-switching, volume, playback and system-audio commands. ARC and eARC are audio-return features that send sound from the TV to a receiver or soundbar. They are related but not identical: a system can pass TV audio while power synchronization is disabled, or lose power control while audio still works.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSome manufacturers require HDMI Control for ARC/eARC, TV-remote volume, or automatic TV-audio switching. Turning CEC off can therefore remove those conveniences. The exact dependency is model-specific; Yamaha describes HDMI Control as the basis for linked operation and ARC settings, while Denon documents ARC and Power Off Control under HDMI Control (Yamaha; Denon).
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Identify the symptom first
- TV off, receiver on: CEC is disabled, the receiver’s power-link option is off or input-limited, or the standby command is not reaching it.
- Receiver turns back on: another HDMI device may be sending a wake or input command; network standby can also matter.
- Receiver off, TV on: the TV may have CEC disabled or may not recognize the receiver’s command.
- Failure only with TV apps: investigate ARC/eARC and TV-audio switching separately from standby synchronization.
- Power works but volume does not: CEC or system-audio control is only partially enabled.
- Intermittent operation: suspect stale handshake state, firmware, cable/port instability or another HDMI device.
- Dark display but unit still active: display dimming or eco mode is not the same as receiver standby.
Step 1: Enable CEC on the TV
LG
On newer webOS models, try Settings → All Settings → General → Devices or External Devices → HDMI Settings → SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC). Older models commonly use Settings → All Settings → Connection → Device Connection Settings → SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC). Some older sets also show Auto Power Sync or Auto Power. LG notes that names and locations vary by model and webOS version; disabling SIMPLINK removes external-device control (LG guide).
Sony
A current-style path is Quick Settings → Settings → Channels & Inputs → External inputs → HDMI CEC Settings → CEC. Depending on the model, enable BRAVIA Sync control or Control for HDMI, and review Auto TV on, Auto power off, TV auto power and the device list (Sony menu guide). Sony states that disabling HDMI CEC prevents an attached compatible device from automatically turning off with the TV (Sony help).
Samsung
Samsung brands CEC as Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC). Depending on Tizen generation, look under Settings → Connection or External Device Manager, then Anynet+. Use the manual for your exact model rather than copying a path from another TV generation. Samsung’s help information also associates ARC with Anynet+ on supported sets (device help).
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Search the manual for HDMI-CEC, HDMI Link, Device Link, System Link, TV Control or a similar name. Turn on both device discovery and power synchronization when they are separate options.
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Step 2: Set the receiver’s power synchronization
Denon and Marantz-style menus
Open Setup → Video → HDMI Setup. Set HDMI Control: On, then test Power Off Control: All. Denon also offers Video (power down only when an HDMI/video source is active) and Off (independent receiver power). TV Audio Switching controls automatic selection of the TV Audio input and is separate from power-off behavior. Power Off Control is available only when HDMI Control is enabled (Denon manual; Denon reference).
Yamaha receivers
Use Setup → HDMI, set HDMI Control: On, and choose Standby Sync: On for unconditional TV-to-receiver standby synchronization. Auto synchronizes only under specified signal or TV-audio conditions; Off prevents the TV from controlling receiver standby. Standby Sync works only with HDMI Control enabled (Yamaha settings; Yamaha modes).
Other brands
| Brand or ecosystem | Likely labels |
|---|---|
| Denon/Marantz | HDMI Control, Power Off Control |
| Yamaha | HDMI Control, Standby Sync |
| Sony | Control for HDMI, BRAVIA Sync |
| Onkyo/Pioneer | HDMI CEC, HDMI Control, Auto Power Down, TV Control |
| Generic receivers | CEC, HDMI Link, System Link, TV Control, Auto Standby |
Search the receiver manual for “power off,” “standby sync,” “CEC,” “HDMI control” or “TV control.”
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Step 3: Verify the HDMI wiring
TV HDMI ARC/eARC port
│
└── Receiver HDMI OUT / MONITOR OUT (ARC/eARC)
- Use the TV socket explicitly labeled ARC or eARC; ordinary HDMI inputs may not return audio or carry the expected control path.
- Use the receiver output labeled ARC/eARC or MONITOR.
- For diagnosis, connect only the TV and receiver first.
- Sources connected to the TV and sources connected to the receiver can both participate in the CEC network, but the receiver is usually the central device when sources plug into it.
Sony’s ARC/eARC guidance also warns that third-party devices can interfere with Control for HDMI and BRAVIA Sync (Sony troubleshooting).
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Step 4: Reset the HDMI handshake
- Turn off the TV, receiver, streaming boxes, consoles, disc players and cable/satellite boxes.
- Unplug the TV and receiver from AC power.
- Disconnect HDMI cables from both ends.
- Leave the devices disconnected from power for several minutes.
- Reconnect only the TV and receiver through the ARC/eARC connection.
- Enable CEC/HDMI Control on both devices.
- Enable ARC/eARC and select the receiver as the TV’s audio output.
- Set Power Off Control or Standby Sync to All or On, then test.
- Reconnect other HDMI devices one at a time, testing after each addition.
Denon advises resetting connected devices after changing HDMI Control settings (Denon guidance); Sony likewise recommends powering both devices down during ARC/eARC diagnosis.
Step 5: Find a device sending unwanted commands
If the two-device test works, reconnect each source individually. The device that makes the fault return is the leading suspect. On it, disable HDMI-CEC, device control, automatic wake, “control TV and receiver,” Quick Start or similar options, and check for firmware updates. Streaming players and consoles are plausible suspects, not guaranteed causes.
Sony identifies a CEC-less cable or adapter as a possible workaround when a third-party device cannot be configured, but it changes control behavior (Sony guidance).
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Step 6: Check cables, ports and firmware
- Reseat both HDMI plugs firmly.
- Try a known-good replacement cable after confirming the correct ARC/eARC ports.
- Use another compatible port only if it supports the required ARC/eARC feature.
- Update firmware on the TV, receiver and connected HDMI devices.
- Do not assume an HDMI 2.1 cable is required for ordinary CEC power control; cable requirements depend on the video and audio formats in use.
If video and audio are stable but only power control fails, a cable is possible but settings or another device remain equally plausible. If video, audio and CEC all fail, wiring, port selection, handshake state or hardware becomes more likely. LG recommends checking firmware when power synchronization problems persist (LG troubleshooting).
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Preserve ARC/eARC while stopping unwanted power behavior
First re-enable CEC on the TV and receiver, then disable it only on the offending source device. This preserves one-remote volume, automatic switching and receiver wake-up where possible. If that source cannot disable CEC, a CEC-less adapter may stop its commands, but it can also remove desired control and may affect ARC/eARC-related behavior.
As a last resort, use optical audio or another non-CEC path. Optical can require separate volume control and may support fewer audio formats than eARC, so it is not a universal replacement.
When the receiver may be faulty
Contact the manufacturer when the receiver still ignores standby synchronization with only the TV connected, verified CEC and power-link settings, a known-good cable, current firmware and a complete power reset. Replacing the receiver or TV is not a first-line fix; prove the minimal setup fails before treating the hardware as defective.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should Power Off Control be set to All, Video, Auto or Off?
Use All on Denon for testing. Video limits shutdown to HDMI/video conditions, while Off deliberately prevents TV-linked standby. Yamaha’s comparable choices are On, Auto and Off; Auto is conditional.
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Will a new HDMI cable always fix CEC?
No. Reseat the existing cable and verify ports first. A replacement can help, but CEC settings, stale handshakes, firmware and another HDMI device are common alternatives.
Can I keep eARC while disabling power control?
Sometimes, but it depends on the model because some equipment ties ARC/eARC operation to HDMI Control. Prefer disabling CEC on the offending source rather than globally.
Is a CEC-less adapter safe?
It is a possible workaround for one misbehaving source, but it intentionally removes CEC commands and can cost automatic switching, one-remote volume or power features.
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