HDMI-CEC, short for consumer electronics control, is a feature built into the HDMI standard that allows connected devices, such as a television, a games console, a streaming stick or a soundbar, to send basic control commands to one another over the same HDMI cable used for video and audio.
In practice, HDMI-CEC is what allows turning on a games console to also switch the television on and change to the correct input automatically, or lets a single remote control adjust the volume on a soundbar even though the remote itself is designed for the television. Manufacturers often give HDMI-CEC their own brand name, which can make it less obvious that the same underlying feature is at work across different devices.
HDMI-CEC needs to be enabled on each device involved and can behave inconsistently between different brands, so turning it off is a common troubleshooting step if devices are switching inputs or powering on unexpectedly. Our connections and setup page covers how to configure it alongside other HDMI features.
