HDMICEC

HDMICEC stands for HDMI Consumer Electronics Control, an extension of the HDMI standard that enables compatible devices connected via HDMI to communicate and be controlled from a single remote or control system. The protocol operates over the HDMI link using a shared control bus, allowing devices to exchange basic commands and status information without additional cables.

The primary purpose of HDMICEC is to simplify operation of a home theater or AV setup. Common features include one-touch play and system standby, remote-control pass-through, and system audio control that forwards volume commands to a connected audio device. Commands are typically broadcast to all connected HDMI-CEC devices, with each device recognizing and acting on commands addressed to it. Devices can also report simple status changes, such as power state or input selection, to the controlling device.

Interoperability and branding vary. While most major brands implement HDMI-CEC, manufacturers often market the feature under different names (for example, Bravia Sync, Simplink, Anynet+, System Audio Control). Because implementations are not always perfectly aligned, some commands may not work across all brands or devices, or may require enabling CEC in each device’s settings. To use HDMICEC effectively, users typically enable the feature in the TV and connected devices and ensure the HDMI cables support the connection without adapters that block CEC signals.

HDMICEC has been part of HDMI since the early iterations of the standard and remains a widely supported yet optional feature for simplifying control of multi-device setups.