Samsung TV CEC is Anynet+; turn it on in External Device Manager, then enable HDMI-CEC on each connected device.
A Samsung TV can pass power, input, and remote-control commands through HDMI when you know how to enable CEC on Samsung TV and the connected device. Samsung names the feature Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC), not plain CEC, so the setting is easy to miss if you search the menu for the wrong label.
The usual payoff is simple: one remote can turn on a streaming stick, control a soundbar, switch inputs, or power down a console setup. The setting only works when the other device also supports HDMI-CEC and uses an HDMI cable, so the TV toggle is only half of the setup.
How Do You Turn On Anynet+?
Samsung TV CEC turns on from External Device Manager. On many newer Samsung TVs, the menu is under Settings > All Settings > Connection > External Device Manager > Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC).
- Press Home on the Samsung remote.
- Open Settings. If your screen shows a gear icon, select it.
- Choose All Settings if that screen appears.
- Select Connection, then External Device Manager.
- Turn Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) on.
- Connect the streaming device, console, Blu-ray player, or soundbar with HDMI.
- Turn the connected device on and wait for the Samsung TV to detect it.
The toggle is on when Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) shows as enabled, and the connected HDMI device should appear under the TV’s source or connected-device screen.
Enabling CEC On Samsung TV: Menu Paths By Model
Samsung TV menus differ by model year, so the same Anynet+ setting can sit under Connection, General, or older System screens. The label to hunt for stays the same: Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC).
| Samsung TV Menu Style | Path To Try | When It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Newer smart TV layout | Settings > All Settings > Connection > External Device Manager | Recent Samsung smart TVs with a left-side settings list |
| General menu layout | Settings > General > External Device Manager | Many Samsung TVs that place device controls under General |
| Older smart TV layout | Settings > System > Expert Settings | Older sets where Anynet+ is not under Connection or General |
| Soundbar setup screen | Settings > Sound > Sound Output | Use after Anynet+ is on to choose HDMI ARC or eARC audio |
| Source screen | Home > Source | Use after setup to check whether the HDMI device appears |
| Universal Remote setup | Home > Source > Universal Remote | Use when CEC works for power but not all remote buttons |
| Device-side CEC menu | Device Settings > HDMI control option | Needed for Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and soundbars |
Samsung’s support page says Anynet+ must be enabled before some third-party remote features work, and it lists External Device Manager as the place to check. Samsung’s Anynet+ support notes also name an older System > Expert Settings location for older TVs.
What Anynet+ Actually Controls
Anynet+ lets HDMI devices send basic control signals to the Samsung TV and receive commands from the Samsung remote. Common wins include power control, automatic input switching, soundbar volume control, and simple playback buttons.
CEC does not turn every Samsung remote into a full replacement for every device remote. A streaming stick may accept arrows, select, back, play, and pause, while a console may only handle power and input switching.
- Streaming devices often need their own HDMI-CEC setting turned on.
- Soundbars usually need the TV’s HDMI ARC or eARC port, not a random HDMI port.
- Game consoles may have separate toggles for turning the TV on, following TV power, and switching inputs.
- AV receivers can work, but device chains are harder than direct HDMI connections.
A one-device test keeps the setup clear: connect only the device you want to control, enable Anynet+, restart both devices, then add the rest of the HDMI gear one at a time.
Why Does CEC Still Fail After It Is On?
CEC can fail after Anynet+ is on when the other device has HDMI-CEC disabled, the HDMI cable is weak, or another device in the HDMI chain is sending conflicting commands. The fastest fix is to test one direct HDMI connection before blaming the TV.
| Problem You See | Most Likely Cause | Fix To Try First |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung remote will not control the device | Device-side CEC is off | Open the device’s HDMI control setting and turn it on |
| Soundbar volume works, but no audio plays | Wrong HDMI port or sound output | Use HDMI ARC or eARC, then select HDMI audio output |
| TV changes inputs by itself | A console or streaming stick wakes and requests focus | Turn off that device’s auto input-switching option |
| TV powers on but will not power off the device | Power commands are only partly supported | Check the device’s separate power-control toggles |
| Anynet+ option is missing | Older menu layout or unsupported model | Check General or System screens, then update TV software |
| Controls work through the TV but not through a receiver | Receiver blocks or reshapes CEC commands | Connect the device directly to the TV for testing |
Soundbar And Console Notes
Soundbar CEC setup needs two settings: Anynet+ on the Samsung TV and HDMI control on the soundbar. For ARC or eARC, the HDMI cable must run from the TV’s ARC or eARC-labeled HDMI port to the soundbar’s TV-ARC or eARC port.
Console CEC setup is more personal because some players want the console to wake the TV, while others hate when the TV wakes the console. PlayStation and Xbox systems usually split HDMI control into separate power and input options, so turn off only the behavior that annoys you instead of disabling Anynet+ for the whole TV.
Streaming sticks need the same two-sided setup. Leave Anynet+ on at the Samsung TV, then open the streaming device’s own settings and enable its TV-control or HDMI-CEC option.
Make One Remote Take Over
The Samsung TV should be the center of the setup when the goal is one remote. Turn on Anynet+ first, connect one HDMI device, confirm control, then repeat with the next device.
- Turn on Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) on the Samsung TV.
- Turn on HDMI-CEC, HDMI control, device link, or TV control on the connected device.
- Use a direct HDMI connection for the first test.
- For soundbars, use the HDMI ARC or eARC port and choose HDMI audio output.
- Restart the TV and HDMI device if the first handshake fails.
- Add receivers, HDMI switches, or extra devices only after the first device works.
- Disable CEC only on the noisy device if one console or stick keeps waking the TV.
After the setup lands, the Samsung remote should move through the connected device’s basic menus, volume should reach the soundbar, and the TV should switch to the active HDMI input without a second remote.
References & Sources
- Samsung.“Control Your Samsung TV With Third-Party Remotes.”Supports the Anynet+ location, older Samsung TV menu note, and HDMI-CEC setup context.