How do I enable HDMI-CEC so my Atmosphere TV turns on automatically?

Zero Touch Play turns your TV on and launches Atmosphere TV one hour before you open, eliminating the morning search for remotes or switching inputs across displays.

For this feature to work, your TV needs HDMI-CEC turned on—the setting that allows your Atmosphere TV device to wake the screen and select the correct input automatically.

Most TVs ship with HDMI-CEC turned off, so it's worth taking two minutes to check.

Before you start

You'll need an Atmosphere TV custom device. Zero Touch Play is available on our custom streaming devices. If you're not sure which device you have, check here.

Your device should be plugged directly into the TV. If your Atmosphere TV device runs through a matrix system, switch box, or splitter, the TV won't receive the signal it needs and Zero Touch Play won't work. If you'd like to connect directly to one or more of your screens, reach out and we'll help you sort it out.

Step 1: Find HDMI-CEC in your TV settings

Some brands use different names for CEC. Look for your brand below to find out what the setting feature is called.

TV brand	What the setting is called
Samsung	Anynet+
LG	SimpLink
Sony	BRAVIA Sync
Vizio	HDMI-CEC or CEC
TCL	HDMI CEC
Hisense	HDMI CEC
Sharp	Aquos Link
Panasonic	VIERA Link, HDAVI Control, or EZ-Sync
Philips	EasyLink
Toshiba	Regza Link or CE-Link
Insignia	HDMI-CEC
Hitachi	HDMI-CEC
AOC	E-Link
Pioneer	Kuro Link
Onkyo	RIHD
Mitsubishi	NetCommand for HDMI

Step 2: Turn it on

The exact path varies by TV, but the general steps are the same:

Press Menu or Settings on your TV remote (not the Atmosphere remote).
Go to Settings, All Settings, or Setup.
Look for General, HDMI Settings, External Device Manager, or System.
Find the setting that matches your brand from the table above.
Switch it On.

Example — LG: Settings → All Settings → General → SimpLink → On

Example — Samsung: Settings → General → External Device Manager → Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) → On

If you can't find it, your TV's user manual or the manufacturer's support site will list the exact menu path for your model.

Step 3: Make sure it worked

A quick test:

Turn your TV off with the TV remote.
Press a button on your Atmosphere TV remote.

If your TV powers on and lands on Atmosphere TV, you're set. Zero Touch Play will do the same thing automatically before you open each day.

If nothing happens, double-check that the setting is saved, and confirm your Atmosphere TV device is plugged directly into the TV rather than through a switch or splitter.

Common questions

When exactly will my TV turn on? About an hour before your posted opening time. If your business is open 24 hours, it turns on at 6:00 AM.

My TV is turning on when I don't want it to. First, check whether your TV has its own built-in power or wake timer, which is a separate setting from anything Atmosphere TV controls. Many TVs have one enabled by default. It's also worth checking whether a staff member is powering the TV on before opening.

If you'd rather not use Zero Touch Play at all, just let us know and we'll turn it off for your location. We'd love to hear why first, though — sometimes there's an adjustment that works better for your hours than switching the feature off entirely.

Do I need to enable this on every TV? Yes. HDMI-CEC is a per-TV setting, so each screen with an Atmosphere TV device needs it turned on individually.

Will this let my TV control other devices too? It can. HDMI-CEC is a general standard, so other connected equipment may respond to it as well. That's normal and won't interfere with Atmosphere TV.

Still need a hand? Email us at help@atmosphere.tv or call (512) 675-1080. We're happy to walk through your TV's menus with you on the phone.