After 17.4 update HDMI CEC issue on Apple TV

My tv remote started working again with my AppleTV A1942 after a tv factory reset.

tvOS 17.4

TV Philips 55OLED804/12

Just had a mini update pushed. Looks like cec working again.

I got it to finally work after the 17.5 update!! What I did was I deleted the Apple TV from the LG OLED TV Universal Control settings, and magically, the LG Remote once again controls the ATV. It's a bit counter-intuitive to delete the Apple TV from the LG TV Universal Control Settings (before 17.4 I had the LG TV Universal Control Settings set to Apple TV and it worked fine). But hey I got it to work now, so whatever... Hopefully it will continue to work.

I can confirm it's fixed in tvOS 17.5.

I would remind posters that Apple Support does not monitor these user forums. We here are just fellow users like yourself. So your “me too” posts go unnoticed by Apple. Pleaser report your issue to Apple Support by using Feedback or calling Apple Support.

You get support by clicking on the “Support” link at the opt of this page.

The phone number is 1 (800) 275-2273

We've got four Apple TV 4K gen 1 in our homes, on four different branded TVs (Sony, LG, Samsung, TCL) and ALL four had the update to tvOS 17.4 break the ability to operate the ATV via the TV remote. That's a real bummer. I also have one ATV 4K 3rd gen wich remains unaffected. Given the number of ATV 4K gen 1 that were sold between 2017 and 2021, there must be a LOT of people affected by this. This really doesn't deserve the "it just works" mantra...

Sorry Urquhart1244 but I know how my Panasonic remotes work. They have no IR whatsoever. They communicate with the TVs using Bluetooth. There is no way for Apple TV to “learn” such a remote, and the only way it can control Apple TV is through HDMI-CEC. This feature broke with 17.4, also for many others. It was restored with a newer release, which we are not allowed to discuss on this forum apparently.

I had the same problem after updating to 17.4. I solved it the way it was written before, I pulled out the power until I caught the recovery mode. For some reason the recovery process took a very long time, but after that the TV remote control finally began to control the Apple TV.

That’s exactly the issue! It has to do with third party remotes that are unable to be used with Apple TV 4K. Mine are both Models A1843 64GB. I think fifth gen.

My volume control up and down and mute only work for my Samsung Smart remotes- nothing else. After 17.4, both Smart remotes are unable to control the Apple TVs themselves. Only volume control.

My Sony Bravia remote no longer talks with my ATV4K via HDMI either after tvOS 17.4 update. Apple just released a 7.4.1 patch to fix other devices but nothing for tvOS. I’ll just have to keep using my iPhone to control the ATV4K until another patch is released. 😡

You didn't unplug & plug back in enough. It took me at least 10 times. I think you gave up to soon. It seems like the popup will not appear but eventually it does!

My Apple TV‘s CEC work again after reboot the remote, thanks.

Just updated my two Apple TV-4K's to 17.4 (21L227) last night 3/12/24. Before the update both my Samsung Smart remotes were completely able to control both Apple TVs with full functionality.

One Apple TV4K (Model A1842 64GB) is connected to a Pioneer VSX-834 and a Samsung 55" Series 7. CEC is enabled on the Pioneer receiver. In the Samsung settings, External device manager Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) is enabled and HDMI UHD Color is set on for all 3 HDMI connections. On the Apple TV Remote and Devices settings Home Theater Control is set to On and Volume Control is set to Auto via HDMI (Receiver).

The other Apple TV4K (Model 1842 64GB) is connected to a Pioneer VSX-832 and a Samsung 55" Series 8. CEC is enabled on the Pioneer receiver. In the Samsung settings, External device manager Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) is enabled and Input Signal Plus is set on for all 4 HDMI connections. On the Apple TV Remote and Devices settings Home Theater Control is set to On and Volume Control is set to Auto via HDMI (Receiver).

Before the updates, both Samsung Smart remotes functioned perfectly fine and controlled both Apple TVs without any issues. After updating to 17.4, both Samsung smart remotes for both ONLY control the volume and mute and are not able to control the Apple TVs. I have unplugged all connections, turned on and off, reconnected and both remotes do not control the Apple TV at all, except for volume up, volume down and mute, nothing else.

I spoke with Apple and they advised me to call Samsung, which I may do. Until then, not being able to use either Samsung Smart Remotes is very frustrating. Hopefully Apple will have a resolution for this issue with future updates.

Mr Echowave: You should not have to call Samsung. They have nothing to do with the failure of this firmware update. This is all on Apple, 100%. We now know that Samsung devices are one of the main peripherals that are affected by this. Otherwise, why would my Samsung 4.1 soundbar get stuck at full blast although the volume level on my Apple TV shows the volume level going up and down, but no change in the sound whatsoever? While my cheap Vivitar BT column responds to the volume control on my remote perfectly? As well as three different Earbuds, two cheap ones and one non cheap one? Every other non-Samsung Bluetooth device that I have works exactly as they should work with my remote. The only device that does not work properly is my Samsung HW-A47M. A device that I have had for four years and has had absolutely no problems from tvOS 13 through 17.3.

From what I can understand, your Samsung remote is running both CEC and Bluetooth from your ATV? It sounds like the CEC functionality is operating properly, but the Bluetooth functionality is not, the same as mine. I had trouble with my RCA, remote CEC, and then it finally kicked in. I am still hoping that my volume functionality will kick in between my Apple TV remote and my Samsung soundbar…

Apple is responsible for this, not Samsung, they can’t help you. Like you, I have tried everything: I have disconnected and reconnected my remote, I have rebooted my ATV, the only thing I have not done is reset my Apple TV, which I am not going to do, I had a **** of a time getting my remote reconnected after my last reset and, A few people have reported that even after a reset, the volume still does not work.

However, if you do speak to Samsung and they have any solutions, please share them with us…

I have rebooted my sound bar several times, there’s not much I can do with it, because it automatically reconnects its satellite speakers and Sub module. The subwoofer and satellite speakers are an add-on that can be purchased for other less expensive sound bar models, the A47M simply included the whole sub and satellite assembly.

To everyone discussing AppleTV remote (black, silver, or whatever): This thread is not about a remote that came with the AppleTV. It's about television remote (Samsung, LG, Panasonic, etc.), that through the magic of HDMI CEC (over HDMI cable) can also control the AppleTV. These remotes don't have to be "learned", they just work out of the box. But now, at least with 17.4 and 1st generation 4K AppleTV, they don't.