After 17.4 update HDMI CEC issue on Apple TV

Same issue happened to me last night! As least I know I'm not alone and hopefully a TV OS update will come soon to fix. Below is what happened and what I've done:

I have a LG OLED C3 77” + Apple TV 4K Version 1. Suddenly last night, the LG Magic Remote stopped controlling the ATV. It had worked totally fine for >1 year since we got this TV.  I didn’t change any settings when it stopped working last night (on LG TV settings: HDMI CEC Simplilink set to ON, and HDMI 3 the universal remote setting is set to Apple OTT).  

I have tried various things, none of these fixed issue:  

• In LG TV settings, remove the Apple OTT universal remote settings link
• In LG TV settings, turn off/on HDMI CEC Simplilink setting
• In LG TV settings, delete all previous Connection settings
• restart ATV
• In ATV settings, “learn remote”
• Unplugged the HMDI cable for 30 seconds then plugged back in
• Unpaired / paired LG Magic remote

I too had this issue this morning as I guess my Apple TV updated to 17.4 overnight. After trying everything listed here and more nothing worked. It seemed to only affect my 4K Apple TV. I moved an older Apple TV model that was still on 17.3 to the same TV and the LG remote worked as expected. I updated that Apple TV to 17.4 and the LG remote still worked as expected. I then switched my original Apple TV 4K back in and the LG TV could still not control it. I last checked around 10:15 am. I came back to the TV at 2:30 pm and the LG remote is controlling the Apple TV as it always has. Both the TV and Apple TV were left on during this time with no updates or settings changes. Can’t explain it but the issue appears to be resolved. Is Apple capable of sending hotfixes like this without an update?

The bug is what is called a "race condition". It will appear to be random, sometimes it will work and sometimes it won't. If you reboot your Apple TV it might start working but it also might not. I've reported the bug to Apple and they're aware of the issue, so we'll all just have to wait for them to release a fix.

“are folks experiencing this problem doing so with a modern AVR or Soundbar in their HDMI mix, or is this more of a problem with ATV4Ks connected directly to their TVs and using the TV's internal speakers?”

My Samsung sound bar had been connected via BlueTooth, and the Apple Remote had been controlling the volume. After 17.4, the ATV Remote showed the BT Volume going up and down, but the literal volume was stuck at 100% Full Blast (since I had the soundbar volume maxed out). The mute button did not work anymore either.

after plugging the soundbar directly into my RCA 4KTV, I now have “modern AVR or Soundbar in their (my) HDMI mix” - and the ATV Remote is now allowing mute and controlling the volume- through CEC Auto (IR). I was trying to set up the Samsung remote as a playback and volume device, but that remote did not respond to the procedure. But when I picked up my ATV Remote and pressed the up button, that DID respond to the ATVs “add device” procedure. Oddly.

This Apple TV HDMI CEC sync issue is widespread, affecting multiple TV brands —my Sony Bravia remote stopped working about a week ago. Hopefully, this gets resolved in the next update. I’ve also noticed some lag and motion blur while navigating through multiple apps, including Apple TV, as if every app is now refreshing at 30 Hz instead of 60 since tvOS 17.4

I’ve been controlling a Samsung Q900R and AppleTV 4K successfully for a few years. However, it looks like HDMI-CEC may no longer be working under tvOS 17.4 (21L227) as I’m no longer able to turn on both Samsung and AppleTV in a morning using my Alexa.

I'm pretty tech savvy and have checked all the settings, without success!

Sorry, Apple is not reading this. These are user-to-user forums and Apple Support is not here. You can contact Apple Support or submit feedback describing your issue.

1 (800) 275-2273

Try this. My Apple TV 4K remote once went berserk with the volume control. I fixed it by restarting the remote itself.

If your Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote isn't working - Apple Support

Both of your Apple TV 4Ks are model 1s, I have both a model 1 and a model 2. Both are updated to tvOS 17.4. The model 1 has CEC disabled while it works in the model 2.

Please when you report your experience with tvOS 17.4 include the model number of your appletv.

For example for my AppleTV 4K

Model A1842 CEC is broken.

For my AppleTV 4K Model A2843 CEC works.

Please add details, model number of your AppleTV and tvOS version currently and before recovery if possible.

easy fix download 17.5

I updated two Apple TV boxes to OS 17.4 immediately after the update neither of the TV remotes worked with the Apple TV box. I called their support line and he blamed my tv’s (both are Loewe tv) and said to contact the manufacturer but also suggested a factory reset. I did a factory reset on the tv and Apple TV box and once everything was back it still didn’t work. I even swapped it to a different HDMI port but no luck. So today I went in to London to the Apple Store but they would not even discuss it with me unless I brought the Apple TV box in too! Apple support are appalling and pretty much useless. Seems to me we just have to wait for an update release and see if that fixes it.

Yes, JohCan… I just discovered this when my Apple remote started controlling the Samsung device through infrared. I did not know that the Apple remote had that feature, apparently it does. Unless my Apple remote is controlling the sound bar in some other way…

Ironically now the Samsung remote no longer lets me control playback, but I have two other remotes that can control playback, the Apple remote, and the CEC in my RCA remote. Which starts working about a day after I reboot the Apple TV. Somebody mentioned “race condition”, I believe that is the case, just keep trying to use the CEC in the remote and eventually it will start working…

My setup: Sony Bravia TV, Apple TV 4K 2nd generation. I switch my TV on and off with the Apple TV remote and adjust the volume etc. Everything worked great. After the update to 17.4, switching on the TV and Apple TV works normally, the volume control also works - actually everything as before the update ONLY switching off the TV including Apple TV no longer works. That means switching off works, TV off, Apple TV off, but after a few seconds Apple TV and the TV switch on again. Sometimes I only have to repeat this 2 times, sometimes 5...7 times until Apple TV and the TV is definitely switched off.