After 17.4 update HDMI CEC issue on Apple TV

Apple released tvOS 17.5 today and I confirmed it contains the fix for the HDMI CEC issue with TV remotes. You can update in Settings -> System -> Software Updates.

[Edited by Moderator]

I had the same problem after upgrading to TVOS 17.4. It turns out that the upgrade reset the AppleTV setting for volume control from “HDMI” to “Auto (TV via IR)”. Changing it back fixed the issue.

Settings -> Remotes and Devices -> Volume Control -> HDMI

Finally found a fix that worked for me. The apple remote was causing all the issues on my end. Turning tv on constantly, making volume go to max. Like the remote was stuck on or something after the update. CES wasn’t working. doing a reboot of the apple tv didn’t work. I finally realized it was the remote when I started using my phone as the remote, hid my normal remote and everything worked. The second I brought my remote in the room the tv went crazy. I did a reset on the remote and bam it worked. Just hold down the tv symbol button and the down volume button at the same time for 5 to 10 second and let go. the remote will reboot and once recommended to the apple tv everything works. For me anyways.

My solution to this issue was to unplug the power cord to the Apple TV while it was onscreen, wait for the signal to the tv to drop, then plug it back in. I did this about 10 times until a pop up appeared asking if I wanted to recover the TVos. Selecting that option eventually brought up a code on my iPhone to enter to begin the recovery process. Took about 25 minutes to reload the TVos, then restart the Apple TV. My Samsung remote then worked fine again. No apps or settings lost. Login remained unchanged.

I can second this, 17.5 release fixed the HDMI CEC issue for me on two Apple TVs (4K 1st gen and older 4th gen), both connected to Panasonic TVs. Keeping my fingers crossed and unsubscribing from this thread...

I can confirm that tvOS 17.5 fixed it for my family's multiple ATV 4K 1st gen, across 4 different TV brands, including 2 LG TVs with magic remotes: a C1 and an older LED model. Your issue may be elsewhere. Check your TV settings, unplug everything for 30 seconds, restart all devices. Hope this helps.

17.5 did not fix the issue for me. But now it is fixed in 17.5.1.

It has been 3 long months.

I just had a support call with an Apple tech who confirmed there is an Issue Tracker active for this problem.

While the tech I spoke with acknowledged this is a known issue with tvOS 17.4, they did not offer an ETC (estimate to completion) for an impending fix.

**POSSIBLE FIX**

I’ve just been able to fix it with my 1st Gen 4K ATV. Here are my exact steps I’ve done:

1. Deleted all unused devices in the list of Remote App and Devices under Remotes and Devices;
2. Since I don’t need to control my TV with my ATV remote, I disabled Control TVs and AV Receivers;
3. Restarted my ATV with my TV being on at the time.

The above fixed this issue perfectly.

Hello,

I'm Stefan from Germany. After updating my latest generation Apple TV 4k, I was no longer able to control the volume using either Apple's own remote control or the TV remote control (Apple TV 4k, Samsung QLED and KEF LSX II paired via HDMI).

The following procedure helped me:

- Restart the Apple TV from the menu

- While the restart was running, I restarted the Apple remote control using the two buttons (hold TV + volume down button for 5-10 seconds).

Afterwards, the volume control on the Apple remote control and the complete operation of the AppleTV via the Samsung remote control worked again!

Why not try this out?

greetings from Germany

Stefan

Hello,

I'm Stefan from Germany. After updating my latest generation Apple TV 4k, I was no longer able to control the volume using either Apple's own remote control or the TV remote control (Apple TV 4k, Samsung QLED and KEF LSX II paired via HDMI).

The following procedure helped me:

- Restart the Apple TV from the menu

- While the restart was running, I restarted the Apple remote control using the two buttons (hold TV + volume down button for 5-10 seconds).

Afterwards, the volume control on the Apple remote control and the complete operation of the AppleTV via the Samsung remote control worked again!

Why not try this out?

greetings from Germany

Stefan

I was offered another update over the weekend and it took about half an hour to apply. After the update, the CEC issue was fixed, just like the previous update. But the issue with Bluetooth devices and the Apple remote volume control still persists.

i tried the procedure that you explained, restarting the remote at the same time as the Apple TV. That does help but the only thing that it accomplishes is that my mute button finally mutes my Samsung sound bar. But the volume control is still completely unusable, the volume indicator goes up and down as if it is working but the actual volume is stuck at 100% on the sound bar, so the only way that I have to actually adjust the volume on the sound bar is through the remote for the sound bar, which is kind of difficult.

two updates, the CEC issue has been satisfactorily repaired, but not the Bluetooth volume issue, which is another major issue. I have other Bluetooth speakers that I use, and the Apple remote volume and mute works fine on those. but on my Samsung HW A47M sound bar, the volume control on the Apple remote is completely unusable. But at least the mute button is working now. I am about ready to have another chat with Apple support about this.

It's about television remote (Samsung, LG, Panasonic, etc.), that through the magic of HDMI CEC (over HDMI cable) can also control the AppleTV.

Many users in this thread seem to assume that, but that doesn’t make it true. CEC has nothing to do with using a third party remote for the Apple TV box. These are two independent features. By even mentioning CEC, people are looking in the wrong direction, and will never find a solution there. (The tvOS update may still play a role, though. That so many brands were affected around the same time, is a strong indicator for that.)

The third party remote uses IR to send navigation command to the Apple TV box, and also uses IR to send volume control signals to the TV or audio system. The only way to involve CEC in this, is that select AV receivers can understand volume control signals from the Apple TV box, if so configured.

Use other remotes to control Apple TV - Apple Support

Some TV remotes are designed to work additionally for some other devices (e.g. my 2021 Samsung TV remote). If needed, configure through the TV to handoff controls for the active HDMI device. Those settings may require having CEC active, but the commands do not go from TV to Apple TV box; the remote sends commands to the Apple TV box directly. Note that this didn’t work for me anymore after updating to 17.4 initially, until I connected the TV through Bluetooth. CEC kept working fine, though.

I also forced my Apple TV into a restore condition and it resolved my issues.

Took approx 30 minutes to restore but once it completed and rebooted my Sony remote started controlling the Apple TV again.

Not an elegant solution, but did work in my case also.

I am frustrated that Apple continues to release software updates without thorough testing. I could see maybe one TV manufacturer having issues, but from the comments LG, Sony (mine) and Samsung are all affected.

Kapitan - The issue with the volume not working on our Apple remotes, it’s just part of the same problem. There was another thread that deals with that.

Unable to control the volume on my TV aft… - Apple Community

it was only after visiting that thread that I discovered that my CEC was also not working, therefore, I visited this one. But it appears to be part of the same issue.

and it also appears that this is only affecting original ATV4Ks.

mine is A1842/MP7P2LL-A, hdmi FW 1.140.