After 17.4 update HDMI CEC issue on Apple TV

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.

Same here after 17.3 --> 17.4 update.

Samsung remote cannot control Apple TV 4K 1st. Gen.

No solution.

I too have the same issue after upgrading to tvOS 7.4 on 10-Mar-2024. Tried plugging on the other Television as well and experienced the same issue. Spoke to Apple Support today (11-Mar-2024) and he has taken my request and requested to update the Analytics captured from the Apple TV. Any further updates I receive, shall keep you posted.

Same problem here with A1842 and Panasonic Viera Link that worked previously without a problem. Stopped the other Apple TVs from updating until this is resolved. From the web search it appears similar problems arose with 16.4 update...

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

Same here after 17.3 --> 17.4 update. Samsung remote cannot control ATV anymore. No solution.

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.

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.

There now is a good solution but since it involves switching to another pre-release software stream (which Apple makes available to anyone) any message describing it is removed from the forum…

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

Please Stop

************

this „ME TOO“ & OFF-TOPIC stuff. (like „my remote works fine“, yeah… nice 👍 )

Issue:

******

before 17.4 Update:

the TV Remote from TV (Panasonic, LG etc.) , that one where you switch the HDMI Channels from Playstation to AppleTV (for example), could be used for standard navigation. (UP;DOWN;LEFT;RIGHT;OK & BACK)

and this worked „out of the box“.

very nice.

And that function is broken

THAT‘S THE TOPIC , nothing else

„Apple TV dont receive Control commands from TV over HDMI CEC„

and now we have 5 pages full with nonsens posts

but not a piece more knowledge

Interesting are information from Apple on the subject

Did they work on a patch for example

please think about that and don‘t reply to me

thx

Yes, I have the same issue since updating to tvos 17.4. my Philips remote does not control my ATV anymore.

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.

FYI, I would highly discourage forcing your Apple TV into Recovery Mode by unplugging/plugging it in over and over. There's no magical benefit to doing this. If you're trying to erase the Apple TV and start over, the better approach would be to reset it using Settings -> System -> Reset. Trying to force Recovery Mode might damage your Apple TV and require a trip to the Apple Store to replace it.