PS5 HDMI Device Link: what it does, on or off, and fixes

The setting that turns your TV and PS5 on and off together, what each option changes, and what to check when it stops working.

What HDMI Device Link is

HDMI Device Link is Sony's name for HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), a feature built into the HDMI standard that lets connected devices send each other simple commands like power on, power off and switch input. Every TV brand has its own name for it:

Both the PS5 and the TV need the feature turned on for it to work.

How to turn it on or off

1. From the PS5 home screen, select the gear icon to open Settings.
2. Go to System > HDMI.
3. Turn Enable HDMI Device Link on or off.
4. If it's on, choose the options below.

On a PS4, the setting is in Settings > System > Enable HDMI Device Link.

What each option does

Power Off Link uses rest mode, not a full shutdown, so downloads, updates and controller charging can continue if you've allowed them in Settings > System > Power Saving.

Should you turn it on or off?

Leave it on if the PS5 is the main thing you use the TV for. One press of the PS button turns everything on, and turning off the TV puts the console to sleep.

Turn it off, or turn off One-Touch Play, if:

• The PS5 wakes up every time someone turns on the TV to watch something else.
• The TV keeps switching to the PS5 input while you're watching cable or a streaming stick.
• You use Remote Play or a PlayStation Portal, and waking the PS5 turns on the TV in another room.
• A soundbar or receiver keeps turning on with the PS5 when you only want headphones.

If HDMI Device Link is not working

1. Turn on CEC on the TV. It's often off by default. Look for the brand name in the table above, usually under General, Connections or External Devices.
2. Restart both devices. Turn off the TV and PS5, unplug them for a minute, then plug them back in.
3. Try another HDMI port. Some TVs handle CEC differently on the eARC port, which is meant for a soundbar.
4. Use the PS5's own HDMI cable or another Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Old or damaged cables can block CEC.
5. Check other HDMI devices. A soundbar, receiver or streaming stick on the same TV can take over CEC commands. Turn CEC off on devices that don't need it.
6. Update the software on the PS5 (Settings > System > System Software) and the TV.

Use your TV remote with the PS5

With HDMI Device Link on and CEC on at the TV, many TV remotes can control the PS5: the arrow keys move around the menus, OK selects, and Back goes back. It's handy for streaming apps. On LG TVs, you set it up through SIMPLINK; our LG SIMPLINK guide covers the steps.

With a soundbar or receiver

If the PS5 plugs into a soundbar or AV receiver instead of the TV, HDMI-CEC has to pass through that device too. Turn on CEC (sometimes called HDMI Control or TV Link) on the soundbar or receiver, and plug it into the TV's eARC or ARC port. With all three set up, the PS5 can turn on the TV and the soundbar together, and the TV remote can control the soundbar's volume.

If the PS5 plugs into the TV and the soundbar connects by eARC, sound still goes through the soundbar, and the PS5 only needs to talk to the TV. That setup is usually more reliable, because it leaves one fewer device in the chain. It also keeps 4K at 120Hz working, which some older soundbars can't pass through.

Other HDMI settings on the PS5

The same Settings > System > HDMI screen has a few other options. Enable HDCP should stay on, because streaming apps need it to play video. Turning it off only helps with capture cards for recording gameplay. The PS5's picture settings (resolution, HDR, 120Hz and VRR) are elsewhere, in Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Our PS5 menu guide covers those.

If the TV shows a blank screen after you change a setting, wait 15 seconds: the PS5 switches back to the last working setting. If it doesn't, start the console in safe mode and choose Change Video Output.

Related guides

Our PS5 menu guide covers the control center, settings, 120Hz and safe mode. If the TV's menus keep popping up on an Apple TV instead, see our Apple TV menu guide.

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