Why does PS5 turn on with TV? How to Stop PS5 Automatically Turning on with TV
Have you ever had the annoying experience of your PlayStation 5 automatically powering up when you turn on your TV? Or changing the input to the PS5 when all you wanted to do was watch Netflix?
This common issue is likely caused by HDMI-CEC – a feature intended to make device connectivity more convenient that often ends up causing more headaches than anything else. Fortunately, disabling HDMI-CEC is straightforward once you know where to look.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to stop your PS5 turning on with the TV. I’ll explain what exactly HDMI-CEC is, why PS5 enables it by default, and walk you through how to disable CEC on both the TV and console side.
We’ll also look at other potential causes, troubleshooting steps, and the benefits of ultimately switching this “smart” feature off for good. Let‘s dive in!
What is HDMI-CEC?
HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is a feature built into the HDMI standard that enables connected devices to directly communicate with each other. It allows devices to be controlled with a single remote without the need for centralized hubs or programming.
First introduced in 1996, CEC has been implemented by major manufacturers like Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic and more over the years. According to a 2021 study, over 1 billion CEC-enabled devices have shipped to date.
The basic premise is simple. Let‘s say you have an LG TV connected to a PS5 and a Blu-ray player via HDMI. By enabling CEC on all devices, you can use your TV remote to not only control TV functions but also play a disc on the Blu-ray player or launch games on the PS5.
This interoperability between devices is certainly handy when it works properly. But as many have discovered, it frequently leads to unintended consequences like devices suddenly switching on or changing inputs automatically.
Why Does PS5 Turn On with TV?
Turning on your TV prompting your PS5 to launch unexpectedly is a prime example of HDMI-CEC in action. By default, the PS5 has the "HDMI Device Link" feature enabled under System > HDMI in the settings.
This allows the TV to send the necessary CEC signals to power up the PS5 and switch input when the TV turns on. The assumption is that you are powering on the TV to use the PS5, so it‘s ready and waiting on the correct input.
While that may sometimes be the case, often you are simply turning on the TV for regular viewing, streaming video, or using another device like a cable box. But with CEC enabled, the PS5 springs to life whether you want it to or not.
Having your console unexpectedly fire up and switch the input can be bothersome when you just wanted to channel surf or watch a movie. Fortunately, disabling HDMI-CEC is a quick process on both the TV and PS5 side.
How to Stop PS5 Automatically Turning On with TV
You essentially have two options to stop the PS5 from powering on whenever your TV turns on – disable CEC on the TV or directly on the PS5 console. Let‘s look at both.
Disable HDMI-CEC on PS5
The easiest solution is to switch CEC off directly on your PS5. Here are the steps:
- From your PS5 home screen, go to Settings > System
- Select HDMI from the left column
- Locate the Enable HDMI Device Link option and switch the setting to Off
And that‘s it! This will stop sending the CEC "power on" signal to devices when the TV turns on.
Do keep in mind that fully disabling CEC means you‘ll lose the convenience of automatic input switching and having to use only the PS5 controller for media functions. But for most users, regaining independent device control is well worth the small trade-off.
Disable HDMI-CEC on TV
If you prefer keeping CEC enabled on your PS5, you can instead switch it off on your TV. The setting you are looking for is:
- LG – SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)
- Samsung – Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)
- Sony – BRAVIA Sync
- Vizio – CEC
Consult your TV instruction manual for the exact menu sequence. Turning off CEC from the TV side prevents it from sending the "wake up" command down the HDMI cable to connected devices.
Disabling CEC TV-side has broader effects as it will disable device communication across all ports. This may impact other convenience features like using your TV remote to control Blu-ray players or soundbars connected via HDMI.
But for most PS5 users looking to stop automatic turn on, disabling CEC specifically for the port with the console connected will solve the problem without losing full functionality.
Other PS5 Auto Turn On Issues
In some cases, you may find that your PS5 still automatically wakes from Rest Mode even after disabling HDMI-CEC in the settings. If that‘s happening, here are a couple other things to check:
Enable Turning On PS5 from Network
Under Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode, make sure this option is disabled. It allows waking the PS5 over the internet for game downloads and updates.
USB Power Supply
Having controllers or accessories plugged into the front USB ports can sometimes wake the console when they draw power. Try using the rear USB ports instead to avoid this issue.
Power Supply Issue
In very rare cases, an unstable power supply can cause random auto power up. If you still face turn on issues after tweaking all software settings, try connecting the PS5 to a different electrical outlet.
A last resort is to initialize (factory reset) your PS5 to wipe any corrupted settings that may be causing problems. Make sure to back up your data first if you attempt this step.
Benefits of Disabling HDMI-CEC
While HDMI-CEC can certainly provide some convenience benefits when it works properly, there are also good reasons you may want to disable it entirely:
Prevent Accidental Turn On
As we discussed earlier, the most common annoyance of HDMI-CEC is devices like the PS5 suddenly powering on when you only wanted to use the TV. Disabling CEC gives you back full manual control.
Avoid Input Switching
CEC enabled devices will automatically switch the TV input when they are turned on. This means you can‘t have the TV display the home screen of your Blu-ray player without the input jumping to another device.
Eliminate Remote Conflicts
With CEC, your TV remote can end up controlling multiple devices like changing PS5 volume instead of just the TV. Turning CEC off prevents these remote conflicts.
Improved Stability
Properly implemented CEC works well. But some devices may have bugsgy implementations leading to inconsistent behavior. disabling CEC outright prevents such issues.
More Precise Power State
Your PS5 may fail to enter low power Rest Mode properly with CEC enabled. Turning it off allows the console to sleep and wake independently for better power efficiency.
In Conclusion
Like any advanced connectivity feature, HDMI-CEC comes with both benefits and drawbacks. For PS5 users annoyed by automatic power on and input switching, disabling CEC is usually the best solution.
Hopefully this guide gave you a better understanding of what causes PS5 to turn on with TV, and how adjusting some quick settings can prevent this behavior for good. Let me know if you have any other questions!
