LG TV SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC): control a soundbar or set-top box (2023–2025)

Turn on SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)

SIMPLINK is LG’s name for HDMI-CEC: it lets the remote of a 2023–2025 LG webOS TV control a soundbar, set-top box or other device connected by HDMI. To turn it on, press the Settings (gear) button, go to All Settings → General → External Devices → HDMI Settings, and set SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) to On.

It only works over HDMI, with devices that support it. LG says to look for the SIMPLINK logo on the other device, and that using other products may cause problems. Up to three devices can be connected and used at the same time.

Before you start

• Connect the device with an HDMI cable from its HDMI output to an HDMI port on the TV.
• Use a High-Speed HDMI cable that supports CEC. LG notes that CEC information travels on pin 13 of the cable.
• For a soundbar or audio system, use the TV’s HDMI (eARC/ARC) port, so the TV can send its sound to it as well.

Set up SIMPLINK

1. Connect the device to the TV with an HDMI cable.
2. Press the Settings (gear) button on the remote. You can also press and hold it to open All Settings directly.
3. Select All Settings (the gear icon on screen), then General → External Devices → HDMI Settings.
4. Set SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) to On.
5. Turn on the connected device. If the TV connects to it automatically, it switches to that input.

If the TV doesn’t switch by itself, select the device manually:

• 2025 guide: press the Home Hub button (a house inside a circle) and choose the device. If your remote doesn’t have that button, press and hold the Input button (a plug icon) to open Home Hub.
• 2023 and 2024 guides: press the Input button and choose the device.

Send TV sound to a soundbar

SIMPLINK on its own is about control. To hear the TV through a soundbar connected to the HDMI (eARC/ARC) port, also set the sound output: All Settings → Sound → Sound Out → Use Wired Speaker → HDMI(ARC) Device.

LG says choosing HDMI(ARC) Device turns SIMPLINK on automatically. If you later turn SIMPLINK off, the TV switches its sound output back to the default so the sound doesn’t cut out.

For choosing between the ARC port and an optical cable on an older TV, see connecting a soundbar to a 2014 LG LB-series TV. That guide covers 2014 models, not the 2023–2025 TVs on this page.

What SIMPLINK can do

LG’s guides list four functions. Which ones work depends on the connected device and the TV model:

Function	What happens
Instant Play	Start the connected device and its picture appears on the TV, without switching inputs yourself.
Control with the TV remote	Use the arrow keys on the LG remote to move through the connected device’s menus.
Main Power Off	Turning off the TV also turns off the SIMPLINK devices. LG says only certain devices support this.
Main Power On	Turning on a SIMPLINK device also turns on the TV. LG says some models don’t support this.

If the remote doesn’t control the device

1. Check that SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) is still On in HDMI Settings.
2. Check the device for the SIMPLINK logo. Without it, LG doesn’t promise the feature will work.
3. Check that the HDMI cable is a High-Speed cable with CEC support and that it goes from the device’s HDMI output to the TV.
4. If the TV didn’t switch to the device, select it yourself with Home Hub or Input as described above.

LG’s guides don’t describe the CEC settings on the other device. If it still doesn’t respond, check that device’s manual for its HDMI-CEC option, which other brands may call by a different name.

SIMPLINK isn’t the same as Universal Control

LG also offers a separate feature, Universal Control Settings (General → External Devices), which sets up the Magic Remote to control devices such as set-top boxes and Blu-ray players in place of their own remotes. LG documents it separately from SIMPLINK, sets it up differently, and says it works only with the Magic Remote (some models can use a regular remote through a supplied IR blaster).

Common questions

Why does my TV turn off when I switch off the set-top box?

LG says some set-top boxes can be set to turn the TV off with them. To stop it, turn off the set-top box’s own power sync function. That setting is on the box, not the TV.

Can I change the soundbar volume with the LG remote?

LG’s SIMPLINK section doesn’t mention volume specifically. The guides do describe LG Sound Sync (Sound → Advanced Settings → LG Sound Sync), which lets the TV remote adjust the volume of a soundbar that supports LG Sound Sync; all three guides describe it for an LG Sound Sync soundbar connected to the TV’s optical port, with Sound Out set to Optical Out Device. For other soundbars, check the soundbar’s manual.