Updated

Updated · Boy Genius Report · Jul 20

LG TV Remotes Control PlayStation 5 via HDMI-CEC, Replacing Sony's Media Remote for Menus

Updated

Updated · Boy Genius Report · Jul 20

LG TV Remotes Control PlayStation 5 via HDMI-CEC, Replacing Sony's Media Remote for Menus

Q: Is the convenience of one remote for your PS5 worth the risk of unpredictable home theater glitches?

Yes—if your setup is simple. If you have a more complex home theater, the convenience often stops being worth it. Using an LG TV remote to control a PS5 through HDMI-CEC can work well for basic tasks such as launching streaming apps, moving through menus, pausing video, and powering the TV and console on together. In a direct TV-to-PS5 connection, these features are usually the most reliable, and they can make the console feel more like a standard media box. The trade-off is that HDMI-CEC remains inconsistent across brands and devices. In multi-device setups with a soundbar, AV receiver, streaming stick, or another console, users commonly report phantom power-ons, unwanted input switching, black-screen handshake issues, and devices “fighting” for control. Power and input commands tend to work better than volume and mute, which depend heavily on the audio chain and each manufacturer’s implementation. There are also practical limits. A TV remote cannot replace the DualSense for gaming, and most TV remotes rely on infrared, so they need line of sight. That makes them less flexible than Bluetooth-based controllers or dedicated media remotes. The most practical approach is to enable HDMI-CEC and test it in your own setup. If your system is just a TV and PS5, it is usually worth trying. If you run several HDMI devices, expect more troubleshooting and consider limiting CEC to power and input control only, or using a dedicated media or universal remote for better reliability.

3 articles · Updated · Boy Genius Report · Jul 20

LG TV owners can use their existing remote to navigate a PlayStation 5 once HDMI-CEC is enabled on both devices, avoiding the need for Sony’s separate media remote for basic menu and streaming controls.
On LG sets, the feature appears as Simplink: webOS 22 users enable it through General > Devices > HDMI Settings, while webOS 5.0 users find it under Connection > Device Connection Settings; PS5 users then switch on HDMI Device Link.
One Touch Play and LG’s Auto Power Sync can add power-on control, but the setup is still limited to media navigation rather than gameplay.
Any TV-and-remote setup that supports HDMI-CEC should work similarly, though infrared remotes remain less flexible than the PS5’s Bluetooth DualSense and depend on line-of-sight and replaceable batteries.