Upgrading the Firmware of the CEC Adapter

Modified on Thu, 30 Apr at 11:30 PM

Firmware upgrades for the Pulse-Eight USB-CEC Adapter and NUC-CEC Adapter are performed through CEC Tray, which is installed as part of libcec. You must have libcec 7.1.1 installed before you can upgrade the firmware.

Before You Start

Download and install libcec 7.1.1 if you have not already done so:

64-bit (recommended): libcec-x64-7.1.1.exe
32-bit: libcec-x86-7.1.1.exe

For full installation instructions, see How to Install libCEC (Windows).

Do not unplug the adapter while a firmware upgrade is in progress. Interrupting the upgrade process can leave the adapter in an unrecoverable state. Keep the adapter connected until the upgrade has fully completed and CEC Tray confirms success.

Upgrading the Firmware

Open CEC Tray.

Press the Windows key, type 'CEC-Tray' and press Enter to launch it. The CEC Tray icon will appear in the system tray.

Open the Configuration tab.Click the Configuration tab. The current firmware version of the connected adapter will be displayed here.

Check for an available upgrade. If a newer firmware version is available, the Upgrade button will be enabled. If the button is greyed out, your adapter is already running the latest firmware and no upgrade is needed.

Run the upgrade.Click Upgrade Firmwareand wait for the process to complete. A progress indicator will be shown. Do not close CEC Tray or disconnect the adapter during this time.

Confirm completion.When the upgrade finishes, CEC Tray will confirm the new firmware version. The adapter is ready to use immediately — no reboot is required

If the Upgrade Firmware button is not visible, make sure Advanced Mode is enabled via File → Enable Advanced Mode, and confirm that the adapter is detected (it should appear in the Configuration tab).

Troubleshooting

The adapter is not detected in CEC Tray

Ensure the adapter is connected via USB (for the USB-CEC Adapter) or that the NUC internal header is properly seated (for NUC-CEC adapters). Make sure your TV is powered on and connected to the adapter via HDMI. Try closing and reopening CEC Tray.

The Upgrade Firmware button remains greyed out after enabling Advanced Mode

Your adapter is already running the latest available firmware. No upgrade is necessary.

The upgrade appeared to fail or was interrupted

Contact Pulse-Eight support — do not attempt to power-cycle or reinstall the adapter yourself, as additional steps may be needed to recover it.

Need help with a firmware upgrade?
Contact Pulse-Eight support with your adapter type and the firmware version shown in CEC Tray.

UK: 01202 413 610 | US: (858) 748-8250 | support@pulse-eight.com