CEC Adapter — How to Turn Your TV On When Your Windows PC Boots Using CEC-Tray

Modified on Thu, 30 Apr at 1:00 PM

CEC-Tray is a Windows system tray application included with libcec that automatically sends a power-on command to your TV when your PC starts. This guide covers how to install it and configure it to run at startup.

Firmware requirement: This feature requires firmware v9 or newer on the adapter. If you have not updated recently, upgrade the firmware first: Upgrading the Firmware of the CEC Adapter

USB power requirement: This feature only works if the USB port is powered down when the PC is off. You may need to disable USB charging or USB power in S5 in your PC's BIOS settings if the TV is not responding on boot.

Step 1 — Install libcec

If libcec 7.1.1 is not already installed, download and run the installer, making sure all components are ticked on the Choose Components screen:

libcec-x64-7.1.1.exe (64-bit, recommended)

For full installation instructions see: How to Install libcec (Windows)

Step 2 — Add CEC-Tray to Windows Startup

CEC-Tray must start automatically when Windows boots. The recommended way to do this is by placing a shortcut in the Windows startup folder — do not copy the executable file on its own, as CEC-Tray requires the other files in its folder to run correctly.

Open the libcec installation folder
Navigate to the netfx subfolder inside the libcec installation directory:

C:\Program Files\Pulse-Eight\USB-CEC Adapter\netfx\

or on 32-bit Windows:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Pulse-Eight\USB-CEC Adapter\netfx\

Create a shortcut to CEC-Tray
Right-click CECTray.exe and select Create shortcut. This creates a shortcut that always points back to the original file in the installation folder — which is important because CEC-Tray requires the other DLL files in that folder to be present alongside it.

Open the Windows startup folder
Press Win + R, type shell:startup and click OK. The startup folder will open in File Explorer.

Move the shortcut into the startup folder
Cut and paste (or drag) the CECTray shortcut you created in Step 2 into the startup folder.

Enable it in Windows Settings
Open Settings → Apps → Startup. Find CECTray in the list and toggle it to On.

Do not copy CECTray.exe directly into the startup folder. CEC-Tray depends on DLL files and the NetFX folder that must remain alongside it in the original installation directory. Moving the executable alone will cause it to fail to open. A shortcut is the correct approach.

Step 3 — Configure the Power On Setting

Launch CEC-Tray
Open the Start menu, search for CEC-Tray and launch it. It will appear as an icon in the system tray (bottom-right of the taskbar).

Open the Power Control tab
Double-click the CEC-Tray icon to open the application window, then click the Power Control tab.

Enable the power on setting
Tick Power on the TV when the PC starts. The adapter will now send a power-on command to your TV each time Windows boots.

CEC-Tray waits until the HDMI connection is ready before sending the power-on command, which makes it more reliable than batch script methods on some hardware combinations.

Troubleshooting

CEC-Tray won't open or shows an error about missing DLL files

This means CEC-Tray has been placed somewhere without its supporting files. Remove it from the startup folder and follow Step 2 again, making sure to create a shortcut rather than copying the executable. See also: CEC Adapter — CEC-Tray Won't Open or Missing DLL Errors

The TV doesn't turn on when the PC boots

Check that CECTray is toggled On in Settings → Apps → Startup
Check that the adapter's USB port loses power when the PC shuts down — if the port stays powered, the adapter cannot detect the PC starting. Disable USB charging / USB power in S5 in your BIOS if needed.
Confirm that firmware v9 or newer is installed — check and upgrade via the Firmware tab in CEC-Tray
Confirm CEC is enabled on your TV (Anynet+ on Samsung, SimpLink on LG, Bravia Sync on Sony, VIERA Link on Panasonic)

The TV turns on but my PC also wakes from sleep unexpectedly

See: CEC Adapter — PC Waking from Sleep

Need help getting CEC-Tray running?
Contact Pulse-Eight support and let us know what happens when you launch CECTray and your Windows version.

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