CEC-Tray is a background application that monitors your PC's power state and automatically turns your HDMI-CEC compatible TV on when the PC boots and off when it shuts down or sleeps. This is the recommended method for most users.
This only works if USB power is off while the PC is shut down. If your PC supplies power to USB ports when off, you may need to disable USB charging in your PC's BIOS settings — otherwise the adapter cannot detect the PC starting up.
This feature requires firmware v9 or newer. Check and upgrade your firmware first if needed: Upgrading the Firmware of the CEC Adapter.
Before You Start
libCEC 7.1.1 or later must be installed. If you haven't installed it yet, see How to Install libCEC (Windows) before continuing.
CEC-Tray is installed alongside libCEC. You'll find it at one of these locations:
C:\Program Files\Pulse-Eight\USB-CEC Adapter\netfx\C:\Program Files (x86)\Pulse-Eight\USB-CEC Adapter\netfx\
Setting Up CEC-Tray to Start Automatically
1
Open the CEC-Tray folderOpen File Explorer and navigate to the
netfx subfolder in the location above. You should see cec-tray.exe inside.2
Open the Windows Startup folderRight-click the Start button and clickRun. In the box that appears, type
shell:startup and clickOK. A folder will open — this is your Windows Startup folder.3
Create a shortcut to CEC-Tray in the Startup folderGo back to the CEC-Tray folder. Right-click
cec-tray.exe and selectCreate shortcut. Move the newly created shortcut into the Startup folder you opened in step 2.Do not copy the cec-tray.exe file itself into the Startup folder.Copying the executable rather than creating a shortcut will prevent Windows from correctly tracking the application. It must run from its installed location.
4
Enable CEC-Tray in Windows Startup settingsOpenSettings, clickAppson the left, then clickStartup. FindCECTrayin the list and toggle it toOn.
5
Enable TV power control in CEC-TrayLaunch CEC-Tray now by double-clicking the shortcut or searching for it in the Start menu. Click thePower Controltab and enable the setting Power on the TV when the PC starts.
CEC-Tray will now start automatically with Windows and send a power-on command to your TV each time the PC boots. You do not need to open it manually again.
Troubleshooting
If the TV does not turn on when the PC boots:
- Confirm that CEC-Tray is toggled On in Settings → Apps → Startup.
- Check that the Startup folder contains a shortcut to
cec-tray.exe, not a copy of the file itself. - Verify your firmware is v9 or newer: Upgrading the Firmware of the CEC Adapter.
- Check your BIOS and ensure USB power is disabled when the PC is shut down.
- Confirm that CEC is enabled in your TV's settings — the setting name varies by manufacturer; consult your TV's manual.
Related Articles
- How to Install libCEC (Windows)
- Upgrading the Firmware of the CEC Adapter
- CEC Adapter — Turn Your TV On When Your Windows 11 PC Boots Using Windows Commands
- CEC Adapter — Using the LibCEC Standby Monitor
- Which TV Power Control Method Should I Use?
Still not working?
Contact Pulse-Eight support with a description of what happens when your PC boots and which TV you are using.
UK: 01202 413 610 | US: (858) 748-8250 | support@pulse-eight.com
Contact Pulse-Eight support with a description of what happens when your PC boots and which TV you are using.
UK: 01202 413 610 | US: (858) 748-8250 | support@pulse-eight.com
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