You can control an IPTV box with one remote by turning on HDMI-CEC on your TV — so the TV remote drives the box, or the box's remote controls TV power and volume. For Android boxes with phone-style apps, an air mouse (a pointer remote with a keyboard) makes typing logins and navigating menus much easier.
HDMI-CEC names by TV brand
| Brand | CEC name |
|---|---|
| Samsung | Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) |
| LG | SimpLink |
| Sony | Bravia Sync |
| Philips | EasyLink |
| Panasonic | VIERA Link / HDAVI Control |
| Hisense, TCL, others | CEC / HDMI Control |
Turning on HDMI-CEC
- On the TV, open Settings and find the CEC option (names above), often under General, Connections or External devices.
- Turn it on.
- On the streaming device, enable CEC too — on Fire TV it's under Settings → Display & Sounds → HDMI CEC Device Control; on Google TV under display or system settings.
- Restart both devices.
What CEC lets you do
- TV remote controls the box — arrows, OK, back, play/pause.
- Box turns the TV on and switches to the right input.
- One power button for TV, box and soundbar.
Support varies by device, and some apps ignore certain buttons.
Air mice for Android boxes
Generic Android boxes often come with basic remotes. An air mouse:
- Moves a pointer by waving the remote — useful in apps built for touchscreens.
- Often has a keyboard on the back for typing server URLs and passwords.
- Connects by a small USB receiver or Bluetooth.
Fire TV and Google TV remotes
Recent Fire TV and Google TV remotes can learn TV power and volume via infrared — set this up in the device's Equipment control or Remotes & accessories settings.
Universal remotes
A universal remote with profiles for your TV and box removes the need for CEC, at extra cost. Set-top boxes such as MAG and Formuler come with their own remotes, and the best device for IPTV comparison covers remote quality too.
Choosing a box? See choosing an Android TV box and IPTV on Android TV.
