Set Chromecast to Default TV Input
One annoyance I keep having with Smart TVs is that their smart features aren’t up to parity with standalone set-top boxes like the Chromecast with Google TV or Apple TV, yet the built-in “Internet TV” channel would always be the default input for my Samsung TV. This meant, whenever I would turn off my PlayStation, I’d get an earful of Gordon Ramsay screaming about spoiled produce. Well, I think I finally found the issue: HDMI-CEC.
What is HDMI-CEC?
HDMI-CEC is the generic name for a number of manufacturers methods of controlling HDMI devices using the power of your TV and the devices connected to it (for example: AnyNet+ by Samsung, Aquos Net by Sharp, or the questionably named Simplink by LG).
Here is a scenario to demonstrate why this can be useful: Turn a PlayStation on, the TV turns on. Turn the PlayStation off, the TV turns off. In most cases, this is exactly the behavior you want, and it simplifies needing multiple remotes or controllers to power everything you’re using on and off.
In this instance, however, HDMI-CEC has proven to be an issue because when turning off my TV, HDMI-CEC will signal my Chromecast to shut down as well. This means that the next time you turn the TV on, it may not turn the Chromecast back on and thus, dump you back into the default channel. After realizing this, the solution was simple:
The Solution
In the settings of your Chromecast with Google TV (found by going to your profile in the top right):
Turn off HDMI-CEC (found in Display & Sound)
Set “Turn off display” to “Never” (found in System -> Energy saver)
With these two changes, the Chromecast will no longer turn off when my TV turns off, meaning the TV will return to that input when turning back on, and when you turn off your other HDMI-CEC devices.
This solution has saved me from having to manually switch back to the Chromecast input every time I turn off my PlayStation, and saved me from the never-ending yelling of Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.