HDMI connection issues, solutions and workarounds

Different HDMI versions may cause some interoperability issues — for example, you generally won't be able to get HDMI 1.4 features with non-1.4 gear and cables. See our HDMI 1.4 questions below for more details.

Some problems are also caused by a manufacturer's improper or incomplete implementation of the technology. Some incompatibilities in the digital "handshake" of the HDCP copy-protection code still exist between HDMI-connected components, especially when routed through an HDMI-equipped home theater receiver. Whenever problems like these are discovered, the HDMI standards group contacts the manufacturer and requires that the issue be resolved. In some cases, products have been recalled.

Beyond the initial handshake, there are other possibilities for miscommunication between components. At the beginning of the article, I mentioned that HDMI supports two-way communication between a video source and a TV. Part of that digital conversation is known as "EDID" (Extended Display Identification Data), which describes the TV's capabilities to the source component. EDID info typically includes the manufacturer name, product type, screen resolution, and color depth. Thanks to EDID, two devices can not only talk to each other, they'll actually know whom they're talking to. And that makes auto-configuration possible, which simplifies your setup process.

Keeping all that in mind, here are some of the most common HDMI connectivity issues we've heard about from customers, along with possible solutions or workarounds:

Getting HDMI 1.4 features

Can't get audio return channel from TV to receiver
Make sure your TV and home theater receiver are both HDMI 1.4 components, and that they both support the audio return channel. Next, be sure you're using a 1.3 or 1.4 HDMI cable. (It's confusing, but equipment that's 1.3 and below won't support new HDMI 1.4 features; however, HDMI 1.3 cables can support some of them, namely the audio return channel.)

Can't get an Ethernet connection over HDMI
Again, make sure your TV, Blu-ray player, and any other components in the signal chain (including your home theater receiver) are HDMI 1.4 and that they support Ethernet-over-HDMI. Also, double-check that every HDMI cable in the signal chain is 1.4-rated.

HDMI and 3D TV

If you want to watch 3D TV, every component in your system needs to be capable of carrying 3D video signals, and they all need to be connected via HDMI. (Samsung PN50C7000 pictured above)

When I try to play my 3D Blu-ray movie, my TV's screen goes blank
The problem is likely that one of the components in your system doesn't support 3D video. For example, if you try to play a 3D Blu-ray movie on a TV that can't display 3D, the TV won't know what to do with the signal and the screen will be blank.

The same thing can happen if you're routing your 3D Blu-ray player's video signal through a non-3D home theater receiver. The receiver won't be able to pass 3D video on to your TV, resulting in an empty screen.

Many 3D Blu-ray players require you to choose between 3D and 2D viewing when you load a Blu-ray disc. If you choose 3D, the player switches to 3D mode, and you have a short amount of time to confirm your selection. If you don't confirm, the player assumes you might not be able to see the image, and reverts back to 2D.

When I try to watch a regular 2D movie, my 3D TV's screen goes blank
If your TV is set to display video in 3D only, it may not be able to accept a regular 2D signal. Go into your TV's display menus and select "Auto" (or something similar) &mdash that tells the TV to display any incoming signals, 2D or 3D, rather than only 3D.

Common HDMI "handshake" issues

No picture or sound using HDMI from DVD player to TV
Some video components come from the factory with the HDMI output set to "off." You can switch it to "on" via the player's setup menu, or sometimes by pressing the "HDMI" button on the component's front panel or remote.

No sound when using the HDTV's HDMI input
Most TVs lack built-in decoding for Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound, and can only play 2-channel audio. But many HDMI-equipped video components come from the factory set up to send multichannel audio. Usually, just changing the component's audio setting to "2-channel (PCM)" solves the problem.

No picture when connecting a cable box to an HDTV
This is usually the fault of the cable box, since some local cable providers may not have upgraded their customers' equipment with new firmware or new boxes to make them fully compliant and compatible with HDMI-equipped TVs and A/V receivers. Customers should report problems to their local cable providers. As with most HDMI-related connectivity issues, one effective workaround is to use component video connections and optical or coaxial digital audio connections.

No closed captions displayed when using HDMI connections
Unfortunately, the HDMI spec doesn't include any requirement for carrying closed captioning data. So, if you connect a video component like an HD cable or satellite receiver or DVD/Blu-ray player to your HDTV using HDMI, you won't see conventional closed captions. If you need to view closed captions from your cable or satellite box, use a component video connection — the closed captions will pass through and you'll still enjoy a high-def picture.

A related issue is that many DVDs and Blu-ray discs simply aren't encoded with closed captioning data. However, most discs are encoded with subtitles, which are similar to closed captions, and subtitles are compatible with HDMI. In fact, a growing number of content providers are using a particular type of subtitling called "Subtitling for Deaf and Hard of Hearing," which is optimized for people with hearing disabilities. While not all discs include subtitles, virtually all DVD and Blu-ray players are capable of decoding subtitles if they're present.

Can't get multichannel audio with an A/V receiver connected between the video source and an HDTV
We've mentioned HDMI's intelligent two-way communication between components, but sometimes it actually contributes to hookup problems. Normally, the display tells the source device about its video and audio capabilities. Virtually all TVs are limited to 2-channel audio playback. Since many A/V receivers employ a "repeater" type of HDMI switch, the receiver simply passes the 2-channel information to the source, despite the receiver's multichannel capabilities. So, the player sends only 2-channel audio to the receiver, rather than high-quality surround sound.

One handy workaround would be to simply run a separate optical or coaxial cable for audio. Unfortunately, many HDMI-equipped components are designed to turn off digital audio outputs when the HDMI output is in use. We have found that some models do this and some don't (even from the same brand), and going forward, we expect to see more models switching off their digital audio outputs.

Another receiver-related HDMI sound issue: some older HDMI-equipped receivers aren't designed to pass audio through their HDMI connections — they perform video switching only. To get multichannel audio from these receivers, you need to connect an optical or coaxial digital cable from your video source to the receiver. Only a few entry-level receivers still have this limitation, but it's something to be aware of.